Iv got a flash bomb and now that it's right into wetsuit weather Iv forgotten how annoying it is for the bottom/ankles of your wetsuit to fill with water.
Someone's mentioned drilling a few holes into the ankles? But I don't really want to do that to a $600 wetsuit.
Anyone have any ideas?
The old elephant legs trick aye.......
Get out that soldering iron and melt some holes. and or get some Velcro straps.
Velcro straps would hold the water in there even more wouldn't it?
Water would still make its way in??
I cut the holes with sharp scissors on the back of legs towards the end of calf muscle (30mm diameter or so, one hole on each leg).
It works, the water does not stay in the legs, but one annoying thing is that the heel catches on the holes when you put the wet suit on.
Front of legs (bottom of shins) could be a better spot maybe (maybe not, the water may not drain as easily, when you fall the water may get ‘injected’ through the holes on the shins – don’t know, perhaps someone had them cut there and can let us know).
BTW, tried drilling holes with 32mm door lock drill bit - did not work. Use sharp scissors and make sure there are no sharp corners on the cut-out (oval or round hole).
With winter coming, get a pair of booties (neoprene boots).
Or if your into wakestyle, get some bindings, haven't had any problems with this since making the switch.
Yep bodyboard fin saver straps. The water comes up the leg not the other way.
right on the money
You get legs full of water because the wetsuit turns under itself and then only lets water in - not out
Don't cut or burn holes in your very expensive wetsuit !! I went to spotlight and bought hook and loop 50mm wide Velcro for next to nothing and made up Velcro cuffs for the legs of my wetsuit - at your ankles ! it wont stop the water shooting up your legs BUT it does stop the wettie leg from turn in on it self and sealing the water in !
I find it is important to make the loop (smooth) bit of the Velcro cuff shorter and the hook bit longer so that it grabs a bit of the outside of the wettie to stop it sliding down - if that makes sense??
Even with velco so tight you cut the circulation off to your legs you can still get water up there..... the best is vecro straps and melted holes in the back.
if you kite 100% then imho mystic wetsuits are the go, my star 4/3 was cheap as chips with ancle vents and Velcro for easy access, might not have the thrills and spills as your bigger named surf brands but as a kiting wettie they are the go
I just use bits of thin bungy cord ( $3m at bunnings) tied to the right size to fit my ankle. No more elephant legs, might just stop once in a session to let a bit of water out. Soon it'll be high top booties that do the same thing.
+1 for soldering iron holes and Velcro straps. If it's a kite specific like my ion strike it already has these built in.
Plummet - the aim of the Velcro is not to stop the water getting in - sometimes it comes in around the neck of your wetsuit - it stops the wetsuit turning in on itself at your ankles and stopping any water getting out - it doesn't need to be overly tight cuz as I said it doesn't aim to stop the water shooting up your leg !!
Ive been kiting with Velcro ankle straps for 6 years and its the only thing that stops elephant legs with out damaging (on purpose) your expensive wetsuit
I would strong recommend that peeps try the Velcro thing before burning or cutting their much loved wet suit .........
My booties come up over my wetty leg bottoms and have Velcro straps built in. Never have any dramas with water shooting up the leg and really minimal water goes down neck
Yep bodyboard fin saver straps. The water comes up the leg not the other way.
Fall over and water goes down the neck, ends up in the legs too. And you'll still get spray blasting up the legs, even with straps on tight.
Straps plus holes are the ticket to almost completely elimanating elephant legs.
Fine soldering iron tip, from the inside out - you want to just get the tip to poke through the outside. A tiny hole is all you need, and the heat will qauterize the suit... About an inch above where the steals would be, in the middle at the back.
I'm going to try heating up a needle and seeing if a hole that small will work too.
Piss in there and it will fill up too brand new $600 wettie i would never put holes in it!
You would never put pin holes in but are happy to piss in a $600 suit? Weirdo!.
Booties work fine and give you much better grip. Don't piss in a seam sealed suit unless you want to stew in your own piss, or jump in and flush it out.
If you don't piss in your suit I think you're the weirdo Plummet
Then I am indeed a weirdo. I don't piss my pants any other time of the day. Why should I start to piss my pants in a because i'm in a wet suit?
If you don't piss in your suit I think you're the weirdo Plummet
Then I am indeed a weirdo. I don't piss my pants any other time of the day. Why should I start to piss my pants in a because i'm in a wet suit?
Zigackly! Nasty...
... holes in your suit - how are the seams sealed? Stitched, right?
Make sure you don't have any folds on your wetty and size is right you shouldn't have a problem. On the other issue... So there are people out in the water busting for piss and hold on ahaha Why piss in your wetty? same reason a dog licks its balls
I put 3 holes at the back 50mm up from the bottom leg ends this arvo using the sharp cone soldering iron tip, turn the legs inside out so the cone shape is bigger on the inside, placed on a piece of wood then pushed it in so you get like a 3mm hole inside to 1mm outside, it works perfect I went for a kite and was watching the water piss out the holes as I was travelling along. When I finished no cankles
Make sure you don't have any folds on your wetty and size is right you shouldn't have a problem. On the other issue... So there are people out in the water busting for piss and hold on ahaha Why piss in your wetty? same reason a dog licks its balls
Tosh.
You can't go a couple of hours without a piss, or don't have the forethought to go beforehand? Wow...
my god a simple length of velcro wrapped around the leg above the ankle solves all water issues . I have a patagonia front zip wetty so around my neck is almost watertight so not much water gets in
You're just not face planting hard enough, dusta! Actually, it's body dragging that puts the water down my neck hole...
Spray at still get up the legs, even with straps but the problem is greatly reduced. Not eliminated, though.
I'm missing something. I'm still wearing boardies and just complain about getting cold after. Just hate those cankles.
If you don't piss in your suit I think you're the weirdo Plummet
Then I am indeed a weirdo. I don't piss my pants any other time of the day. Why should I start to piss my pants in a because i'm in a wet suit?
Buy a Zhik wetsuit.. They have a wee flap in the crutch.
Added bonus they also have holes in the calves as standard...
I piss in my wetsuit when ever i need to let it go. It puts me off my riding when I have a full bladder + when its cold it warms you up too.
If you go the option of velcro straps head to Big W, Kmart or wherever and get the Jarvis Walker fishing rod velcro straps for about $4 a pair. They're wide neoprene straps with velcro fasteners over. Nice and wide and comfy, so they can be tight enough to stope the water shooting up but not so tight as to be uncomfortable.
As for the extra fluid getting into the cankles from peeing in the wetsuit, if I've gone to the trouble of pissing in my wetsuit I want that warm goodness kept in.