How to Care for Your Tech Suit
Everything you need to know about washing, drying, and storing competitive tech suits to maximize their lifespan.
Before the swim
Put it on correctly
Use plastic bags on your hands to avoid snagging the fabric with fingernails. Pull the suit up gradually — never yank. Most bonded seam failures start with aggressive dressing.
Trim your nails
Short, smooth fingernails and toenails are your suit's best friend. A single snag from a rough nail edge can start a tear that spreads across a bonded seam.
Put it on dry
Wet skin creates friction that makes the suit harder to pull on, increasing the chance of overstretching. Start with dry skin and the suit slides into position with less force.
After the swim
Rinse immediately in cold fresh water
Chlorine is corrosive to bonded seams and water-repellent coatings. Rinse your suit in cold fresh water as soon as possible after racing. Never use hot water, soap, or detergent.
Air dry flat — never wring or machine dry
Lay the suit flat on a clean towel away from direct sunlight. Never wring, twist, or put a tech suit in a dryer. Heat and mechanical stress break down the bonded seams faster than anything else.
Fold along the original creases
Follow the care label instructions for folding. Most suits should be folded along the same lines they came in. Avoid bunching or crumpling — consistent fold lines distribute stress evenly.
Storage
Keep it out of your swim bag
Gear bags are crowded, unventilated, and full of hard objects. Fins, paddles, water bottles, and zippers all pose crush and snag risks. Your $500 suit deserves its own space.
Store with airflow
Trapped moisture accelerates degradation of bonded seams and water-repellent coatings. Store your suit in a ventilated environment where air can circulate around it.
Keep it flat and protected
Store your tech suit flat, not hanging. Hanging can stretch the fabric over time. Protect it from crush damage, direct sunlight, and extreme temperatures.
Built for exactly this
BeBox is a ventilated protective case engineered specifically for tech suit storage. Rigid shell prevents crush damage. Ventilation perforations provide passive airflow. Raised interior platform keeps your suit off all vent edges. One case, every suit you own.
Learn more about BeBox
Common mistakes that shorten suit life
Stuffing a wet suit into a gear bag with no protection
Using hot water, soap, or detergent to wash
Machine drying or wringing out excess water
Storing in direct sunlight or extreme heat
Hanging for extended periods — stretches the fabric
Sharing suits between swimmers with different body types
Protect the investment
A single tech suit costs $400–$675. Proper care and storage is the difference between 6 races and 12.