Over the weekend I spent 16 hours in a wetsuit. My baggy swimsuit seems like the wrong thing to wear under a wetsuit - it is not designed to absorb sweat, rumples up under the wetsuit, and is generally uncomfortable.

So what is the best thing to wear under a wetsuit? And what is the best way to keep it clean?

Jonathan

I wear lightweight jogging shorts so I have something to strip down to if I need to - they're pretty revealing and not terribly sexy when they're wet though (well...that depends on what you look like I guess)

biking shorts or neoprene shorts

Let me clarify: what is the best way to keep the wetsuit clean, especially when it gets sweaty inside.

Jonathan

Best way I find to clean a wetsuit is to put it in bathtub, slosh it around a lot, and even walk around on it. Drain water & repeat. Then hang up on (sturdy) hangar. After draining/drying overnight, turn it inside out & hang out to dry again.
There is actually a product sold for washing wetsuits. I have not tried it, but it is probably just a mild detergent.

I haven't tried uploading pictures to the forum, and this doesn't seem like the occasion to try it for the first time ;->

Jonathan

Would baggy and absorbant boxer shorts do? I have some made from nice thick cotton.

Jonathan

I turn mine inside out and wash them occasionally in the washing machine on delicate with no detergent. I hang them inside out afterwards to dry. I haven't experienced a smelly wet suit yet.

I use old mtn bikeing shorts w/the pad cut out OR better yet, spandex shorts that you can pick up from Walmart. They are the best thing I have found.

Will

Lycra bottoms and whatever those "skins" are made from are the way to go. No Campers butt, and no chafe
Dave Mosley
www.seacats.org

I know its not the right thing to do, and I know I'll probably get rubbing rashes from it, but I always go commando under my wetsuit, either that or just boxers :P

I dunno what a Scotsman would wear, but I just wear my boxers.

As for cleaning and washing, I just keep my wetty wet for a couple of days. It doesnt do them any harm, then I just chuck it on the clothesline till its dry and stuff it in my wetty-bag, same with my booties.

My wetty is a 5x3mm with some type of Titanium weave? - Its super warm though.

Same here.

You're supposed to wear something underneath?

I think some of us must have a natural buffer that prevents rashes

That's right. That's what I'll call my spare 20 lbs . . . a "natural buffer".

oh thank goodness - I thought you guys were talking about being hairy.

I highly recommend O'Neill rash guards of all types underneth wetsuits. They are very strechy, soft and the seams are on the outside so they do not dig into the skin.

I wear rash guard tops all year around, even in 100+ degree heat. BluePlanet, O'Neill and Mysterioso's are SPF rated between 30-50. Get'em wet and they stay cool, plus you avoid cancer!

Careful in the summer sun with rashguards, they make for some funky tan lines.

So here are the suggestions I have received on this thread or in private email:

1. "Nothing comes between me and my wetsuit"
2. Skimpy, Speed-o style swimsuits
3. Lycra shorts, which may cut down on sweat
4. Rash guards
5. Boxer shorts
6. Old bicycling shorts - presumably the lycra ones?

In private email, someone suggested that (1) is the most common, but (3) is becoming much more popular.

Is that about right?

Jonathan

You're right on track.

Surfers invented the wetsuit. No self-respecting surfer wears anything under their wetsuit except maybe an upper body rash guard. I've been using/wearing wetsuits for 20 years and would never dream of wearing anything underneath.