Drysuits help to keep you dry while also they protect you from rocks and marine life. It is important to invest in a good-quality drysuit. The prices for a good quality wetsuit can cost up to and more than $1,000. So, how long does a drysuit last?
In short, a good quality drysuit should last up to 10 years or more, this depends on a number of factors such as how often you use the suit and how well it is maintained and stored. A cheap wetsuit uses poor quality material in particularly the zippers therefore you shouldn’t expect it to last 10 years.
In today’s post, we will go through in more detail how long does a drysuit lasts, so let’s get started!
Read more on common questions asked by divers
How Long Does A Drysuit Last?
A good quality drysuit should last up to10 years or more, this depends on a number of factors such as how well it is maintained and how well it is stored. Again cheap wetsuit uses poor quality material such as the zippers and seals.
A drysuit is an expensive piece of gear so it is important to be aware of a few things when choosing to purchase your own drysuit. These are as follows.
- Materials.
- Seals.
- Valves.
- Zipper.
Materials
There are a number of options when buying a drysuit when it comes to the materials used to make them. There are two main types of materials are Neoprene and Trilaminate.
Trilaminate meaning in English is having three layers but does not provide much insulation. The drysuits that are made from the membrane are more durable but are generally looser to fit on the body to allow you to add more insulation underneath.
Neoprene is thicker and has better insulating qualities than trilaminate-made suits so will keep you warmer. These suits are easier to move in but it is easier to damage.
Seals
The seal’s job is simply to keep your suit watertight. With that, there are two types of seals. These are neoprene and latex. The thing about latex seals is that they can cause allergies and so there is a trend towards more comfortable neoprene alternatives.
Valves
Drysuits have an inflator and an air dump. The inflator as the name suggests adds air into your suit to give you warmth and also for buoyancy control.
The dump air valve allows you to dump air in order to control buoyancy.
The Zipper
The zipper in the drysuit is very important and is the most expensive part of your suit to replace. On the drysuits, you will find front entry zips, and shoulder zips.
You need to maintain the zippers by washing them with fresh water and keep them lubricated.
How To Clean And Store A Drysuit?
Drysuits are built to keep you dry and warm. It is important to clean and store your drysuit properly to help extend the lifespan of your drysuit.
How To Clean A Drysuit?
Cleaning your drysuit after your dive is important as to remove the saltwater or any dirt that might have been picked up doing the dive. Here are the steps to cleaning your drysuit.
- Rinse your suit – Rinse your drysuit with fresh water after the dive. It is especially important if you were diving in saltwater. As saltwater can damage the suit.
- Clean the flush valves – Flush the valves (inlet and exhaust) with fresh water. There can be problems with the valves if not cleaned properly as there can be a build-up of salt, dirt, or sand which affect the valves.
- Clean the latex seals – Wash the latex seals with mild soapy water to remove any dirt that might affect the seals.
- Drying the suit – Now, hang the suit to dry upside down with the zipper open. And keep out of direct sunlight.
How To Store A Drysuit?
To store your drysuit you firstly need to make sure that the drysuit is dry. That means completely dry. You don’t want there to be a funny damp smell when you return to use it again.
You should never put the drysuit in direct sunlight, as UV rays will damage the latex gaskets.
Store the drysuit in a dry and cool place. Then hang the drysuit up on a decent hanger, and if possible hang upside down by the legs or boots.
Keep the dry zipper open all the way during storage.
Drysuit Maintenance Tips
There are a few basic tips that will help to extend the lifespan of your drysuit. These are as follows.
- Rinse your drysuit after each use in freshwater.
- Insect your drysuit regularly. You are checking the wrist/neck seals, zippers. valves and any there are any tears.
- Store the drysuit with the zippers open.
- Ensure the drysuit is dry before storing it.
- Don’t store in direct sunlight as the ultraviolet light will damage the seals.
- Don’t use a washing machine, tumble dryer or radiator.
What's The Difference Between A Wetsuit And A Drysuit?
Wetsuits help to keep you warm by trapping a thin layer of water while drysuits use a layer of air. Water conducts heat faster than air making the drysuit best for keeping you warm.
Drysuits are more expensive than wetsuits but drysuits can last longer if maintained properly. So in the long run they can prove to be better value.
Also, wetsuits have a skin-tight fit, this makes wetsuits typically easier to move and more comfortable underwater.
Wrapping Up
Finally, a good-quality drysuit should last up to 10 years or more. This can depend on a number of factors such as how often you use it and how well you maintain the drysuit after using it. Drysuits are better at keeping divers warm over wetsuits.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on how long does a drysuit lasts has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.
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