Wetsuit hire terms and conditions

By booking, paying for or collecting a hire wetsuit, you confirm that you have read, understood and accepted these terms and conditions.

1. Hire location

All hire wetsuits must be collected from and returned to:

SwimT3 – The Swim Shop
66 Mt Eden Road, Auckland

Wetsuits cannot be collected from or returned at swimming events. Returning a wetsuit to an event employee, contractor, volunteer, coach or other person away from the store does not count as an official return.

The wetsuit must be returned directly to the store during opening hours unless another arrangement has been confirmed by us in writing.

2. Hire period

Your confirmed collection and return dates form part of your hire agreement.

The wetsuit must be returned by the agreed date and time. Event cancellation, postponement, withdrawal, illness or a change in your personal plans does not automatically extend the hire period.

If you need additional time, you must contact us before the return deadline. An extension is only confirmed when we approve it in writing.

Late returns may incur additional hire charges. You may also be responsible for losses caused by the wetsuit being unavailable for another confirmed customer.

3. Security deposit

A NZ$150 security deposit is required for each hired wetsuit.

The deposit may be used to cover cleaning, drying, repairs, missing items, late-return charges, loss or replacement.

If the reasonable cost of repairing or replacing the wetsuit is greater than the deposit, the hirer remains responsible for paying the outstanding balance.

The deposit will be refunded after the wetsuit has been returned and fully inspected. If the wetsuit is returned wet, dirty or covered in sand or other material, the inspection may be delayed until it has been properly cleaned and dried.

Where offered, the deposit may be applied toward purchasing a wetsuit within seven days of the hire return.

4. Check the wetsuit when collecting it

We inspect and may photograph every wetsuit before it leaves the store.

You must check the wetsuit at collection and tell us immediately if you notice any existing cut, tear, fingernail mark, zip problem, seam damage or other concern.

Unless recorded at collection, damage found when the wetsuit is returned may be treated as having occurred during your hire period.

5. Watch the fitting video

You must watch our wetsuit-fitting video before putting on the wetsuit. The video link will be provided with your hire or aftercare information.

Swimming wetsuits must be positioned correctly through the legs, hips, crotch, torso and shoulders. Do not force the wetsuit, pull aggressively or repeatedly pinch and drag the neoprene.

If you are unsure about the fit, stop and contact us before swimming in it. Continuing to force on a wetsuit that is incorrectly positioned can cause damage.

6. Gloves must be used

Protective fitting gloves must be used whenever you put on, adjust or remove the wetsuit.

Gloves reduce the risk of fingernail damage, but they are not a guarantee that damage will not occur. Fingernails can still press through gloves, particularly when the neoprene is pinched tightly or pulled using the fingertips.

Use small, controlled movements and the flat part of your hands. Do not dig your fingers into the neoprene, pinch it between your fingernails or pull hard on one small area.

Do not pull the wetsuit upward from the thighs to lift the crotch. Work the material upward gradually from lower down the legs.

7. Fingernail damage

Fingernail cuts and punctures are considered accidental damage and are not treated as a manufacturing fault or warranty claim.

A small V-shaped or crescent-shaped cut is commonly caused by a fingernail, even when gloves have been worn.

As an example, one small fingernail nick will incur a NZ$20 repair charge. Multiple cuts, larger tears or damage requiring specialist repair will be charged according to the work required.

Repair charges may be deducted from the security deposit.

8. Approved lubricants only

Only products specifically approved as safe for swimming wetsuits may be used.

Our approved option is SLIDE Anti-Chafe Balm:

https://www.swimt3.co.nz/products/slide-anti-chafe-balm

Any alternative product must be approved by us in writing before use.

Do not use petroleum jelly, Vaseline, baby oil, cooking oils, massage oils, solvents, harsh chemicals or other oil-based products. These may damage the neoprene, lining, seams, adhesives or surface coating.

Damage or excessive cleaning caused by an unapproved product may be deducted from the security deposit.

9. Taking care of the wetsuit

The hirer is responsible for the wetsuit from the time it is collected until it has been returned and accepted by the store.

Keep the wetsuit away from sharp objects, jewellery, long fingernails, rough concrete, rocks, branches, Velcro, pets and other surfaces or objects that may cut or abrade the neoprene.

Do not sit or stand on the wetsuit. Do not use it as a changing mat.

