to lube or not to lube

[Dan A]

just ordered a 5mm elios with smooth skin outer and metalite cell inside.do i require any lube to get this thing on or can i attemp to get in to it dry?

 

[Erik]

My experience is that you COULD get it on without lube but you will struggle, and it will be easier to damage the suit. With that lining you could get the suit on in the water with no lube, easier than an "open cell" lining, but IMO you're better off with some light lube.
But dry is gonna be a bitch, especially if you start sweating. And getting it off will be worse.
Cheers,
Erik

 

[foxfish]

Those metalite lined suits are very easy to get on & off if you DO use lube!
They become really slippery I would agree with Erik on all his other points.

 

[devondave]

I have the same suit and have to agree with all that Eric said , a light lube is easier and a lot less hassle than a torn suit .
Dave .

 

[azapa]

lube is half the fun! It will make your suit last longer too, less stress on and off. A good fitting suit will probably still have half or more of its lube when you remove it, helping the tired removal.

also, a well lubed suit will slide around into place, allowing easier breathing, arm bending, swimming etc.

always lube if you can.

in my case i must have a non-perfumed lube otherwise the repeated smell drives me mad on the 3rd or 4th use.

 

[foxfish]

in my case i must have a non-perfumed lube otherwise the repeated smell drives me mad on the 3rd or 4th use.

unfortunately it was only on the sixth occasion that poor old azapa realised that it was "that" smell that made him the way he is!

 

[azapa]

got me foxy. i like the plumber one here:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmy9R_WtPbg]YouTube - Doc Bottoms Aspray AllOver Body Deodorant Commercial[/ame]

 

[podge]

Can’t beat a bit of lube mate, I use a coconut smelling hair conditioner mixed with water.
Nice and slippery and it takes the smell of p**s away when you strip out of your suit at the end of the day.

 

[Dan A]

thanks for all the input. much appreciated. i will be lubing as suggested. I must admit i have been quite concerned about my choice of inner/outer on this one. My other elios is lined on both sides and is extremely resistant to my daily abuse. I hope that the added comfort of an unlined is worth it and not too delicate for my needs. Looks like i will have to stay well away from the rocks!

I never hear much about the sharkskin neoprene? Is this stuff popular? Is it any good?

 

[robdigital]

what do you guys use to apply your wetsuit lube? some kind of spray bottle

 

[Erik]

Yes I use a window-cleaner bottle or something similar. Also I've used a water bottle with a squirt top.
The best way to do this is turn the suit inside out, suspend it and spray it down with a spray bottle on "mist" setting. About 10% hair conditioner in water works great.

 

[robdigital]

ok thanks erik thats just what i was thinking

 

[foxfish]

I use a different approach & fill a 1L bottle with about a 10% solution but tip the whole lot into the suit.

 

[C-X]

I put some warm water over the body and in the suit (it’s cold in Scandinavia now). Then some water resolving skin lotion, which won't destroy the natural fat in the skin, like soap does. The skin lotion is easy to apply by hand.
Soap isn’t meant to be on your body for hours, and it can cause rash and other not so funny things.

 

[Erik]

I don't know anyone that uses soap as a lubricant.

 

[nz676]

diluted conditioner is your best bet. i bring one empty bottle one full conditioner then mix with water till i get the consistency im looking for, squirt it in then move it around with my hands and for added comfort as the water here is now 5 degrees add some warm water like stated above.

 

[C-X]

I don't know anyone that uses soap as a lubricant.

Unfortunately I do know a lot off divers using soap, and telling others that it's safe to do so. So I just wanted to state the dangers of using soap.

 

[Spear0Joe]

I tend to use any container that I can find in the house, ie Robinsons squash bottle, milk bottle, give a generous dollop of any shower gel ( what evers in the shower ), give it a good shake up, then pour into the two halfs of the wetsuit, and give each a good shake, hey presto.

 

[Erik]

No worries C-X; I agree that using soap would be crazy!