A well-fitting wetsuit can make you faster, warmer, and more buoyant — but when something goes wrong, it can cause major discomfort. Here’s how to fix the most common wetsuit issues quickly.

1. Water flooding into the suit

If you feel sudden cold water rushing in:

Pull the neck seal gently outward for 1–2 seconds
Let trapped warm water drain
Re-seat the collar against your skin

This helps restore the seal.

Cause: Neck not seated properly, or collar folds.

2. Shoulder tightness

This is the most common complaint.

Fixes:

Pull material up from the legs and hips before zipping
Ensure the armpit panels are snug to your skin
Lift arms overhead to settle the shoulders

If it still feels restrictive, the suit may be too small or too stiff.

3. Wetsuit rubbing or chafing

Hotspots usually appear on:

Neck
Underarms
Back of the knees

Fix:
Apply Body Glide, Vaseline (if race-legal), or triathlon-specific anti-chafe balm before swimming.

4. Difficulty getting the zipper up

If the zipper keeps catching:

Pull the suit higher on hips and torso
Make sure shoulder panels aren’t folded
Ask someone to zip you while you hold the top together

Lubricate the zipper with wetsuit-safe silicone spray if it sticks often.

5. Feeling like it’s “pulling you down”

Usually due to:

Legs not pulled up high enough
Torso section too low
Incorrect size

Fix:
Grab the material halfway down each leg and shimmy it up in small sections until the crotch sits properly.
Then pull excess upwards through the torso.

6. Cold water shock

If the suit feels freezing at first:

Splash water inside the neckline before starting
Let your body warm it up
Do a short water warm-up to acclimate

7. Tears or small rips

These are fixable.

Use:

Neoprene glue
Wetsuit repair patches

Fix them ASAP so they don’t spread.

When to replace your wetsuit

Panels no longer fit tightly
Neoprene cracks or splits
Zipper repeatedly fails
Water flushes constantly

Summary

Most wetsuit issues come from poor fit or incorrect positioning. With a good pre-swim setup and a few small adjustments, you’ll stay warm, buoyant, and comfortable throughout the swim.

Wetsuit Troubleshooting