Rip Curl: Keeping You Warm While Keeping It Core

Of the core four surf brands (you know who you are), Rip Curl, to me, comes off as the most authentic. 

The things they care about are as simple as they are unwavering: winning world titles, exploring new places, and keeping people really fucking warm in places that are really fucking cold. 

Also, Bells. 

And they do all of these things exceptionally well. Which is why I’m always curious (and excited) to see what kind of rubber casing they provide for our annual Best Wetsuits test. 

Without further ado… (watch the full test here)

Suits

Men’s Submission: Flashbomb 4/3 Chest-zip (not currently available)

Mikey says: Rip Curl pushes harder than most brands to make truly exceptional wetsuits. As a result, they’ve managed to produce both the warmest suit on the market — the Flashbomb Heatseeker — and the most comfortable suit I’ve ever worn — the E-Bomb Zip-free. But in chasing (and often achieving) these extremes, it’s possible that Rip Curl has overlooked that all-important middle-ground, where comfort and warmth merge to make a suit that serves all needs at once. For me, this suit leaned a little too much on the warmth side of the equation, leaving too much bulk in its wake. But a minor recalibration could bring this suit straight to the top of the heap. 

Pro: Very warm, cozy inside.
Con: A little bit bulky, not great for paddling.

Comfort: 37
Warmth: 45
Total: 82

Women’s Submission: Flashbomb 4/3 Chest-zip ($469.95)

Cori says: Let it be known to the world that, on principle, I detest the women’s chest-zip wetsuit. I may be missing something but, on the whole, I believe them to be nothing more than hair-pulling, neck-injuring machines that unfailingly make entry and exit a spectacle of parking lots the world over. Did the people at the chest-zip company get together with the people at the changing poncho company to form a conspiracy? We may never know, but that said, and to my own surprise, I did not hate wearing the Women’s Flashbomb 4/3 Chest Zip fullsuit. Overall warmth, comfort and like-a-glove fit of this classic design made for a pleasant surf experience. The one exception to said pleasantness was the bout of moderate rub-rash I experienced at the neck within just a few waves of my first session wearing it. Otherwise, not a bad investment if you have a hefty gift card to use up, or an extra $500 lying around the house.

Pro: Felt like a cozy sweater.
Con: Neck piece difficult to negotiate.

Comfort: 40
Warmth: 46
Total: 86

Boots

Men’s submission: 3 mm Hidden Split-toe Bootie ($79.95)

Mikey says: Rip Curl has solved a major bootie issue with their slide-on tech. It was seriously a joke how easy it was getting these things on and off. If they can just pair it with a slightly warmer boot, they’ll have my business forever.

Warmth: 40
Performance: 49
Total: 89

Women’s submission: Women’s Flashbomb 3mm Hidden Split Toe Booties ($79.95)

Cori says: It’s tempting to leave this review at a mere 3 words: Slide On System. This feature alone sets Rip Curl booties apart in a big way, making them without question the easiest to get on and off – a major factor in overall surf-worthiness. After all, what’s a really great surf boot if it causes you to miss the best set of the day, or to be ‘that person’ in the parking lot – the one breathing heavily on a zoom call while struggling to disrobe on your way into work? Apart from the genius “S.O.S”, the 3MM Flashbomb booties also include the hidden split-toe and super squishy neoprene for a cloud-like feeling in the water and on land. The clear downside to these is how quickly they let water in, and how capably they hold it there, so – word to the wise – pee first. 

Warmth: 42
Performance: 47
Total: 89