Need a wetsuit repair? Meet Rooted Ocean

The longer we can keep our gear going, the less we need to produce, say Lee Newby who runs a makers and repairers brand from Bude, North Cornwall

Please can you introduce us to Rooted Ocean…

Rooted Ocean is a makers and repairers brand founded in 2014. The initial concept was to create a manufacturing and repair model that wasn’t really seen in the outdoor world at the time. We loved to surf and hang out in the sea and so it was obvious that we needed to make surf and outdoor inspired gear that would last. After a lot of thinking around permaculture, the earth and other aspects, we realised that repairing not only what we make, but products by other brands, was the way forward. We started with wetsuits and grew the offering as it was required. We now pride ourselves on a full lifetime repair warranty on all our gear and operate a Repair Centre from The Workshop in Bude.

How does the Repair Centre work?

The Repair Centre is a simple feature within The Workshop. You can either book online or stop by to book your repair. Our team offers a 7-10 day turnaround and caters for pretty much everything, but primarily wetsuits (mainly rips, tears and zip issues) as well as zips and patches on changing robes, backpacks and boardbags. 

Why is it important to make our swimming gear last longer?

Historically, ocean going gear isn’t that environmentally friendly. Neoprene, while vastly better in the last few years, has notoriously bad eco credentials in terms of its production, working conditions and the carbon footprint of shipping it around the world. There are some interesting companies making real changes but we must do our bit as consumers, to make sure we keep our kit going as long as possible. After all everything, no matter how ‘eco’, is still a product! The longer we can keep our gear going, the less we need to produce.

What are the most common repairs needed on wetsuits?

The main repairs we see are connected to zip issues or rips; these usually require a patch. We remove the problem area and glue, stitch and tape in a new piece of neoprene, using salvaged neoprene where possible.

What happens to wetsuits after they’re thrown out?

There are some great wetsuit recycling companies now. Generally though, it requires shipping the waste suits around the world to get recycled. It seems counter productive, especially if the upcycled product then needs to be shipped out again. If a wetsuit can’t be fixed, we’ll still find a solution. We take a huge number of wetsuits in for salvage, stripping them for neoprene to use on other repairs. We’ve also recently launched a range of dog leads with waste neoprene in the handle.  

Do you have any tips for making a wetsuit last longer?

Keep it clean! Storing it in a bucket covered in sand doesn’t help with longevity. The zips corrode, and the nylon on the rubber perishes. Keep it clean and dry. If you’re storing it, a little spray of lubricant on the zip will help. The big one is: don’t leave it until the wetsuit needs five patches and a new zip before you book it in!