How to Take Off a Wetsuit: Quickly and Gently
The session was great, your hands are numb, and now the wet wetsuit has to come off. At the latest when your heel gets stuck in the leg cuff and you’re hopping on one leg through the sand, it becomes clear: taking off a wetsuit is at least as tricky as putting it on.
The reason is simple. Wet neoprene sucks onto the skin, cold fingers grip less well, and after exercise patience often runs short. That’s exactly when seams and cuffs tear.
In this guide we show you how to take off your wetsuit quickly and gently – on your own, with a partner, in the cold and in the transition area.
In short: The best way to take off a wetsuit is to peel it off inside out from top to bottom: open the zip, roll the top down over your shoulders and arms, push the suit over your hips and strip off the legs one at a time. Don’t pull on cuffs or seams – grip the material with your whole hand and roll it.
Why is a wet wetsuit so hard to take off?
A wet wetsuit is hard to take off because a thin film of water between skin and suit creates a suction effect. In addition, the tightly cut material presses against the skin, and the cuffs at the wrists and ankles are the tightest spots.
After training, other factors come into play: your muscles are slightly swollen, your fingers cold and less dexterous, and you’re often standing on uneven ground. If you then pull in a hurry, you put strain on precisely the most delicate spots – hems, seams and zip.
The solution isn’t brute force but a technique in which the suit turns itself inside out. That way the material slides over itself instead of over your skin.
How do you take off a wetsuit properly?
Taking it off properly means: start at the top, turn the suit inside out and roll it down like a stocking. This sequence works equally well for back zip and front zip models.
- Open the zip: With a back zip, pull the cord downwards; with a front zip, open the chest zip and lift the neck piece over your head. Undo any Velcro at the collar first.
- Free your shoulders: Push the collar back and down over one shoulder. The shoulder slips out more easily if you roll it forwards at the same time.
- Pull out the first arm: Draw your arm inwards out of the sleeve so the sleeve turns inside out. Hold the cuff at the wrist with your other hand so the sleeve doesn’t come with it.
- Pull out the second arm: With your hand now free, the second side is easier. Turn this sleeve inside out too.
- Roll down the top: Roll the upper part inside out down to your hips. The suit now hangs on you like a pair of trousers turned inside out.
- Push over the hips: Grip the waistband with both hands and push the material down over your bottom and hips, still inside out.
- Strip off the legs: Push the suit down below your knees. Then one leg after the other: roll the material over your calf, step on the leg of the suit and pull your foot out.
- Turn the suit back or leave it inside out: For rinsing and drying, the suit can stay inside out at first – that way the inside dries first.
What if your heel gets stuck in the cuff?
If your heel is stuck, it helps to step on the leg of the suit and pull your foot out with your instep stretched, rather than tugging at the cuff. The cuff is both the tightest and the most delicate part of the suit.
If in doubt, sit down. Sitting, you can bend your foot, push the material away from your heel over your instep and help with the flat of your hand. A splash of water into the leg opening can release the suction effect if you’re standing by the water anyway.
What you should avoid: getting your fingernails under the hem or yanking at the cuff. Small tears in the cuff get bigger with every session.
Taking off a wetsuit alone or with a partner?
Taking it off on your own works without problems if you use the rolling technique; a partner helps mainly with front zip and zipless suits and when your hands are very cold.
Taking it off alone
With a back zip, the long pull cord is your best friend. Don’t let it disappear into the neck opening, or you’ll be fishing for it desperately. If slipping out of the shoulders is difficult, lean forward and let gravity do some of the work.
A handy trick for tight sleeves: with the hand of the same arm, grip the sleeve fabric at the elbow from the inside and pull your arm out backwards. That turns the sleeve inside out automatically.
Taking it off with a partner
Your partner grips the collar at the back with their whole hand and pulls it down over both shoulders while you stretch your arms backwards. This saves effort and protects the neck seal. For the legs, it’s enough for your partner to hold the rolled-down leg at the ankle while you pull your foot out.
Important: your partner shouldn’t pull on the ends of the sleeves or legs, but on the material that’s already turned inside out. Otherwise the cuff gets overstretched.
How do you take off your wetsuit quickly in the cold?
In the cold, you’ll get your wetsuit off fastest if you prepare in advance: clothes within reach, a spot sheltered from the wind, a changing poncho or a large towel. Every minute you stand wet in the wind cools you down further.
- Preparation before the session: Lay out towel, poncho and warm clothes so that you don’t have to search for anything. A flask with a warm drink is worth its weight in gold.
- Use the wind shadow: Change behind the car, a wall or a windbreak.
