Wetsuit Repair Guide

We pride ourselves in only stocking the best wetsuits from the top watersports brands, but no matter how high quality a wetsuit is, accidents can still happen. Jewellery, like rings or watches, sharp undergrounds like rocks, or not taking proper care and storage can easily cause issues for your wetsuit.

It’s pretty heart-breaking when you spot a rip or an unravelling seam on your wetsuit, and with accidental damage not being covered by warranty, this is something you'll need to sort out yourself, or pay someone else to. Small areas of damage are often easily fixable at home, but be aware that unauthorised repairs (especially on seams) will void most warranties.

If you think this may be a valid warranty claim, contact our friendly warranty team. To do this, please send an email to info@wetsuitoutlet.co.uk explaining the fault in detail and include photographs clearly showing the fault. Photographs are essential when making a warranty claim.

If the damage does not fall under warranty, or your wetsuit has lived beyond its warranty period, you can address small fixes yourself. Read on for our step-by-step guide to repairing your wetsuit.

How to fix a tear/cut in a neoprene wetsuit

You will need:

• Your damaged wetsuit, clean and dry
• Wetsuit cement or adhesive 
• An applicator (such as a brush, popsicle stick or a strip of plastic)

1. Fold the wetsuit at the point of the cut to open it up and show the two edges which need to be glued together.
2. Using the applicator, apply a thin layer of cement or adhesive to both surfaces.
3. Allow the glue to dry a little (approximately 30 seconds), until it becomes tacky.
4. Unfold the wetsuit to bring the two edges back together, and pinch the edges together.
5. Wetsuit cement will usually take 1-3 minutes to dry, whereas wetsuit adhesive will take a few hours, but both can vary depending on the temperature and humidity. Whichever glue type you use, we recommend leaving your repair overnight to dry properly.

How to repair a damaged wetsuit seam

You will need:

• Your damaged wetsuit, clean and dry
• Wetsuit cement or adhesive
• Glue-on seam tape
• Dental floss (yes, really!)
• A needle (curved, if possible)

1. Follow steps 1-4 from above.
2. With the seams pushed together, sew a blind stitch using the dental floss. This means not fully penetrating the neoprene, as this may cause your wetsuit to leak, but only penetrating 25% of the way through. This will be easier with a curved needle.
3. On the inside of the wetsuit, apply glue-on seam tape over the repair.
4. Leave to dry for at least 8 hours.

How to fix large rips in your wetsuit

For any rips or holes bigger than about an inch, it’s well worth getting it repaired professionally. If you bought your wetsuit from Wetsuit Outlet, we offer a repair service through our partnership with Bodyline who provide high-quality specialist neoprene wetsuit repairs. You can contact our friendly customer service team to find out more.

Read our guide on drysuit repairs if it’s your drysuit that’s causing your trouble

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View our best wetsuit repair products here.

For tips on how to look after your wetsuit properly (so you don’t have to spend all this time fixing it!), read our wetsuit care guide here.

Written by Eliza Tilbury