What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £150 (~$200) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £128 (~$170) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £98 (~$130) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £68 (~$90) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £38 (~$50) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Getting it home — large gym equipment is a collection sale and usually needs two people and a van. On boards and hulls, water ingress that has already softened the core.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a wetsuit is worth what is being asked:
- Stiff, perished neoprene from age or sun
- Split seams, especially under the arms
- Corroded or seized zips
- Persistent odour from poor rinsing
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Supple neoprene with no stiffness
- Intact glued and blind-stitched seams
- Working zips with no corrosion
- Recognised surf and dive brands
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit premium racquets and golf clubs exist and typically show in the serial markings and the finish quality on the head.
Ask for the weight and dimensions before agreeing collection. On boards, ask the seller to tap along the deck and say whether the tone changes.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a wetsuit, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Stretch each seam and look for splitting or delaminating tape. Leaking seams make the suit cold and the buyer will find out on the first session.
Rinse it, dry it fully and be honest. A wetsuit that was stored damp keeps the smell and it is the standard complaint in this category.
Read the label. A 3/2 is a summer suit and a 5/4 is winter, and buyers filter on it before anything else.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Stretch the neoprene and check it returns
- Turn it inside out and inspect every seam
- Work the zip fully
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The suit laid flat, front, full length
- The zip and its full travel
- The seams at knees, shoulders and crotch
- The seals at neck, wrists and ankles, plus any tear or perishing
Details to confirm before you commit
- Thickness in millimetres, stated as body/limb
- Size and the maker’s own sizing convention
- Zip type and whether it runs fully
- Seam and seal condition, and any tear, delamination or perishing
Live wetsuit listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse sports & outdoors for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
April through September for summer suits, with winter suits selling into autumn. Off-season listings sell slowly.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a wetsuit sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell wetsuit for what to photograph and how to price, or what wetsuit is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used wetsuit?
Around £20 to £98 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a wetsuit before buying?
Ask for the weight and dimensions before agreeing collection. On boards, ask the seller to tap along the deck and say whether the tone changes.
Is buying a wetsuit second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Getting it home — large gym equipment is a collection sale and usually needs two people and a van. On boards and hulls, water ingress that has already softened the core.
See also: all buying guides · wetsuit value guide · selling wetsuit · Sports & Outdoors · condition grades.