How to Put On a Wetsuit According to Wetwear

Wetwear's own guidance centers on its EZ-ON Jumpsuit, which the company describes as being as easy to get into as a shirt and pants. The key is the zipper system: you open the zippers, step in, and then close them once the suit is seated. Wetwear also provides a "How to put on a wetsuit" video on its site, so if you prefer to watch the process rather than read it, that is the most direct source. The steps below reflect what Wetwear states about the EZ-ON design and general wetsuit handling.

What the EZ-ON Jumpsuit Changes

Wetwear's EZ-ON Jumpsuit is built around zippers that open the suit up for entry, similar to putting on a shirt and pants. Two details from the product description matter for how you put it on:

• The zippers are backed with expansion gussets (described as polyurethane-coated Lycra in one section and lightweight rubber-coated Lycra in another) that close the gap behind the zipper.
• Because of that backing, Wetwear states there is no need to be concerned about water intrusion through the zippers.

That means your goal when dressing is not to force your body through a tight neck or wrist opening, but to open the suit, get your limbs seated, and then close the zippers so the gussets sit flat.

Steps to Put It On

1. Open all zippers first. Before you touch the suit to your body, unzip every entry zipper. This is the whole point of the EZ-ON design — the suit should behave like a jacket you step into, not a tube you pull over your head.
2. Step into the legs like pants. Seat each foot and pull the legs up to your waist, the same motion as putting on trousers.
3. Work the suit up over your torso and arms. Bring the shoulders into place and push your arms through the sleeves. If the neoprene bunches, smooth it out rather than yanking.
4. Close the zippers. Once the suit is seated, zip up. Check that the gusset material behind each zipper lies flat and is not folded or pinched, since that backing is what keeps water out.
5. Check the fit at the neck, wrists, and ankles. These are the openings that control flushing. They should sit snug against the skin without cutting off circulation.

Getting It Off

Wetwear highlights a second benefit of the zipper design: after a dive, you open the zippers to let air flow through the suit and cool you down on hot summer or tropical trips. So the removal process is the reverse of entry — open the zippers first, let air move through, then peel the suit off rather than dragging it over your head.

Choosing the Suit Before You Choose the Technique

How easily a wetsuit goes on depends partly on which one you buy. Wetwear offers the EZ-ON Jumpsuit in two neoprene types:

Thickness options are 2mm, 3mm, 5mm, or 7mm. Color options listed on the site are black, royal blue, purple, yellow, neon green, and red (one section of the page lists a shorter set without yellow and neon green, so confirm current availability when ordering).

Thicker neoprene is stiffer, so a 7mm suit will generally take more effort to seat than a 2mm one — another reason to open the zippers fully before you start.

Common Snags

• Zipper gusset folded or pinched. If the Lycra backing behind the zipper is not flat, the suit may not seal as intended. Smooth it with your fingers before zipping closed.
• Suit bunched at the shoulders or knees. Pulling a suit on in a hurry tends to leave folds that restrict movement underwater. Take a moment to smooth each section as you go.
• Fit problems that no technique fixes. Wetwear's site includes a customer note from Karen McCarthy, who is tall with long arms and legs and said off-the-rack wetsuits never fit her; she had a custom suit made. If standard sizing leaves gaps at the wrists, ankles, or torso, technique will not solve it — sizing will.

Where to Find Wetwear's Own Instructions

Wetwear hosts a "How to put on a wetsuit" video on its site, plus pages for selecting a wetsuit and ordering one. The site also notes its wetsuits have been made since 1976. If you want the visual walkthrough, start with that video; the written steps above follow the same logic the product description lays out.