Prepping a Wetsuit for First Swim and First Race Use

For the first race of the season (after not using it all winter), I usually soak my wetsuit in the tub for a few hours, then hang it in the basement to dry.  I rinse it with fresh water after every race and allow it to dry in the shade or in the basement, not in the sun.

Race day, I use TriSlide spray on my calves under the suit and also I spray some on my calves on the outside of the suit, the lower part.  I've found this helps the wetsuit to not stick to itself and rather will slide over itself and comes off much easier than without the spray on the outside.  My suit is sleeveless, so I don't put TriSlide anywhere else, but I suppose if I had a long sleeved one I'd do the same treatment.  I do hit my neck, collarbone and shoulders with Body Glide to prevent wetsuit hickeys, though.

Emile DeSoto posted a thread here on BT years ago.  (I haven't searched for the link.)

Think of the neoprene wetsuit like a sponge.  When the sponge is dry, it is hard and brittle.  When damp, it softens up considerably.  If your wetsuit is dry and brittle, it'll rip/crack as you try to put it on, hence soaking it in the days prior to use.  

Some people use body glide and/or plastic bags to help get the wetsuit on.  I usually roll the legs down so they are half inside-out.  I pull the leg over my foot and up my calf and then roll the wetsuit the rest of the way up my thigh.  I do the same for my arms.  I'll usually scoop some water into the wetsuit and shift things around before I start swimming.  

Ya, I'm pretty sure I'll feel like a dork.  But a dork with a PURPOSE.  That makes it all better, right?

Besides soaking and proper rinsing, what are other things to know for wetsuit care?

Some people talk about trimming the leg length on wetsuits.  What is that about, and what are the guidelines?

I always make sure I trim my fingernails before pulling my suit on.  Nothing will damage it quicker than fingernail cuts.

As far as the pool goes, possible dorkiness and overheating would be my only concern.  I think the effects of chlorine are greatly exaggerated and border on urban myth.  If you rinse off after use you should be fine.  I have a pair of Xterra Lava pants which are basically wetsuit bottoms that I have worn in the pool 33 times over the last four months and they are as supple as the day I bought them.  I will report back when they should signs of damage but I would guess that it would be a lifetime compared to whatever occasional use someone might have for using a full wetsuit in the pool.

There have been a number of recent posts on cutting a wetsuit and while I have not done it yet I plan to.  Just cut a little at a time and test to see where that point is where the effort to remove has decreased to your satisfaction.  Most wetsuits have some tape over the seams that extent up from the edge.  I would not cut beyond that tape.  My Lava pants came at a length just above the base of my calf and they are sooo easy to remove compared to a full length.