How To Optimize Drying Your Wetsuit And Booties
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Time to read 5 min
Introduction
Set yourself up for effective wetsuit and bootie drying by following this guide. Whether you use the SURFDRY or not (and you should!), there are ways in which you can enhance the speed at which your wet gear dries, and how dry it becomes.
Ideally you want to remove all the moisture from the inside of your wetsuit or booties for 3 main reasons:
- Comfort - no-one likes putting on damp gear. A small amount of remaining moisture still makes us feel cold.
- Health - avoid bacteria build up that can be bad for your skin (and really smells!)
- Gear life - if your gear stays damp then it degrades much faster, completely drying increases its lifespan
Whether you’re drying at home, in a van, or in a surf shack, these are the key environmental and mechanical factors that make the difference.
Did you know In the 18th century, people in parts of Europe believed that drying clothes outdoors at night was dangerous — because moonlight could make you ill.
This superstition, known as “moonstroke” led many to avoid hanging laundry outside after sunset. They thought that if moonlight touched damp fabric, it could “infect” the clothes with sickness. So people would either dry laundry indoors or rush to bring everything in before dusk.
The Complete Drying Guide
1. Always Rinse Off Salt and Sand First
Before drying, rinse your wetsuit thoroughly in fresh water — ideally lukewarm (not hot). Saltwater leaves crystalline residue that traps moisture inside the neoprene’s microcells and slows evaporation. Sand also prevents airflow against the fabric surface.
Best practice: After every session, submerge the suit in a tub or freshwater rinse tank.
Pro tip: Use a wetsuit shampoo every few sessions to really clean your gear.
Avoid: Leaving your wetsuit to “drip dry” while still salty — this can double the drying time and stiffen panels.
2. Remove Excess Water Before Hanging
Water weight stretches neoprene and additional water also increases drying time. Gently press or roll your wetsuit in a towel to absorb surface moisture before hanging. Avoid wringing or twisting the suit — this can damage glued seams.
Pro tip: Hang for 45 minutes at the waist before attaching the SURFDRY — gravity does an amazing job of ridding moisture, but only to a point!
3. Control Temperature and Humidity
Drying efficiency depends on two controllable environmental factors: temperature and humidity.
| Variable | Ideal Range | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Air Temperature | >72°F (>22°C) | Speeds evaporation while safe for neoprene |
| Relative Humidity (RH) | Below 60% | Lower RH accelerates moisture loss |
| Airflow Speed | ~1 m/s | Replaces saturated air at the surface |
Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. Relative humidity plays a big affect on drying and also the dew point, which is the point at which air is fully saturated with moisture. If the dew point stays below the wetsuit’s surface temperature, drying takes place. If the air is too humid (at or near dew point), moisture will condense actually back onto the wetsuit, reversing drying.
Optimized drying climate: the warmer the better. We recommend at least 65 °F (18.5 °C) and ideally 72 °F (22 °C) with RH under 50% (e.g., dehumidified indoor room). A much warmer room, as long as humidity is low, will dry even faster!
To avoid dew point issues: Keep the wetsuit in a dry room where the temperature is at least +8°F (3 °C) above the dew point (most dehumidifiers and even air conditioning units will automatically regulate this).
4. Maximize Ventilation and Air Movement
Even with warm, dry air, stagnant airflow traps evaporated moisture. A drying wetsuit in a small room can raise the humidity to the point of air saturation (dew point) at which point the suit no longer dries.
Position your wetsuit with adequate fresh air and ventilation, this could be a vented window, or ideally attach a SURFDRY.
Make sure there is adequate space around the hanging wetsuit, at least one foot (30 cms). This means that fresh air can circulate around your wetsuit whilst it dries.
Pro Tip: Avoid placing the wetsuit in direct sunlight — UV degrades neoprene and glued seams.
5. Use Indoor or Covered Drying Areas Wisely
A covered drying space prevents dew and rain from re-wetting the suit while maintaining air exchange. If drying indoors (garage, utility room, or bathroom):
Run a dehumidifier or air-conditioning unit (target 40–50% RH).
Ensure continuous airflow — an oscillating fan or open vent works best.
Avoid drying in enclosed bathrooms or inside vehicles without ventilation — trapped moisture quickly hits dew point, stalling evaporation.
If drying outdoors, choose a shaded, sheltered area with natural wind flow — like a porch or carport.
If you are drying in a bathroom, or smaller area, make sure it is well-ventilated to avoid excess humidity build-up.
6. Hang Your Gear Correctly
The wrong hanger can stretch your wetsuit permanently.
Always hang your wetsuit folded at the waist - never from the shoulders. Hanging wet and heavy gear from the shoulders will stretch that material.
Keep the wetsuit off radiators, stoves, or direct heaters. Neoprene begins to degrade above 180 °F (82 °C).
If you are hanging your wetsuit with a catch bin underneath, then make sure there's sufficient fresh air space above the bin. Otherwise your wetsuit may draw moist air from within the bin which will slow down drying.
7. Use The Right Drying System
SURFDRY is designed to optimize the drying of wetsuits and booties by aiding the removal of moisture from the inside surfaces of Neoprene. It uses a constant gentle airflow to remove moisture. Drying performance was tested by tracking moisture removal by weight.
The fan speeds are performance optimized for indoor drying, ultra-low noise and very low power consumption.
Some tips for using the SURFDRY:
- Connect one unit to the ankle and one to the wrist of your wetsuit.
- Check for outlet airflow at opposite ankle and wrist.
- A simple chip clip could be used to limit neck exit airflow to enhance exit wrist airflow.
- Waist hanging can pinch airflow at the upper legs, if the seat doesn't connect the two legs below the pinch point. Ensure a portion of the suit seat hangs below the fold so a complete airflow loop exists for the legs.
8. Summary: Ideal Wetsuit-Drying Environment
| Factor | Ideal Spec | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air Temperature | 72°F - 100°F (22°C - 38 °C) | Warm enough to promote evaporation |
| Relative Humidity | ≤50% | Controlled via dehumidifier |
| Airflow | ~ 3.5 ft/s + (1 m/s) | Fan or directed drying system |
| Shade | Yes | Avoid UV degradation |
| Space | ≥16.5 ft (0.5 m) clearance | Prevent trapped moisture |
| Dew Point | Dry at least +8°F (3°C) above the dew point | Avoid re-condensation |
Bottom Line for optimized drying
Optimizing drying is about controlling fresh airflow, temperature, and humidity — not just waiting for the sun.
A well-ventilated, warm, low-humidity environment protects the elasticity of your neoprene and enables drying your wetsuit for the next session faster.
With the right setup, you can reduce drying time by 50–80% and extend your wetsuit’s lifespan significantly — a win for: performance, sustainability and your pocket book!