Yamamoto Rubber: The Premier Wetsuit Material?

A two-man operation from San Francisco, California, Feral wetsuits are best known for their Yamamoto rubber and covert aesthetic. But we wondered: could a niche neoprene brand actually compete with the world’s wetsuit giants when it came to the objective metrics of comfort and warmth?

The only perceivable advantage Feral had was it’s actual wetsuit material. Yamamoto rubber, hailing from Japan, is widely regarded as the premier neoprene on the market. It’s more densely packed than other types of rubber, which means there’s less room for water to slip between the cracks and be absorbed by the suit. This, theoretically, results in a  lighter, drier bodybag. 

Those quantitative benefits are great on paper, but the Yamamoto’s single greatest perk is its gentle, carressing feel against the skin. Seriously, it’s like silk pajamas. Once you slide in, ya never wanna get out.

While not the stretchiest suit on the market, our Ferals were both comfy and warm, leading to high rankings for both their 4/3 and 3/2 options (the latter of which advanced to our ice bath challenge). 

You can watch the video above for our full review, then check out our favorite rubber of the 2019-2020 Best Wetsuits feature below.

Tested: Feral’s 3/2 Chest-zip  and 4/3 Chest-zip.