In the past few years I've found the internal structure of the neoprene in my wetsuits degrades at the elbows. The rest of the wetsuit is fine and the surface material at the elbow is fine but the internal foam fails and I get a cold spot right on the elbow.
Generally they fail at 100+ hours in. I had one fail at 30 hours and it was replaced under warranty. The suits are still toasty warm although there's a slightly annoying chilly spot, usually on the right elbow.
It's happened to older RipCurl suits and several needEssentials suits.
This never used to happen. I've had 10-15 year old wetsuits that looked perfect. It's not abrasion. I don't bash my elbows on the deck or anything. I mostly wing or kite foil.
Has anybody else noticed this? Can you suggest brands that might be more durable?
My suspicion is that the higher performance neoprene in more modern suits is less durable than the old fabric. I just had a look at all my warmer suits (3-6mm) and they all show signs of degradation at the elbows. A 2.2mm suit with similar hours looks brand new.
Have you got knobbly elbows?
Is there excessive stretch over them when you bend your arm?
There is nothing unusual about my elbows. They're about the middle of my arms. They bend.
I generally go a size larger for thick wetsuits, because it's much easier to get in and out of, so there's no issue of the suit being too tight. The less thick wetsuits are pretty much exactly as per the manufacturer's recommendation.
Elbow patches?
Like the knee patches, but for elbows
I think some of the newer neoprene materials may have sacrificed durability for elasticity and comfort.
I have repaired the older suits by cutting out the damaged area and gluing and blind stitching a new piece in. That's easy enough to do and works well. I'm not happy having to do it a year into the life of a premium quality wetsuit. I would be much less happy if it was an $800+ RipCurl suit.
The manufacturer did a repair where they glued and taped a second layer of neoprene inside the elbow. That worked ok but felt funny and the heat tape would peel a bit and I would have to heat it again.
If it's a common problem then I would like it if manufacturers added elbow reinforcement similar to the current knee reinforcement.
I bought a sharkskin long sleeve top a couple of weeks ago as I am fed up with the cost and the poor neoprene durability.
I'm very happy with it. Aussie brand also.
Put an extra patch on with glue. Suoer easy and effective to glue patches.
OT but you havent lived untill u try an open cell.
Total game changer for spearfishing
I can't see patching is going to work as it is the repeated movement causing the inside to fail. Your elbow moves the most (and stretches the suit the most, probably)
I agree they've given up durability for stretch in recent years.
I agree $800 for a suit is bloody madness, but look how cheap they can sell them on sale (same as brand boardies and tees etc). Its big fashion not big lifespan. So to my thinking, ditch the RipaQuikBong stuff and go for:
(1) not a brand that all the 18 y/o Instas just have to have and
(2) windsports designed suit
Thus - Severne, maybe NP, maybe Ion or Mystic ?
Caveat - never tried any of them this is just what seems to make sense in my head (not always reliable)
