Comments on: How can I reuse or recycle wetsuits?

By: Mick

Mick — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:13:20 +0000

get some patch kit from local dive shop and cut piece to put in the hole or find an old wet suit and cut a piece to put over it…

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:21:53 +0000

My dad always saved an old one or 2 to patch holes in our newer suits also u can make fin covers for your surfboards to protect younger surfers and fin keepers for swim fins. Scraps make great dive bags 2.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:22:59 +0000

I am looking for 2mm offcuts of neoprene (wetsuit fabric) in UK anyone help?

peter@pcallaway.freeserve.co.uk

By: Quinn

Quinn — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:08:04 +0000

If you’ve got a used wetsuit that’s still functional, we have an organization that will put it in the hands of someone in need who can use it…check us out!

By: LC

LC — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:50:02 +0000

I have a few ideas…
I think old wetsuits would make great covers for outdoor furniture pillows. Most of them usually only last a year with the cotton fabric. These would last a lot longer.
Liner for a trunk/truck bed/tool box
Bathroom Rug
Attach suction cups and make a bath tub mat

For the ladies:
Make up case/brush case
Oneill used to make these sweet bathing suits that were vintage styled and made of 1 mill neoprene. You could slice up your old wetsuit and turn it into a new bathing suit!
Beach bag/purse

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 02:32:58 +0000

Camelbak Hose Insulation:

-Often when I use my Camelbak outside in hot weather the water that sits in the tube rather then the bladder heats up easily and makes for a warm first gulp or two. You can buy insulating sleeves for the tubes to prevent water in tube from heating up but I figure you can make your own from an old wetsuit for less. Might be better to use material from 2 or 3mm suits.

Anyone tried this?

By: Adrian

Adrian — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:11:08 +0000

Camera protection or lens protection

By: Wouter

Wouter — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:45:03 +0000

I’ve used an old wetsuit to create a custom sleeve for my macbook:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wnicolai/2605647334/in/set-72157605774871670/

This sleeve is made from an almost 20 years old wetsuit, which had 2 parts: a jacket and pants. I’ve used the pants for this sleeve, the jacket is used for a 15″ laptop ( no pictures available).
Still using the sleeves everyday!

By: nick upton

nick upton — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:07:06 +0000

Patches for bicycle tyre repairs?

By: jdurney

jdurney — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:51:54 +0000

You may have already worked this one out – with regard to insoles. I currently am using neoprene as insoles for my orthotics (posture inserts) for my shoes. I’ve been using them almost daily for 4 months now and they’re still going strong. I think my podiatrist said that we wouldn’t need to replace them for a few years at least. Also, they are very washable!

By: daku

daku — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:27:56 +0000

You might consider making an .mp3 player cover or even a workout armband for your player.
Other ideas:
1. I’ve seen ski masks made of neoprene.
2. Perhaps a wallet?
3. it is a great material to make strap reinforcements out of for bags that can get a bit heavy.

By: Peter Callaway

Peter Callaway — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:30:59 +0000

I currently have a project and have been looking for 1 – 2mm neoprene, can anyone help

By: Petya

Petya — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:02:41 +0000

I saw a fantastic design for a DIY laptop bag at instructables.com.
It only uses neoprene for shock absorbtion but it’s still a good idea.

Here is the address
http://www.instructables.com/id/Laptop-bag/

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:58:14 +0000

Not a suggestion re. wetsuits but a more specific question: a mouse selfishly nibbled a hole in the armpit seam of my brand new wetsuit. How do I go about mending it?

By: Karlie

Karlie — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:32:53 +0000

If you carry beer in the cardboard tote that the 6 pack normall comes in, the bottles still bang one another and clank – or you could get a neoprene tote for cool and quiet bottles. http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/andmore_home/andmore_travel/57068.aspx?feature=Product_9

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:10:11 +0000

Neoprene has all kinds of uses in the motorcycling world, given its resistance to wind and water. I have a baclava made from it that could very easily be made from the leg of a wetsuit. I’d never make it through the winter without it.

Aside from all the clothing related possibilities, I’ve seen a lot of bike luggage made of neoprene, or at least with a neoprene layer covering the parts that touch the bike as it tends to be pretty paint friendly.

By: Heather from New Zealand

Heather from New Zealand — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:57:15 +0000

Gaiters! I think that’s what you call them in the US – things that cover the lower part of your legs so water doesn’t get in through the top of your boots in the woods. Here in NZ hunters make theirs out of neoprene (rather than the more traditional canvas) as it doesn’t ‘rustle’ as you walk and warn the game of your presence.

Also, I have neoprene orthotic inserts in my shoes and they last a couple of years before they get too crushed to help.

By: Alice

Alice — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:27:47 +0000

BTW what is a “clank-less tote”???

Also I am looking for material to make decent insoles with – does anyone know if neoprene would retain any “bounce” when crushed under heels for a long time? Would it just go flat?

By: Alice

Alice — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:25:30 +0000

I have a case for my mobile phone which is made from neoprene. I’ve had it (and the phone) for about 6 years now and it’s still going strong!

Most impressive thing about it – apart from how smart it looks – is that the whole thing bounces when I drop it. I’ve dropped it quite a few times in 6 years, too.

The design I have is excellent but hard to describe, and I can’t find a photo to post here. A design like this would be fairly simple to make though http://www.continentalstar.co.uk/images/pt_263.jpeg

By: Karlie

Karlie — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:34:51 +0000

Neoprene is used for a lot of fun things like a clank-less tote for your beer. So start cutting and sewing for some really unique and possibly useful objects.