Damage to wetsuit in compression bag?

[NickLongfellow]

I am headed back to Komodo with my own and my girlfriends new 5mm wetsuit in my bag, I just got some of those plastic vacuum compression bags for my clothes and realized that they reduce by about 3 times the space my wetsuits take up in my bag. but does this damage the neoprene? According to the padi OW video I force untold numbers of people to watch, you aren't even supposed to FOLD a wetsuit, much less vaccume pack it into a bag and stuff it in the bottom of the rest of your luggage. Any ideas?

 

[fisheater]

I'd avoid any such compression, either from compression or vacuum bags or by having other stuff on top.


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[ajduplessis]

I agree

 

[Token]

To expand a little... When neoprene is creased, it weakens. If it's heavily creased as it would be in your compression bag, it will be weakened a lot...and the potential for tearing along the creases is greatly increased. Your best bet is to roll the suit loosely, pack it loosely and hang it up properly as soon as you can at your destination. I use a duffel bag for clothes and wetsuits...not the ideal situation if you are trying to save space but there are some things you just shouldn't pack tightly.

 

[jameseg]

Echo above comments. Plus, how would you re-vacuum the bag at the end of the trip? Better to pack the traditional way and know you will have room for all your stuff on the return trip.