Best Wetsuit Drying Hangers – Dry In Hours, Not Days!

We all love how our wetsuits protect us from the cold, the sun’s harsh UV rays, and the occasional bruise or cut from hitting a rock. But hopefully you are showing your wetsuit a more tangible kind of love by properly taking care of it after a dive. As in, you need to thoroughly rinse the wetsuit with freshwater and then hang it out to dry; two simple tasks that many people get wrong. With the best wetsuit drying hanger, you can do this process quickly and easily.

In this article, we review the best wetsuit drying hangers that will help you dry your wetsuit in a matter of minutes. It will require some work on your part, but all in all it’s a relatively straightforward process. In addition to the review, we have written a guide and FAQ detailing how you can quickly dry your wetsuit. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

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Best Wetsuit Drying Hangers Recommendations

The best wetsuit drying hanger will be thick and wide so that it doesn’t stretch out or leave permanent marks on the shoulders or midsection of your wetsuit. All of the hangers below meet this very important criteria.

Ho Stevie! Wetsuit Hanger

The Ho Stevie! wetsuit hanger comes equipped with wide, vented shoulder pads that supports the sides of the wetsuit and increases air circulation. The shoulder extensions also preserve your wetsuit’s life by not stretching out the neoprene material.

Thanks to its heavy-duty polymer, the Ho Stevie! wetsuit can be used to hang any kind of wetsuit or drysuit. It is highly durable and can easily support even the thickest wetsuits without issue. Furthermore, this wetsuit hanger is foldable for convenient packing. This also allows it to fit through the neck opening of the wetsuit without stretching it, where you can then extend it to its full length afterward.

Niiwi Foldable Wetsuit Hanger

Next, the Niiwi foldable wetsuit hanger is yet another hanger with wide shoulder pads to prevent damage to the wetsuit when hanging it. (This is a common aspect of all wetsuit hangers, so be prepared for some repetition). The Niiwi hanger is compatible with all kinds of diving suits, be it a wetsuit or a drysuit.

To enhance its strength and durability, the Niiwi hanger is made using non-corrosive EP plastic. It is foldable which makes it easy for storage and travel. You can easily fit it through the neck of the suit without stretching the neoprene out. Furthermore, the Niiwi hanger can swivel a full 360° for more convenient hanging.

YUENA CARE Wetsuit Hanger

The YUENA CARE wetsuit hanger is constructed using high-quality plastic that is not only tough and lightweight, but also rustproof. It has a width of 51cm (20”) which is a standard size that should be compatible with most diving suits. The YUENA CARE hanger can be folded up with the press of a single button so that it can be inserted into the neck of the wetsuit without stretching it. This also makes it easier to pack into backpacks or luggage.

Looking closely at the hanger, you’ll notice it has perforations which increases airflow to facilitate faster drying of your wetsuit when hanging it on the rack. The extension arms are wide enough to prevent damaging the shoulders of the suit, and the hook spins a full 360°. Overall, a very solid hanger that you can’t go wrong with.

Underwater Kinetics HangAir Hanger w/ Built-in Fan

The Underwater Kinetics HangAir has an innovative design which combines a traditional hanger with a built-in fan. The idea is that its waterproof fan will quickly dry the suit and stop the developmental of odors and bacteria. It can be used for not just wetsuits, but rainsuits and other protective gear.

Additionally, the fan can push 120 cubic feet of air per minute, and power is supplied from a 100/240 VAC universal wall-mounted adapter. This product is very effective when it works, however some users claim that the quality control can be a bit unreliable. This is the reason why we aren’t recommending it as our first choice, however it is incredibly effective if it can consistently work.

Hang Pro Wetsuit Hanger

The Hang Pro slide wetsuit hanger has a unique design that makes hanging easy. Simply drape the wetsuit over the I-beam bar instead of hanging it from the neck/shoulder area. This is designed to eliminate shoulder wear which other hanger designs might cause. It is a great choice for long-term storage to keep the wetsuit’s shoulders from stretching. If you want your wetsuit to avoid significant fabric stress, consider draping your wetsuit over a Hang Pro slide wetsuit hanger.

XS Scuba Travel Wetsuit Hanger

The XS Scuba Travel wetsuit hanger is the perfect foldable wetsuit hanger designed for travel. It can hold over 20 pounds of weight and is extremely durable. What makes this product stand out is its extra hooks that extend out from the sides which can be used to hang scuba gloves as well. This is yet another solid hanger to consider.

Storm Scuba Wetsuit Hanger

The Storm Scuba wetsuit hanger is a very basic product with a one piece construction that is essentially just a sturdy hanger. It’s made of a durable plastic resin that is corrosion-resistant and supports up to 20 lbs (9.1 kg). This hanger does not fold up so be careful not to stretch the wetsuit when fitting it through the neck opening. This product is just a cheap, generic wetsuit hanger but it gets the job done if you are on a budget.

How to Dry a Wetsuit

If you are not sure of how to take care of your wetsuit without damaging it, you have to first keep in mind that the neoprene material it’s made of is different from common cloth material such as cotton. Whatever you do, do NOT leave it out in direct sunlight or put it in a clothes dryer.

