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?

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).

NickT said..
Yep bodyboard fin saver straps. The water comes up the leg not the other way.

right on the money

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.

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.

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 .........

NickT said..
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.

NickT said..
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.

Plummet said..

flyingcab said..
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?

Cut all mine halfway between the ankle and bottom of the knee .......

never have Gumby legs again.

JohnnyMack said..
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...

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.

Plummet said...

flyingcab said..
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...

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.