Making your own wetsuit

[Graigwen]

Ah yes, the talcum powder. I had almost managed to obliterate the memory of that.  Here is Mrs Trellis's account of a first visit to Llygad Llwchwr in late 1966 or early 1967:

On our first visit there we were welcomed incredibly warmly by the farmer's wife. She immediately gave us permission to cross the land and, when we asked her for a barn to change in, insisted that we use the front parlour of the farmhouse. This was complete with harp, piano, antimacassars?the full monty! A liberal dose of talcum powder eased the wet suits on and turned the front parlour into a snow-laden Santa's grotto. The conflicting fragrances of the different brands of talc was redolent of the type of establishment occurring in ports of call rather than a chapel-reared farmhouse parlour. On returning from caving there were steaming mugs of coffee and bara brith. Such halcyon days!

Available online at:  https://www.abercavers.co.uk/thrutch/015/#h-02


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[Pitlamp]

I could never really understand why unperfumed talcum powder was always more expensive than the smelly stuff.

 

[Addy]

We bought ready made wetsuits in 1978 from Wemlor Marine who, I seem to remember, advertised in Descent or one of the climbing mags. Took measurements as per the guide and sent off the dosh. We could have bought them as kits but it was little more to have them taped and stitched - fully assembled. They were 4mm shark-skin neoprene and lasted for ages (with various repairs and patchings of course).
My suit was nicked with the car and all my other climbing and caving kit in 1984.

Bought a Warmbac suit from eBay a few years ago and that's still in use... 

 

[pwhole]

I could never really understand why unperfumed talcum powder was always more expensive than the smelly stuff.

They have to take all the Uranium out of the unperfumed

 

[Wolfo]

Maybe ask yrammy 
I remember from some old forum contest she had a pretty peeling experience with selfmade suits.

 

[NickRT91]

After a little bit of digging for patterns I found this: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/992148995/kwik-sew-2335-1990s-men-wetsuit-sewing

 

[Pitlamp]

I just found that the price of the Oliain wetsuit from Decathlon has changed from ?129-99 to ?199-99.    I think they're manufactured in France, so this is probably the fault of all those people who were conned into voting for Brexit.

Having said that, I've caved (and cave dived, in combination with other neoprene garments) a lot in the suit since I bought it and I do like it, so I'd be tempted to fork out even this much for a replacement. Some of the very similar competition would set you back >?300 if you were daft enough to spend that much on something that may not last too long if caving seriously in it.

Incidentally Decathlon does also sell what looks like an equivalent Oliain 4 mm / 3 mm suit but with a back zip for only ?69-99. (I don't get on with back zips though.)

UPDATE - which may be of interest if you had considered one of these.

If you're similar to me (6' 2" and fairly light frame) you'll need an XL size. XL seems to have been out of stock for a while though. I've been waiting for them to become available again because mine's been hammered this year and I wanted one to put by as they're so comfy - despite the now exorbitant price due to Brexit.

I saw today that there are some available again in XL and the price is now a bit less at ?179-99. But there were only four in stock. If you want one you'll find there are now only 3 in stock (as I type) as I just placed an order. The up to date link is:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-4-3-mm-neoprene-wetsuit-surf-900/_/R-p-302344?mc=8504145&c=BLACK

 

[yrammy]

My mate made his own wet suit but cut our one leg piece one way and three leg pieces the other  half a leg was always inside out. .

My first attempt - unlined very thin neoprene  - got wrecked on its first trip  - Ireby Fell I believe. Mended it with masking tape for the send day caving - I looked a little like The Mummy. 

Photo two - no comments on technique and equipment please - surprisingly I survived

 

[Mark]

I think it was Norman Flux who was given a bag of bits of neoprene (lined and unlined) (3 - 6mm) (sharkskin and smooth) from Namron in Sheffield.

He stuck all the bits together and made a piece big enough to make all the bits of a wetsuit using a second hand pattern.

The resulting harlequin wetsuit dropped to bits on its first trip.