It is inevitable that if you are active in the water with your wetsuit at some time you will get a rip or tear in the neoprene. In most cases, there is no need to panic or despair. With a few simple items, repairing a torn or damaged wetsuit is a fairly easy procedure. It may not look as good as new when you are done but the function of the wetsuit will be maintained.

A lot of times when you rub up against rocks or coral or some other rough object the surface of a wetsuit will get roughened up and expose the softer more vulnerable black neoprene below.

Great kids wetsuits:

Body Glove Kids Wetsuits

Wet Suits for the whole family

O'Neill Toddler Series Wetsuit & Rash Guard for the kid's

Short term your wetsuit will work just fine this way but eventually the abraded area will grow and it may deteriorate to the point of causing a tear or hole. The best way to repair this kind of damage is to apply neoprene glue to the area. What is called neoprene glue is usually a special contact cement formulation for gluing pieces of neoprene to each other. You can usually get it where you bought your wetsuit and it is usually black or yellow in color. Aquaseal and Black Witch are two popular brands of neoprene wetsuit glue. Lay the damaged area out flat if you can and apply lots of the glue to the area. Spread the glue out with a flat wooden stick, application brush, or other spatula type tool to at least a centimeter or two past the abraded area. Try to spread it out as evenly and smoothly as you can.

It is almost impossible to make it look pretty but that isn't the goal anyway. You want to reinforce the area as best you can and still maintain the flexibility of the wetsuit. Neoprene glue is very smooth and slippery when dry. If the damaged area needs to be used for gripping with most neoprene glues, you can sprinkle a small amount of dry sand over the glue approximately 30 minutes after you apply it. This will give the area some texture for gripping. When you are done let the glue dry at least overnight. Some glues will need longer to dry so follow the directions on the glue containers label.

If the damage to the wetsuit is a simple straight cut or tear with no missing material, you can simply glue it back together using the neoprene glue. Very carefully separate the two edges of the cut and apply glue to each of the sides. Try not to increase the cut when you do this. Then hold the two edges together for a few minutes to let the glue set. With some neoprene glues, you have to let the glue air dry for a minute before pushing the two sides back together. As above, let the glue dry at least over night.

If the damage to your wetsuit involves missing material, repairs get more complicated. Most often, the best thing to do is patch the hole like you would a hole in a bicycle tire. Most dive shops have patch material or old neoprene lying around you can buy for patching. Cut a piece of neoprene patch material a few centimeters bigger than the hole, apply glue to the top edge of the hole and the underside edge of the patch and apply the patch.

Sometimes you will need to fill the hole with material and glue and sew it to the edges of the hole and apply a patch over that but sewing neoprene is often not recommended. The thread usually will not stretch with the neoprene when you dive and over time the thread will cut through the wetsuit.

Author: Michael Russell

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Wetsuit

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

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Popular Wetsuits for Children:

Bare Sprite Combo Wetsuit for Kids

O'Neill Reactor kids full body wetsuit for surf, scuba, snorkel, swim

O'Neill Reactor girls full body wetsuit for surf, scuba, snorkel, swim

When purchasing a cheap wetsuit there are some things to be taken into consideration before you choose which one to buy. The most important consideration is always going to be the fit. A wetsuit that does not fit well will be uncomfortable, may cause chaffing and will not be warm. Your wetsuit should allow some water to enter which is warmed by the body and provides a layer of insulation. If the wetsuit is too big too much cold water will enter and you will be cold and saltwater and sand between your skin and the suit will cause rashes and be uncomfortable. Always check the fit at the ankles, neck and wrists to make sure water cannot enter through any gaps. If your wetsuit fits well it should stretch and move with you.
In addition to the fit other things to look for include warmth, durability, performance and comfort.

Warmth

A thicker wetsuit will be warmer but will also be less flexible and have lower performance. For a winter wetsuit the neoprene should be between 3mm and 5mm (sometimes 6mm is used) and for summer wetsuits a thickness of 2-3mm is adequate. Warmth can also be affected by the lining. Coated, mesh or lined neoprene is often used to improve warmth and help to reduce wind chill but again the use of these lining will reduce the performance. It is therefore a balance between warmth and performance so keep your particular needs in mind when choosing the thickness of the material and the type and thickness of the lining.

Durability

Durability is affected by the type and thickness of the material used for the wetsuit. Superstretch material, used in high performance suits will be comfortable and highly flexible but will have reduced durability. In general, higher performance, more expensive wetsuits are less durable than cheaper, lower performance suits. If you are purchasing a used wetsuit look for wear at the knees as this is the area that tends to show wear first.
Performance

A wetsuit that stretches with you and offers very little resistance will give good performance and is very dependent on the price of the wetsuit. Expect to pay for an expensive wetsuit if you need the highest performance.

Comfort

All the preceding factors contribute to the comfort of a wetsuit. In addition the number and placement of the seams can contribute to how comfortable the suit is. More panels, with more seams will improve the fit but the seams can be uncomfortable and reduce the flexibility. The suit needs to stretch enough to feel comfortable and allow freedom of movement. The more stretchy a wetsuit is generally the more expensive and less durable. A cheaper, less stretchy suit will be warmer but movement will be more restrictive.

In the end it comes down to a balance between cost, comfort and durability. If performance is ultimately important to you choose an expensive wetsuit and be prepared to replace it more frequently. If cost is the deciding factor be prepared for a less comfortable suit that is slightly more restrictive but will last longer.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/buying-a-cheap-wetsuit-some-tips-660566.html

Author: Janet Ashby

About the Author:
For more information on wetsuits and some good deals on cheap wetsuits check out Cheap Men's Wetsuits or Cheap Women's Wetsuits

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