Wetsuit Repairs

Triathlon wetsuits are manufactured for a high level of speed and flexibility. They are a performance product and are not indestructible. Although XTERRA Wetsuit's warranty is unrivaled, there are a few types of damage we don't cover. Below are examples of accidental damage and damage caused by improper care that are not eligible for warranty claims.

 

STRESS TEARS

Stress tears or "Fingernail tears" may or may not be caused by direct contact with fingernails. Fingernail and other minor tears from sharp objects are not a manufacturing defect. Minor tears like this will not affect the performance or integrity of the wetsuit whatsoever if it has been repaired correctly.

Tears like this can be prevented by always using the pads of your fingers to put on a suit. Suits most commonly tear when pulled taught over the tip of the finger. It is also important never to pinch small folds of the suit and pull. The combination of the pulling and pinching can also cause the suit to tear. Make sure to grab large folds of the suit when pulling.

The good news about these tears is you can easily repair them at home with a few drops of glue and about 5 minutes of your time.              

      

  

HOW TO REPAIR

1. Purchase/use standard wetsuit adhesive. Most swim, triathlon, or sporting goods stores carry this product; we recommend a product called Seal Cement. Be sure to read all of the instructions that accompany the wetsuit adhesive you purchase to avoid discrepancies with the instructions provided below.
2. Lay the wetsuit on a flat surface.
3. Gently pinch open the tear in the wetsuit to expose both surfaces. Apply a thick, equal layer of adhesive to both surfaces. Use less glue on either edge of the tear than you think to avoid the glue from seeping out onto the surface of the wetsuit.
4. Position the tear so that it is flat (sitting naturally without any bumps or folds in the tear). Apply another thin layer of adhesive to the edges of the tear (or use the excess adhesive that seeps out of the tear once the flap is flat), and smooth the adhesive at the edge of tear with a paperclip or toothpick. Do not leave any adhesive on the surface of the suit; simply rub any excess adhesive off of the suit before it dries.
5. Leave the wetsuit on a dry, flat surface for 24 hours to dry.

Note: Once dry, the repair can appear shiny and may have a raised area. This is normal, and will not affect the performance of your swim.

 

HEEL TEARS

A heel tear is caused by the foot, generally the heel, going through the leg of the suit while forcefully putting the suit on or taking it off. This damage is not easily repaired.  The best option is to cut off the leg above the tear. 

The best way to avoid tears like this is to put a plastic bag over the foot when putting on the suit to reduce friction.

     

 

MELTING

The highly flexible neoprene used in to make XTERRA WETSUITS are suceptible to melting when exposed to heat or direct sunlight. Damage like this most often occurs when the suit is left inside out to dry in a warm place like a garage, trunk, or outside in the sun, although it can happen any time the suit is exposed to moderate to extreme heat. The inside of the suit is insulated by the neoprene and causes it to get hot enough to cause the high performance neoprene to melt together. 

When the suit is pulled apart, parts of the suit may remain stuck together. Damage like this is not easy to repair. The best option is to avoid damage like this by drying your suit in a cool place out of the sun and to not leave your suit in the car longer than necessary. 

      

OTHER REPAIRS

For all other repairs and customizations you can contact a wetsuit repair company. XTERRA Wetsuits recommends three repair companies: Express Wetsuit Repair, Surf N Sea, and Swell Stuff. Their contact information is as follows:

Express Wetsuit Repair
http://www.expresswetsuit.com/

Surf N Sea 
http://www.surfnseacustomwetsuits.com

Swell Stuff
http://www.swell-stuff.com