How Old Is Too Old? A Buyer's Guide to 2nd Hand Wetsuits
Buying a used wetsuit can save you real money. A quality suit that retails for $400 can show up secondhand for $80 to $150, and if it's in good shape, it does the job fine. But 2nd hand wetsuits come with a catch. Neoprene ages. It loses its ability to trap heat, its seams weaken, and in some cases the suit can fail in ways you won't see until you're already in cold water. That's not a situation you want to figure out mid-dive or mid-surf. This article walks you through how to tell when a used wetsuit is still worth buying and when it's past the point of being safe. How Long Neoprene Actually Lasts Neoprene is a closed-cell foam rubber. The tiny air bubbles inside it are what keep you warm. Over time, those bubbles compress and break down. The foam gets denser, thinner, and less effective. A wetsuit used regularly (2 to 3 times a week) typically lasts 3 to 5 years. One used occasionally (a few times a season) can last 7 to 10 years. Storage conditions matter too. A...