How to Sell a Damaged Wetsuit

A damaged wetsuit is still worth selling — typically £8 to £38 at For Parts, against £30 to £150 undamaged.

Can you sell a wetsuit that is damaged?

Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.

The damage buyers look for on wetsuits

These are the flaws that move a wetsuit down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:

Stiff, perished neoprene from age or sun
Split seams, especially under the arms
Corroded or seized zips
Persistent odour from poor rinsing

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £14 to £68. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £8 to £38. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.

Working out what you actually have

Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:

Stretch the neoprene and check it returns
Turn it inside out and inspect every seam
Work the zip fully

Photographing the flaw

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

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

What to state in the listing

Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged wetsuits want these confirmed:

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

Thickness, size and type: “O’Neill 4/3mm Wetsuit, Mens Large, Back Zip”. Thickness in millimetres is the primary filter because it decides the season. Say back, chest or zip-free, since surfers have firm preferences.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

“Do the seams still hold?”

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.

“Does it smell?”

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.

“What thickness is it?”

Read the label. A 3/2 is a summer suit and a 5/4 is winter, and buyers filter on it before anything else.

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:

Supple neoprene with no stiffness
Intact glued and blind-stitched seams
Working zips with no corrosion
Recognised surf and dive brands

If the work would cost more than the gap between £38 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

April through September for summer suits, with winter suits selling into autumn. Off-season listings sell slowly.

Getting it to the buyer

Heavy for its size when folded, so weigh before quoting. Fold rather than roll tightly, and make sure it is bone dry before it goes in a bag.

WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.

Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full wetsuit selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a damaged wetsuit?

Yes. A damaged wetsuit typically is worth £8 to £38 against £30 to £150 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Stiff, perished neoprene from age or sun

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is supple neoprene with no stiffness — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.

How should I describe the damage?

Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. 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. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.