Stretching Neoprene

[fearthespear]

Hi all.

A bit of a long shot but worth a go. Does anyone have any methods of permenantly stretching neoprene? I have a pair of gloves that are a tiny bit too tight. If there are any tricks out there i'm all ears...

Big love

Ben

 

[sanso]

Hmm put on a pair of latex gloves (You know, the ones from the first aid kit).
Put the neoprene ones on over the latex.
Take both off at once. You might have to blow into the latex gloves so they come off.
Inflate the latex gloves as far as You dare and seal them.

Leave the gloves like that for a while, preferably in a warm spot.

Do this whenever You're not using them, until they remember their place. :t

 

[fearthespear]

Nice idea Sanso. I'll give it a whirl...

Thanks

 

[Mr. X]

Have you worn them in the sea yet? Just a thought but your hands will probably we a tad smaller in the cold sea than in a warm room.

 

[fearthespear]

Not yet X, they're new new new...

 

[foxfish]

Well I find gloves definitely stretch after a bit of use in fact my gloves at the end of the season look more like gauntlets!

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I wish it could be stretched. My entire wet suit seems to have shrunk quite a bit over this winter.

 

[deep thinker]

Neoprene kinda compresses with continuous use so wear em often like while driving to work on a cold day and so on :t rofl
Seriously perhaps try a bit of warm not boiling water to soften them up a bit and then hang them to dry with lead fishing weights in the fingers. That should lenthen them a bit, a better idea could be to see what happens when you stuff them with lead shot, like the lead in shotgun bullets. That could serve to lenthen and stretch them over the palms...
Good luck and lets us knows yes

 

[sanso]

lead shot. Much easier than inflating. Good idea.

 

[Pastor]

Bill, get your missus to watch those TV ads for hose adverts that tell you all about the latest washing powder that won't shrink or fade your gear. That's what I told my missus but that Slimfast stuff does a crap job of getting my suit clean

 

[KWM]

Like Bill my wetsuit shrinks every winter. And my bathroom scales start to lie.

Kev

 

[sanso]

... And my bathroom scales start to lie.

It's the cold, mate. The springs in these scales get very soft over the winter and take the whole summer to get back to their original shape. :t

 

[azapa]

Like Bill my wetsuit shrinks every winter. And my bathroom scales start to lie.

Kev

hahaha roflroflrofl

have you tried the gloves on wet? If they are not lined, as most freediving stuff is not, they will probably feel awful dry. just a thought..

 

[BennyB]

I find that most neoprene things feel horrible dry, but once a bit of water gets in they stretch around and fit much better.

I bought a triathalon suit a while ago that took ages to put on, I could barely zip it up at the back let alone breath in it, then when I got to the pool it ballooned like you wouldn't believe and was loose and flapping all over me. Back to the store and put on the size below (agony) which ended up perfect for the pool. Water weighs more than you think and it should stretch things out nicely.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[fearthespear]

Hey up all

I'll wear them in the bath tonight (are other people this wierd?!) and see if it helps...

Its normally not a problem with 2 or 3mm gloves, it's because these winter warmers are 5mm.

Thanks for the suggestions, they'll be enormous by the end of the season!

Ben

 

[KWM]

Dont let anyone catch you. You will never live it down if they do.

kev

 

[fearthespear]

If there's a chance of being caught it'll probably be worth going for a total 'kit up'...that wind up shark is gonna get it! (good chance i'll miss though)rofl

 

[flyflicker]

Fill the gloves full of large pebbles, they stretched my old suit to hell!!!!

 

[fearthespear]

Hehe...look at the spearo shop. They have these thingies called 'weight belts'. Everyones using them!roflroflrofl

 

[azapa]

i hear some seals swallow small pebbles to trim their buoyancy. I tried that with Curries but it seems to have the opposite effect...