After you finish your swim, surf, snorkel, or dive session, please do the following:

1. Rinse the Suit

You must always rinse your wetsuit with freshwater after using it to get rid of salt and other ocean particulates. If you feel that it’s really dirty, then give it a thorough wash using wetsuit cleaner or a mild soap. Make sure to wash both inside and outside, and to reach into all the nooks and crannies. Once you’re done rinsing or washing it, turn the wetsuit inside out and now it’s time to move on to step 2.

2. Hang the Suit

Use a wetsuit drying hanger to hang the suit. The reason why you should specifically use wetsuit hangers is because they are extremely thick and will not dig into the wetsuit’s neoprene material which could leave permanent marks. They are also much more durable than regular hangers to be able to support the weight of a wetsuit that’s still dripping wet.

Where should you hang your wetsuit? Ideally, you should hang it outdoors in a shaded area, making sure to avoid direct sunlight. Even though the suit can protect you from UV rays, leaving it exposed to the rays for a significant period of time will cause it to deteriorate rapidly. If possible, leave it underneath some awnings where it is exposed to fresh air but still kept away from the sun.

If you cannot leave it outdoors, then another option is to hang it in your bathtub. Make sure to crack open the window and leave the door so that there is proper ventilation. Leaving it indoors also protects it from being stolen, but it will not dry as quickly without much wind.

3. Squeeze out the water

After the suit has been hanging for about 10-20 minutes, you will notice water accumulating at the edges of the legs and arms of the suit. This is because the water has slid down from the upper parts to the lower parts, therefore the upper sections of the suit should be drying out nicely.

To speed up the drying process, squeeze out the pooled water from the legs and arms of the suit. You don’t have to do this, but if you need the suit dry ASAP, then perform the following steps.

For the arms, start squeezing it from the shoulder level all the way down to the wrists. Do NOT wring the suit, simply squeeze it by balling your hands up into a fist. For the legs, start from the thigh and work your way downwards. In general, start from the top and work your way down. Gravity will cause the water to travel downwards, so most of the water will naturally be at the bottom. Repeat this process every 20 minutes for as long as needed.

4. Let it dry

Once most of the water has been squeezed out but the suit is still moist, then most of the work on your part is done. Just be patient and let it dry. If your suit is made of neoprene, this process should only take an hour or two depending on ventilation. Another factor to consider is how thick your suit is; generally, thicker wetsuits take longer to dry than thinner ones.

If you want, you can also keep turning the suit inside out so that both the inside and outside can dry evenly. For thinner wetsuits, this may not make much of a difference. For thicker wetsuits, this can drastically speed up the drying process. If you follow the above steps, then your wetsuit should dry fast enough for a second session or for packing up to bring home.

Speeding Up the Drying Process

If you are in a rush and need your suits to dry ASAP, then try to do the following:

Dry it with a towel first

Before hanging the wetsuit up to dry, first wrap it up in a large towel and firmly squeeze it. The towel will suck up a lot of the excess water which should significantly speed up the drying time.

Hang the wetsuit in a windy/well-ventilated area

Fast-moving air increases how quickly water will evaporate from the wetsuit, and the result is a faster drying process. If you’re drying the wetsuit indoors, open up the window(s) and leave the door(s) open. If you have a fan, blow it directly at the wetsuit to increase air flow. When drying the suit outdoors, keep it away from the sunlight. Pray that it is a windy day, because mother nature’s fan is more effective than any man-made fan.

Squeeze the suit occasionally

As we mentioned above, this step is optional but beneficial. Every few minutes, squeeze the water out of the arms and legs that have pooled up. Take care not to damage the neoprene material when squeezing, whatever you do, do NOT twist it. Stretching the neoprene material will degrade its lifespan and possibly cause it to tear it if you are too rough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put the wetsuit into a dryer?

No. The heat from the dryer will damage the neoprene, effectively ruining it. If you read the care guide that comes with the suit, it will most likely tell you that putting the wetsuit in the dryer will void the warranty. Honestly, wetsuits dry quickly if you follow the steps outlined in this article, so just do that instead.

How long does it take for a wetsuit to dry?

The answer to this question depends on the material and thickness of the suit, as well as how involved you want to be and the environment that it is drying in. Under idyllic conditions where it is drying outdoors on a warm but breezy day and you are actively involved in the process, it can be as quick as two to three hours. Drying the wetsuit indoors will take a bit longer, unless the room is well-ventilated. On the extreme end, if you are trying to dry a wetsuit in the colder months such as winter, it could take the whole day or longer.

How do I leave a wetsuit to dry overnight?

For a hands-off approach, the best way to leave a wetsuit to dry overnight is to hang it in the bathroom. Leave the window and door open so it gets some fresh air. If you live in a safe area, you could leave it to dry on the balcony. Just make sure to take it indoors once the sun rises and starts to shine on it. You can also leave it out to dry in any room of your home by leaving a bucket underneath to catch the dripping water. If you have a ceiling fan or a portable fan, then you can drastically decrease the time it takes to dry.

Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API