Great tips Gorgo,
Plastic style coat hangers used for formal suits are the go as they are super wide and have pre- shape built into them.

Be careful draping a suit across a balcony rail or the back of a chair if it has been in the sun (the rail or chair) and has heat stored inside it.
Depending on the construction of the suit the stored heat can melt the material (especially if it is inside out). It could also end up looking like it has been branded by whatever you have lent it across.

If your wetsuit/booties start to emit that dank wet wetsuit smell a quick soak in water from the washing machine will sort it.
Simply chuck the wetty into a buck or trough in the laundry and when the washing machine is running through its rinse cycle, instead of letting the water go down the drain set it to fill the bucket or trough.
The mild soapy run off from the washing machine will not damage the material and will have it smelling like freshly washed clothes.

WORD OF WARNING
Do not... I repeat DO NOT leave the washing machine unattended while it is running its cycle other wise the bucket and or trough (or both) will fill up and then over flow onto the floor and then through parts of the house.... this will NOT put you in good standing with the other members of the household, especially the leader of the opposition. Trust me on this one !

Try not to leave your suits folded or scrunched up for long periods of time.
When you put your steamer into summer hibernation hang it up somewhere out of the sun (not on on thin wire coat hanger as outlined above) and with a sprinkle of talc inside it if its on the nose. Wash before storing of course !

Thanks for the tips guys. This cold weather advice is a lifesaver (literally)

Is it Ok to dry your suit with something like a hairdryer or one of those restaurant hand dryers?

Hi Guys,

If you have a really wet suit I suggest that you place it on top of a big beach towel and then roll it up and leave it for about 30 mins. most of the water will drain into the towel and significantly dry the suit out. do it a couple of times and your close to dry in an hour or so!

PS this was a Rod Hocker tip I learned when he an I had diner!

Phill

Sorry put this in the wrong thread....If you are really keen....

Another thing I haven't done since last winter is scotch guard my suit. It really helps limit wind chill dramatically when standing on a SUP in 8 degrees and 5 to 10knots in the middle of winter. We all know it can get cold.

I stopped doing it after my friend left Rays Outdoors. The Scotch Guard got too expensive.

Toughen up Princesses!!
Nothing better than an early morning winter surf in a cold wet wetsuit and then havin a pi## to warm it all up.
Bloody hair dryers on a wet suit, craziest thing Ive heard all day.
Boardbumps must be gettin soft. He would never of done that in the old days over here.
W