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Wetsuit Sources
Most of the brands listed below offer wetsuits for a variety of conditions including winter and cold water. General Paddle Clothing Options
For information about wetsuit construction and care See Wetsuit Basics
When you see prices that seem low compared to other products there usually is a reason, most likely you are looking at less expensive neoprene with overlock or flatlock stitching which will not keep you nearly as protected from leakage and faster flush through. And the neoprene may very possibly be more water absorbant and less flexible than higher quality, more expensive options. If you're not a frequent wetsuit user and your water isn't real cold, then less expensive may be the way to start before you are sure you need something better. But you probably won't get the sense of how comfortable you can be until you try a well made, good fitting wetsuit.
Designers
Most wetsuits (neoprene, Yulex and other natural rubbers) are designed by their branding company but manufactured by one Taiwan-based company - Sheico (manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, Mainland China, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia). Sheico broke the expensive monopoly Japanese neoprene manufacturers long maintained and they have been the innovators behind a number of improvements in materials for wetsuits. Some brands like Rip Curl have their own factory but get their neoprene from Sheico. Yamamoto pioneered limestone based neoprene and until 2020 they were the only maker of calcium carbonate derived neoprene (See Sooruz “Oysterprene”). Sheico does make wetsuits that use limestone based neoprene. There are different grades of Yamamoto limestone neoprene and some companies report which they use but you will have to call many of these companies if you want find out which grade their suits use (or if their customer support knows).
Local Companies
The following brand list does not include a lot of smaller, locally owned and mostly only locally known, wetsuit makers. You can sometimes find such companies when you visit locales where wetsuit use is common. Locals wearing locally produced wetsuits will probably be the best reviewers you can get for such suits. And these local suits can be high quality and not overly expensive compared to similar wetsuits from larger companies with larger overhead from advertising, etc. Local companies that make their gear at their stores sometimes also offer convenient custom fitting options for walk-in customers.
Brands
Many of the bigger companies are truly multinational now.
- Australia
- Made For It AUS includes colorful wetsuits and wetsuits designed for women
- NeedEssentials AUS limestone neoprene and natural rubber. “independent surf company, operated entirely by surfers” - operates more like a local company, direct supply, no retail markup.
- Peak AUS
- Ripcurl AUS
- Rubber Jungle AUS
- Vaikobi AUS, traditionally specialized in lighter options for athletes, but they do now carry some warmer options with thicker neoprene and titanium reflective material.
- Zhik AUS, more focused on sailor wear (with specific features like “drainage”) that do not suit immersion users, but some of their products are designed for paddle sports. They have some yulex options.
- Canada
- Huub CAN triathlon suits
- France
- Manera FRA (including limestone neoprene), in 2024 they have started state of the art neoprene recycling - initially available at shops in France
- Picture FRA Clothing co.committed to sustainability. More recent entrant into making wetsuits. Wetsuit material - “Eicoprene” a non-petroleum based synthetic foam derived from a mix of oyster shell powder, limestone, and recycled tires
- SNS (Sen no Sen) FRA Yulex and limestone neoprene suits
- Sooruz FRA Bioprene and Oysterprene. Sooruz is also now collecting and recycling old neoprene into a product for other uses. Their collection sites are currently (2021) only in France.
- Italy
- Elios ITA tailored wetsuits
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Blue 70 NZ
- Bodyline NZ
- C-Skins NZ surfer wetsuits with high end & recycled materials
- Orca NZ will recycle your old wetsuits and give credit toward new purchase
- Seventh Wave NZ - offers tailored wetsuits, limestone based neoprene
- South Africa
- Coral Wetsuits RSA
- Mocke Paddling Wetsuit RSA at 2mm this is in the thinner range for immersion protection, but it is billed as being designed for paddlers.
- Reef RSA
- Sunset Surf RSA
- United Kingdom
- Gill Marine Clothing for sailors, with a simple set of offerings in neoprene. Outlet sales can have good discounts.
- Finisterre UK - one of a few companies as of 2020 that can recycle neoprene and Yulex. Ultimately promises to offer buy back option for old wetsuits. But they do not currently seem to offer many of their own wetsuits (use their search function to find what wetsuits they do have). Appears to be primarily a clothing store.
- Lomo UK (including plus sizes)
- Nineplus UK limestone based neoprene
- Tiki UK
- USA
- Bodyglove USA some suits described as containing “infrared insulation” which we assume is intended to mean it retains radiant heat with some reflective material
- Dakine USA (for some reason their website is showing no products Nov. 2024, but they have a full line, example - adventuresports)
- Feral Cali, USA includes limestone neoprene suits
- Hurley USA
- Hyperflex USA Neoprene and Greenprene
- Isurus USA limestone neoprene
- Liberated Brands
- Billabong USA Neoprene (seem to use recycled materials extensively) and Yulex
- Quicksilver USA has limestone neoprene
- Volcom USA, limestone neoprene
- Matuse USA (calls their limestone neoprene “Geoprene”)
- Neil Pryde CT, USA
- NRS USA
- ONeill USA
- Patagonia USA - only company as of 2020 with lifetime warranty on all of their wetsuits
- Promotion one of their bases is in the Columbia River Gorge in Hood River where they have a large water windsport clientele. They make their gear onsite and have been known to quickly make custom versions of their water protection clothing on request if you visit their store and they can measure you. They also offer a large selection of deeply discounted factory second wetsuit gear at their store (if the reason for the discount is a cosmetic blemish - who cares, right?).
- 7till8 USA Custom limestone neoprene suits
- Vissla USA recycled rubber, limestone neoprene, other green manufacturing aspects
- Xcel USA has limestone neoprene - do they call it “Veoprene”?
- Xterra specialized for Triathlons - different distribution of thicknesses to aid swimming position and flexibility in shoulders
- Out of Business ?
- Giant Fish Oregon, USA (Out of business Jan 2026) lightweight tops and bottoms, limestone neoprene, designed for paddlers
- Scott Darling Interview with Nick Murray - TCSurfski Podcast
- Gorge Paddler Review 2025 (facebook)
- Ridge UK out of business 11/2020
- Schnell - limestone neoprene
- …
Online Multi-Brand Stores
This is only a sampling. You often can find additional multi-brand stores listed on your specific location wiki page here under the “Dealers” or “Resources” headings.
- Aterra Sweden
- Base NZ
- Dietz Sweden
- Ecü Sport Germany
- Evo USA
- Kommetje Surf RSA
- REI USA
- SteepAndCheap USA (Backcountry bargain site)
- SwimOutlet USA
- Wetiz Germany
- Wetsuit Factory AUS
- Wetsuit Warehouse
- Wildwinds NZ
Local Wetsuit Sources
(where the wiki admins live)
- Bellingham, WA, USA
