Why a Semi-Dry Wetsuit Gets Cold and What to Check Before Winter
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Causes of a Semi-Dry feeling cold
You're wearing a winter Semi-Dry, yet it feels colder than before. It's cold the moment you enter the sea. Water comes in from the neck, wrists, and ankles.
If you have these symptoms, there may be a cause of deterioration or leaking somewhere in the Semi-Dry. A Semi-Dry is an important tool for protecting body heat during winter surfing. Even a small leak leads to significant cold in winter.
Before replacing it, it's important to first identify where the cause is.
1. Water is entering from the neck area
A common cause of feeling cold in a Semi-Dry is leaking from the neck area. The neck section is easily pulled during putting on and taking off, where rubber stretching and cracking appear easily.
- The neck area is stretched out
- There are cracks in the neck section
- The inside of the neck is peeling
- A gap has formed at the neck
- Water enters during duck dives or wipeouts
Depending on the neck condition, it can be improved with part replacement or repair. However, if the size itself doesn't fit, repair alone may not fully resolve it.
2. Water is entering from the wrists and ankles
The wrists and ankles are also commonly checked spots for Semi-Dry leaks. If the wrists and ankles become loose, water enters more easily during paddling or riding.
- The wrists or ankles are stretched out
- The rubber is split
- The inner bonding has peeled
- There's a gap with the boots or gloves
- Water enters every time you move
For small splits or peeling, it can be improved with repair or part replacement. Checking before winter sets in gives peace of mind.
3. Water is entering from the zipper section
Water can also enter from the back zipper or the chest zip section. Causes can include zipper deterioration, slider failure, or tears in the surrounding fabric.
- The zipper is hard to close
- The slider comes off easily
- The fabric around the zipper is torn
- Cold water enters from the zip section
Depending on the zipper's condition, the repair method varies—slider replacement, partial repair, or full zipper replacement. Continuing to force it open and closed can damage even the surrounding fabric.
4. The fabric has hardened
An old Semi-Dry may have hardened fabric itself. When the fabric hardens, it conforms to the body less well and gaps form more easily. As a result, water enters more easily, leading to cold.
- Harder to put on than before
- Hard to move in
- The fabric has turned whitish
- There are fine cracks
- The elasticity has declined
If the whole fabric has hardened, partial repair alone may not fundamentally improve it. In this case, considering replacement over repair may be better.
5. The knees, crotch, or seat area are damaged
The knees, crotch, and seat area easily bear load during surfing. Even a small hole or wear becomes a water entry point in winter.
- The knee pads have thinned
- There's peeling in the crotch section
- The seat area is worn
- There's a small hole
- An adhesive mark has peeled off again
Checking such symptoms early can keep the repair scope small. Left alone, tears spread and repair costs can rise.
Points to check before winter
Before full winter arrives, checking the following spots gives peace of mind.
- Neck
- Wrists
- Ankles
- Around the zipper
- Knee pads
- Crotch section
- Seat area
- Previously repaired areas
Especially if you recall feeling colder than last year, we recommend an inspection before the season.
Cases that can be repaired
If the condition is like the following, there's a chance it can be improved with repair.
- Only part of the neck, wrists, or ankles is deteriorated
- Partial issues around the zipper
- Knee pad wear or holes
- Peeling of bonded areas
- Small tears or splits
- The fabric overall is still soft
Depending on the condition, it can be handled with part replacement, re-bonding, backing reinforcement, or fabric patching.
Cases where replacement should be considered
On the other hand, not every Semi-Dry is suited to repair. In the following cases, we may recommend replacement over repair.
- The whole fabric has hardened
- Water enters from multiple spots
- The neck, wrists, and ankles are all deteriorated
- Repair costs become too high
- A fairly old Semi-Dry
Whether it can be repaired or replacement is better becomes easier to judge by checking the condition with photos.
Spots we'd like you to send when checking by photo
When consulting via LINE, sending the following photos makes it easier to check the condition.
- A photo of the neck area
- Photos of the wrists and ankles
- A photo around the zipper
- Photos of the knees, crotch, and seat area
- The spot where you feel water enters
- A photo of the whole wetsuit
Photos alone may not allow us to finalize an official price, but we can confirm the general direction of whether it's repairable or whether replacement is better.
Check your Semi-Dry's condition before winter
If you have symptoms such as feeling colder than before, water entering, or loose neck, wrists, or ankles, please consult us before full winter. We'll check whether it can be repaired or whether replacement is better.