Wetsuit storage -- hanging or folded?

[ccx2]

The wetsuits that I purchased to surf in are the same I dive with and the wetsuits today are of such soft stretchy material that I have folded them and put them in a garbage bag and threw them on a shelf in the hot garage with other stuff on top of them and they shake out for use with no creases or adverse affects.
After use I hang them on a hanger to dry inside out and when dry on inside switch them right side out to finish drying where they may stay on the hanger for a couple months,no adverse effects.
The old stiff neoprene from yesteryears or maybe cheaper ones today aren't as pliable and will crease and show memory.

 

[Mikko Ilari Laakkonen]

Make sure there are no metal parts of hanger touching the suit. It might cause some strange chemical reactions sometimes and ruin the suit.

- Mikko Laakkonen -

I love diving and teaching others to dive.

 

[scubastingray]

The wetsuits that I purchased to surf in are the same I dive with and the wetsuits today are of such soft stretchy material that I have folded them and put them in a garbage bag and threw them on a shelf in the hot garage with other stuff on top of them and they shake out for use with no creases or adverse affects.
After use I hang them on a hanger to dry inside out and when dry on inside switch them right side out to finish drying where they may stay on the hanger for a couple months,no adverse effects.
The old stiff neoprene from yesteryears or maybe cheaper ones today aren't as pliable and will crease and show memory.

I've got a slew of name brand suits that are a few years old (maybe 4-5 for the oldest), and they all crease and deform very badly when not hung. They weren't the cheapo no-name suits, so I'd take this advise with a grain of salt.

 

[nimoh]

I use one of these. The built in fan saves a lot of drying time.

Amazon.com: Hang Air Wetsuit Dryer: Sports & Outdoors

 

[ManuLani]

I hang mine for drying and storage on these ultrawide shoulder hangers.

 

[ccx2]

I've got a slew of name brand suits that are a few years old (maybe 4-5 for the oldest), and they all crease and deform very badly when not hung. They weren't the cheapo no-name suits, so I'd take this advise with a grain of salt.

Yes , like I said mine are 4/3 XCel suits made for the acrobatics of surfing so they are a very flexible suit. Maybe Dive suits aren't made with as flexible material as suits made for surfing where it's all about the stretch and flexibility. Like I say , some are flexible and some aren't,your mileage may vary.

---------- Post added April 4th, 2014 at 02:26 PM ----------

I've got a slew of name brand suits that are a few years old (maybe 4-5 for the oldest), and they all crease and deform very badly when not hung. They weren't the cheapo no-name suits, so I'd take this advise with a grain of salt.

Yes , like I said mine are 4/3 XCel suits made for the acrobatics of surfing so they are a very flexible suit. Maybe Dive suits aren't made with as flexible material as suits made for surfing where it's all about the stretch and flexibility. Like I say , some are flexible and some aren't,your mileage may vary,salt or no salt.

 

[scubastingray]

Yes , like I said mine are 4/3 XCel suits made for the acrobatics of surfing so they are a very flexible suit. Maybe Dive suits aren't made with as flexible material as suits made for surfing where it's all about the stretch and flexibility. Like I say , some are flexible and some aren't,your mileage may vary.

I don't know about the particular use, but I bought all mine when I started surfing from various surf shops. They weren't diving or surfing branded, just regular wetsuits.
I'm glad it works for you, but I'd just for someone else to ruin a wetsuit.

I remember a family member who shall remain unnamed folded them down into a tub once to make more room for her hanging clothing. Needless to say there are still creases from that incident.

 

[ccx2]

I don't know about the particular use, but I bought all mine when I started surfing from various surf shops. They weren't diving or surfing branded, just regular wetsuits.
I'm glad it works for you, but I'd just for someone else to ruin a wetsuit.

I remember a family member who shall remain unnamed folded them down into a tub once to make more room for her hanging clothing. Needless to say there are still creases from that incident.

I agree. So i guess the answer for the OP would be to hang them on a hanger like they are in the shops where you buy them for the best bet, or fold them and take your chances. Or if you know how place them in suspended animation for the utmost care available.

 

[TMHeimer]

Hang everything. Jim has his "underwear drawer, and that is fine. But wetsuits, dry suits- hang them.
DivemasterDennis

Yes. I use thick plastic hangers. I've heard that for suitcase travel (plane, etc.) it's best to roll a wetsuit, not fold it).

 

[eponym]

Some seem to have claws coming out of them. What are those for?

If you mean this model, it's for hanging up your BC (and regset). There is another model with four uprights for drying your boots and gloves.