Do wetsuits break in, stretch, or loosen up over time?

[Instructor_Tom]

based on what you describe the suit fits exactly how it should. I'm in the water almost every weekend either training form my certs or helping to train open water students. most pros know you have to squeeze into a suit for it to work properly. if its too loose water will flow in and out of the suit during your dive and you will loose a lot of body heat. by the end of our training dives the students teeth are chattering while the training staff is still warm and toasty. the instructors and I usually help zip each other into our suit since we can't get them closed on our own. one instructor even has to get in the water to stretch his suit prior to getting it zipped up. it should be as snug as a second skin.

and yes a suit will compress and loosen the more you dive it. it took my 8mil about about 10+ dives ( including a couple to 150ft) for it to start compressing and loose some of the excess buoyancy in the legs. my 3mil is complete shoot after one year and I can only use it now for summer gulf dives as a skin.

hope this info helps.

T.


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[drbill]

I don't know about most divers and their wetsuits, but I know mine are constantly shrinking. Fortunately as they shrink, my natural bioprene increases to make up for the difference.

 

[Morgainz]

Hey @ Dive_Turkey

Firstly, let me start by saying that this is my first post on Scubaboard! I realize this thread is from 2013, but I just received my Bare Velocity 8/7 Ultra Semi-Dry for Christmas and I'm in a similar position to what you faced many moons ago. I ordered a size ML. (I'm male - 175 pounds - 6'1" - muscular). The suit fits me like a glove, but I find it a bit constricting to the point I'm wondering if it should be exchanged for a larger size. I also find that it's a struggle to turn my head to the left or right and hold it there for longer than a few seconds. If I let my muscles relax it actually whips my head to the straight forward position. Another concern is that I like to lift weights, but haven't been able to go to the gym for awhile - I'm worried that I will quickly outgrow the suit if I decide to get back in the gym.

I'm diving year round in Malibu, CA (Temps: 50 F ~ 70 F) For now I am mostly sticking to the shallows as I rack up my dives in preparation for the Divemaster course, but I do plan to regularly dive to 100+ feet. It looks like some Scubaboard members mentioned that the suit might loosen up when wet, and that the suit will compress after a few deep dives - others mentioned that due to "the elements" suits will shrink over time. If the suit got any smaller I likely wouldn't fit.

Ultimately my question is: What was the outcome of your situation in 2013?

Were you able to return the suit and exchange for a bigger size without issues?
Is it just me or is it really hard to move your head to look left or right in the 10mm hood?
Did returning the suit for a bigger size solve this problem?

Morgan Seiter
Assistant at Malibu Divers
Brand new member and my first post!

 

[FreqFlier]

The suit fits me like a glove, but I find it a bit constricting to the point I'm wondering if it should be exchanged for a larger size. I also find that it's a struggle to turn my head to the left or right and hold it there for longer than a few seconds.

Semidry wetsuits are quite a bit constricting by design. The whole point is to minimize the chance of water getting in. 8/7 mm will loosen up quite a bit after half a dozen deeper dives, 80'+.
Keep in mind that under water your head is tilted wayyy up compared with when you're standing up, so "choke collar" is less noticeable.
0-24 dives and getting ready for DM?

 

[broncobowsher]

To confirm that neoprene shrinks...
Bought a used Kayak. Came with a spray skirt made of neoprene. There is no way it can be stretched enough to install it. The kayak didn't change size. Aged from sitting around. New skirt fits just fine.

And that is finally an answer to an 11+ year old thread.

 

[happy-diver]

My semi dry is not constricting, any more than wearing any scuba suit on land
nor do they loosen up over time, really until you time and use wears them out

I get my stuff built so to be able to fully inhale without any chest compression

Which all feels completely different underwater