- Warm water: A container of warm water poured into the collar releases the suit from the skin and warms you at the same time. The water should be pleasantly warm, not hot.
- Accessories first: Take off gloves, hood and boots first, while your fingers are still nimble.
- Cover your upper body first: As soon as the top is down, put on a dry shirt or the poncho straight away before you deal with your legs.
Numb fingers are a warning sign. After cold-water sessions, pay attention to your body and warm up slowly. You’ll find more on this in our guide to cold water swimming.
Taking off your wetsuit in triathlon: the fast way
In triathlon, you take off your wetsuit in two stages: down to the hips on the way into the transition area, then the legs at your spot. That way you make good use of the running distance.
- Right after exiting the water, push your goggles and swim cap up or take them in your hand.
- While running, grab the pull cord, open the zip and pull your arms out.
- Roll the top down to your hips.
- At your spot, push the wetsuit over your hips and step on the material with one foot to pull the other leg out.
- Keep an eye on the timing chip: it sits on your ankle over the wetsuit and mustn’t be pulled off as you strip the suit.
This only works if you’ve practised it beforehand. You can read what a race day with a wetsuit transition looks like in practice in our report on the Rothsee triathlon.
How do you protect your suit when taking it off?
You protect your suit most if you never tug at edges, seams or the zip, but grip the material with your whole hand and roll it off inside out. The strain is then spread over large areas instead of a single seam.
| Spot | Typical mistake | Better like this |
|---|---|---|
| Neck seal | Yanking it over the head | Push the collar back over the shoulders |
| Sleeve cuff | Pulling on the cuff edge | Pull the arm out inwards, sleeve inside out |
| Zip | Pulling the cord at an angle and in jerks | Open straight and slowly |
| Knees and crotch | Yanking the legs down while standing | Push down over the hips with your whole hand |
| Leg cuff | Getting fingernails under the hem | Step on the suit leg, pull the foot out |
After taking it off: rinse with clean water and let it dry inside out in the shade. We’ve put together everything else about washing, storing and drying in our article on wetsuit care.
Where does FlipSoc help with taking it off – and where doesn’t it?
FlipSoc is first and foremost a dressing aid. It really comes into its own when you have to get straight back in after taking the suit off – for example for a second session with a wet wetsuit or when switching between dry practice and the water.
That’s exactly when the wet suit is particularly stubborn. FlipSoc, made of smooth ripstop nylon, is pulled over your foot or hand, and the neoprene glides through the cuff instead of sticking to wet skin. It works wet or dry and dries quickly, so after the session you simply rinse it and let it air-dry.
For taking the suit off, the rolling technique remains decisive. Rolling the suit off neatly inside out protects cuffs and seams – and means less hassle next time you put it on, because the suit stays intact. You’ll find the complete instructions for getting in in our guide How to put on a wetsuit.
Frequently asked questions about taking off a wetsuit
What’s the best way to get a wet wetsuit off?
Open the zip, roll the top inside out down over your shoulders and arms and roll the suit off over your hips and legs like a stocking. That way the material slides over itself instead of over your skin. A little water in the collar or leg opening can also release the suction effect.
Is it bad to take off a wetsuit inside out?
No, quite the opposite. Rolling it off inside out is the gentlest method because there’s no pulling on cuffs and seams. For drying, the suit can stay inside out at first; later you turn it back the right way.
Can I take off a front zip wetsuit on my own?
Yes, you can do it alone, but it requires a bit more shoulder mobility. Open the chest zip, lift the neck piece over your head and pull your arms out inwards one after the other. If your shoulders are stiff, a partner is helpful.
What do I do in the cold so I don’t get chilled?
Have your towel, poncho and warm clothes ready to hand beforehand and change in a sheltered spot. Take off accessories such as gloves first and cover your upper body as soon as it’s free. If you’re very cold or feel unwell, warm up calmly and take warning signs seriously.
How do I prevent tears when taking it off?
Grip the material with your whole hand, never by the hem, cuff or seam, and work without fingernails. Open the zip straight and slowly. If you take your time and roll the suit off inside out, you’ll avoid most damage.
Conclusion
You don’t have to force a wetsuit off. The inside-out rolling technique – zip open, top down, over the hips, legs off – is fast and protects cuffs, seams and zip.
In the cold, preparation is what counts; in triathlon, practice; and with a stuck heel, sitting down helps more than tugging. Treat your suit like this and you’ll enjoy it for longer.
And if you have to get straight back in after taking it off, a smooth gliding aid makes the difference: discover FlipSoc, the reusable dressing aid for your wetsuit.
