How to Dry a Brand New Wetsuit

Your First Wetsuit Dry Sets the Tone

A brand new wetsuit is at its best on day one, and how you dry it that first time teaches you the habits that keep it that way for years. Neoprene holds water, salt, and a little body heat, and if you let all that sit, the suit starts to smell and the seams break down faster than they should. The good news is that drying a wetsuit the right way is mostly about patience and shade, not fancy gear. After your first surf, you want to rinse the suit in cool fresh water, get the bulk of the water out gently, and hang it somewhere airy and out of direct sun. Heat is the real enemy here. Hot sun, radiators, and tumble dryers all cook the neoprene and the glue that holds it together, which leaves the suit stiff and cracked. Salt left to dry inside the fibers does the same slow damage. Treat your new wetsuit gently in week one and you set the pace for every dry after it.

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A new black wetsuit hanging to dry on a wide hanger in shade

Wide shoulders and full shade. That is the whole secret to a long-lasting dry.

Drying a New Wetsuit, Step by Step

Rinse the suit inside and out with cool fresh water as soon as you can after your surf. This pulls out salt and sand before they settle into the neoprene.

Skip the wringing. Twisting the suit stresses the seams. Instead, press the water out with your hands or gently squeeze sections from top to bottom.

Turn the suit inside out first. The inside takes longest to dry and holds the most sweat and odor, so give it the early air.

Hang it over a wide hanger or a thick rail, folded at the waist so the weight spreads out. Thin wire hangers leave shoulder dents in the neoprene.

Keep it in shade with good airflow. A breezy porch or open garage beats a sunny fence every time. Once the inside feels dry, flip it and finish the outside.

Where People Go Wrong With a New Suit

Most new wetsuit damage comes from one habit: drying in the sun because it is faster. UV light is brutal on neoprene. It fades the black, dries out the flexible foam, and weakens the seam tape until small splits appear at the knees and underarms. A suit dried in shade can last several seasons longer than the same suit baked on a wall. The other common slip is leaving a damp suit balled up in a car trunk or a plastic bag. Warm and wet is exactly what odor-causing bacteria want, and a new suit can start to smell within a week of that treatment. If you have to pack a wet suit to get home, get it out and hung as soon as you arrive. A simple dry bag helps here, since it keeps the wet suit separate from your dry clothes and gives you a clean spot to carry it. Build these small habits early and your new wetsuit stays soft, quiet on the nose, and ready to go.

Common Questions

How long does a new wetsuit take to dry?

In shade with decent airflow, expect the inside to dry in several hours and the outside soon after. A full dry usually lands within a day. Damp neoprene is fine to surf in, so you rarely need it bone dry.

Can I dry a new wetsuit in the sun to speed it up?

It is best not to. Direct sun cooks the neoprene and seams, which leaves a new suit stiff and prone to cracking. Shade with a breeze is slower but far kinder to the suit.

Should I dry a new wetsuit inside out?

Yes, start inside out. The inside holds sweat and stays damp longest, so airing it first cuts down on odor. Once the inside is dry, flip it and let the outside finish.

Do I need to wash a new wetsuit before the first surf?

A quick cool rinse is plenty. You do not need detergent on a new suit. After surfing, rinse the salt out and dry it in shade, and that simple routine keeps it fresh.

Carry It Wet, Keep Your Bag Dry

A wet wetsuit and a clean car do not mix. The Dry Bag gives your new suit a dedicated, watertight home for the drive back, so you can rinse and hang it the right way once you are home. Simple, tough, and built for salty gear.

Shop The Dry Bag