A hole in you wetsuit doesn't mean you have to go straight to the store for a new one. Can you glue neoprene? Yes, you can. With a little effort you can neatly glue small holes and tears. In this special we explain how to do this. Do you have a tear on a seam that you want to repair yourself instead of gluing? Then view the explanation repair wetsuit.

Repair to preserve insulation

You will notice a hole or tear in your wetsuit immediately. The insulation value of your wetsuit then deteriorates rapidly and the process of cooling your body increases. After all, your body cools down much faster in water than on the side. Read more about kitesurfing in winter.

Time required: 1 hours and 20 minutes

Here we show you how to glue a neoprene wetsuit or surf suit or other neoprene accessories. To prepare, provide neoprene glue and a cloth for wiping your fingers.

Make sure that parts of neoprene to be glued are completely dry
Make sure the surface to be glued is completely dry. Take a good look at the crack or hole in your wetsuit and think about what you want to glue in advance. Make sure that the parts to be glued are clean and dry.
Apply the glue
Always glue at room temperature (about 20 degrees). Now lubricate the parts of the wetsuit to be glued. Do not use too much glue.
Let glue dry
Let the glue dry for a while. Blow a little on it so that the shine goes off the glue.
Press on parts to be glued
Now press the parts to be glued together well and hard (very important).
To leave it like that
Leave the connection alone (at least 1 hour). Remove excess glue by rubbing (raking) it.

This was the last step of neoprene gluing. It's done and you can now get back on the water. Wetsuit on and go!

Professional neoprene adhesives

Of course you can also go to one of your favorite kitesurf shops call for a professional repair. This may be more sensible than repairing it yourself. Especially when it comes to the best quality wetsuits with the new technology incorporated and with inner lining. Some stores have this service in-house, others will help by referring you or having your wetsuit professionally made by a specialist.

Also check out wetsuit repair on a seam

6 comments

Wait a minute.

Do I only need to glue both sides of the crack?
I mean, do you only need to apply glue to the insides of the crack?
And does that keep real, even when you pull it?

To answer

Editorial office wrote:

September 12, 2020 at 9:43 pm

That's right, you apply the neoprene glue to the edges of the parts of your wetsuit to be stuck. A little bit of excess glue won't hurt because you can rub it off later. It is very strong.

To answer