Do not leave the wetsuit inside a hot vehicle or in direct sunlight. Do not iron, tumble-dry, machine-wash or use a hairdryer or heater to dry it.

Do not alter, cut, repair, glue, stitch or mark the wetsuit yourself.

The wetsuit is intended for open-water swimming and triathlon use. It must not be used for surfing, diving, canyoning, water skiing, boating work, obstacle events, sliding over rocks or any other activity unless we have approved that use in writing.

10. Cleaning after use

Rinse the wetsuit thoroughly in clean, cool freshwater after every use.

Saltwater, chlorine, sand, mud, grass and other material must be completely removed. Pay particular attention to the zip, collar, cuffs, ankles and inside lining.

Do not use bleach, household cleaners, washing powder, stain remover, fabric softener or other harsh cleaning products.

Hang the wetsuit correctly in a shaded and ventilated area. Allow the inside to dry before turning it around to dry the outside.

11. Return condition

The wetsuit must be returned:

Clean and fully rinsed.

Dry inside and outside.

Free from sand, salt, mud, grass and other external material.

Free from strong odours, oils and unapproved products.

With all supplied gloves, bags and accessories.

In the same general condition in which it was collected, allowing only for reasonable use.

A wetsuit returned wet, sandy, dirty or requiring additional cleaning or drying may incur a reasonable cleaning charge. It may also delay the return of your deposit.

12. Damage, repair and replacement

You must notify us as soon as possible if the wetsuit is damaged during the hire period. Do not attempt to repair it yourself.

Chargeable damage may include fingernail cuts, punctures, tears, abrasions, damaged seams, zip damage, stretched or torn collars, chemical damage, heat damage, oil contamination and damage caused by rough surfaces or incorrect fitting.

We will assess whether the wetsuit can be safely and professionally repaired. The repair cost may include materials, labour, specialist repair charges and any related transport costs.

If the wetsuit is damaged beyond economical repair, unsafe to hire again or not returned, the hirer may be responsible for its reasonable replacement value. The security deposit does not limit that responsibility.

13. Manufacturing faults and warranty matters

Accidental damage, misuse, incorrect fitting, nail marks, tears, abrasions, chemical exposure and failure to follow these care instructions are not manufacturing faults.

Wearing gloves does not convert accidental damage into a warranty claim.

If you believe the wetsuit has developed a genuine fault, stop using it and contact us immediately. We will inspect the wetsuit and assess the issue fairly.

Nothing in these terms limits any rights or remedies that cannot legally be excluded under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, the Fair Trading Act 1986 or any other applicable New Zealand law.

14. Loss, theft and unreturned wetsuits

The hirer is responsible for keeping the wetsuit secure throughout the hire period.

A lost, stolen or unreturned wetsuit may be charged at its reasonable replacement value. This responsibility applies even when the loss or theft was caused by another person.

The hirer must not lend, sub-hire or transfer the wetsuit to another person without our written approval.

15. Fit and personal responsibility

We will provide reasonable fitting guidance based on the information supplied by the hirer. However, you must tell us about any discomfort, medical concern, unusual restriction or fit issue before using the wetsuit.

A swimming wetsuit should feel firm when dry and may relax slightly once in the water. A suit that is too large may allow water to enter and create drag. A suit that is incorrectly positioned may feel unnecessarily restrictive.

Stop using the wetsuit if it causes pain, breathing difficulty, numbness, dizziness, panic or another concerning symptom.

16. Swimming safety

A swimming wetsuit is not a lifejacket or certified personal flotation device.

Hiring a wetsuit does not confirm that conditions are safe or that the hirer is capable of completing a particular swim or event.

The hirer is responsible for assessing their swimming ability, health, weather, water temperature, currents, event rules and local conditions. Follow the instructions of event organisers, lifeguards and water-safety personnel.

Never swim alone in conditions beyond your experience or ability.

17. Acceptance

By completing the hire, you confirm that:

You have provided accurate sizing and contact information.

You have inspected the wetsuit or accepted the recorded pre-hire condition.

You will watch the fitting video and follow the fitting instructions.

You will use the supplied gloves whenever handling the wetsuit.

You will use only approved wetsuit-safe products.

You accept responsibility for damage, loss, cleaning and late-return costs occurring during your hire.

You will return the wetsuit clean, dry and on time directly to SwimT3 – The Swim Shop at 66 Mt Eden Road, Auckland.

You understand that wetsuits cannot be returned at events.