Most people, whether they admit it or not, have peed in the ocean. Sometimes it’s the only option, and sometimes you’re just too lazy to trudge it up to the public bathroom.
For surfers, it’s pretty much inevitable with all the time spent out in the waves. Like you’re going to head back to shore three times and possibly miss the best ride of the day.
But surfers also wear wetsuits, so they’re not just peeing in the ocean, but also in their suit. Is there a difference to going in a wetsuit and is it ok to do? For the most part, it’s perfectly alright to pee in your wetsuit.
Peeing in your wetsuit is very much normal and ok. Some people do it to warm themselves up. Whatever it takes to get out there on a super chilly morning.
Some people just can’t hold it. There’s even a name for it, immersion diuresis.
When the body is immersed in water, it actually produces urine. It has to do with the kidneys and the water temperature, but the important part is you’ll definitely have to pee some time during a surf session.
There are a few reasons to wait until you’re back on shore though. Due to the ammonia and sodium chloride in urine, it will degrade the material and seams of your wetsuit if left for a while.
It can also give you a rash. Spending a prolonged period of time with urine rubbing up against your skin will not be very comfortable and can lead to skin irritation.
Then there’s also the smell. Peeing in your wetsuit can make it stink, again thanks to ammonia. However, these can be mitigated with proper care.
Washing and rinsing your suit properly will keep it from degrading and from any foul smells while flushing your suit will protect you against skin irritation.
Other than that though, there’s no reason to not relieve yourself out in the water.
Rules For Peeing in Your Suit
It may be ok to pee in your wetsuit, but there are certain rules to abide by.
Refrain From Going In Someone Else’s Suit
Don’t pee in a borrowed wetsuit. Not only is it rude, it’s kinda gross.
Besides, you don’t want to be known as the guy that stunk up your friend’s suit. No one will want to lend you their’s again.
More important than your reputation though, your friends really don’t want to be wearing your urine the next time they go to put on their suit. It’s one thing to go in your own, and quite another when you’re wearing someone else’s.
On that note though, definitely assume any rented or borrowed suit has already been peed in. It may sound gross, but it’s just a fact.
While you can’t pee in your friend’s suit, they probably already did. And if you’re renting, all the people that wore it before you probably did too. If it’s your only option though, you do what you gotta do.
Don’t Go In a New Suit
Definitely don’t go in a brand new wetsuit until you’re absolutely sure you’re going to keep it. There’s a couple reasons for this.
First, you can’t return a soiled suit. It won’t matter that you have your receipt if you’re trying to return a wetsuit that smells like the alley behind a bar. Maybe not that bad, but you get the point.
If there’s a smell, the employee will notice it and you’re definitely not getting your money back. Besides, it’d be pretty embarrassing to be told you can’t return a wetsuit because it smells like pee.
The second reason is that it’s just rude. After you return a wetsuit, someone else is probably going to buy it.
That person does not want to be wearing something that you peed in. So be courteous to the future owner, and refrain from going in a new suit if you’re unsure that it’s the one.
Drain Your Suit
When you’re out in the water, drain or flush your suit after peeing. While the warmth might be nice for a minute, letting it sit too long will start to smell.
Let some water in through the neck before diving under to help flush it out. It will help clear out the urine and keep your suit a little more fresh.
Of course, if you’re in particularly frigid waters where there’s a risk of hypothermia, you might not be able to. In that case, rinse off thoroughly as soon as you’re out of the water.
Draining or flushing your suit will help keep it from smelling, but it’ll also help protect your skin. When you sit or lay on your board with a wetsuit full of pee, your skin can develop a rash.
This skin irritation is not unlike diaper rash in babies and is caused by the constant rubbing against your skin. Flushing out your suit will help prevent this so do yourself a favor and clear out the residue.
Washing Your Wetsuit
If you’re letting it go out in the surf frequently, or even every now and then, keeping up on the cleanliness of your wetsuit is super important.
Not only will it keep your suit smelling fresh, it’s also important to keep it lasting as long as possible.
Neoprene, the fabric suits are made of, is delicate and needs to be cared for properly. And since wetsuits can be pretty expensive, you want to do your best to help make it last.
Rinse It Out
We mentioned the importance of rinsing your wetsuit, but it’s worth breaking it down as it’s an imperative step. Use fresh water to rinse your suit after surfing.
The showers at your local break are perfect for rinsing off. If your break doesn’t have showers, try keeping a jug of fresh water in your car to clean up after. You can rinse off while still wearing your suit, but make sure to get the inside as well as the outside.
The best is to rinse off at the showers and go home immediately after to hose it down again so you can get the inside. It helps keep any urine from getting stuck in your fabric and keeps it from growing any gross bacteria.
Soap Up
Most of the time, rinsing is good enough to clean up your wetsuit after surfing, but if you’re peeing in it, you should actually wash it more frequently.
Never put a wetsuit in the washing machine or dryer. The washing machine will beat it to death, while the heat from the dryer will destroy your wetsuit. Think of it like a wool sweater, it needs extra love and care.
Instead, wash your suit in the bathtub, or maybe a really big sink. Fill it with cool or lukewarm water. Again, heat is terrible for your wetsuit so stay away from hot water.
Use a shampoo specifically for wetsuits, or a super mild detergent if you don’t have any. Baby shampoo is a good alternative.
Don’t scrub the fabric together as the rubbing will mess with the fabric. Do make sure you’ve fully soaped up though, especially the crotch since that’s where all the bacteria will grow from trapped urine.
Once you’re satisfied with your wash, drain the tub and rinse again until there’s no suds left behind. While shampoo left in your suit won’t stink like your pee, it’s not good for your suit.
Dry
You already know you’re not sticking your wetsuit in the dryer, but there’s still a good way and a bad way to dry your wetsuit.
Now that it’s clean, hang your suit in a cool, shady place. Under a tree is perfect, but if you don’t have that option, your bathroom works too.
Never lay it out in the sun, you’ll end up with a hard, cracking suit. The sun is too intense for wetsuits, much like the dryer.
Dry it inside out first, then flip it and dry the outside. This prevents any mold or bacteria from growing on the inside due to prolonged dampness.
Plus, it may take a couple days to fully dry and if you’re going out before then, at least the inside will be dry when you put it on. Getting on a damp suit is just not fun.
Hanging
It may seem simple enough, but there’s a specific way to hang up your wetsuit.
When going to dry it, don’t hang it through the shoulders. A wet wetsuit is super heavy, by hanging it through the shoulders the extra weight will seriously stretch it out.
This thins out the material and causes it to fit improperly, leading to your wetsuit not doing its job by letting in too much water.
Instead, make sure you have an extra wide hanger, and slide it through, laying it in half by the waist. A wide hanger is important to prevent any bunching which will lead to uneven drying and bacteria production.
Another option is to use two hangers and lay it flat through them both. This will prevent creasing through the waist. You don’t want to lay your wetsuit out on a surface, as this will prevent both sides from drying.
Related Questions
What Do You Wear Under a Wetsuit?
What you wear under a wetsuit is a matter of preference. You can wear nothing, your swimsuit and even a rashguard or thin wetsuit vest for extra warmth.
Some people like to wear nothing at all, but it has drawbacks. Generally being that you can’t take your suit on and off at the beach.
Unless you’re doing the thing where you wrap the towel around your waist and struggle one handed.
A lot of people wear swimsuits. For women it’s pretty easy since swimsuits are built like underwear, but it can be uncomfortable if you wear boardshorts. European style men’s swim trunks can work better.
Rashguards and vests will provide extra warmth but are unnecessary if the water isn’t freezing.
How Often Do Wetsuits Need to Be Replaced?
The lifespan of a wetsuit depends on the suit, how you take care of it and how often you use it.
High performance suits made of thinner, extra stretchy material may not last as long, a season or so. Same if you surf everyday, your suit may last a year.
Other suits made of sturdier, less stretchy material can last you longer, like two seasons or so. If you only surf a couple times a month, your suit could even last years.