Toughest wet suit

[Benjamin Cody LaPointe]

Hey all,
Let me start out by saying I know I should wear chafing gear.
Graduated about 7 years ago from dive school, the we sits I got there has been amazing. I seldom wear chafing gear with it as I'm an inland Dover and constantly in really tight spaces that'll grab whatever loose fabric is available, and it's held up great. I recently got a cheap-o Farmer John for the winter months and it's not fairing well. Do any of you know of any bomb proof wet suits? Brands you trust?
Thanks for your help!

 

[michael-fisch]

Actually it's pretty simple, if your wetsuit is made of Rubatex G231 or Yamamoto neoprene, It'll last for a long time.
If not, it won't.

Michael

 

[Benjamin Cody LaPointe]

Actually it's pretty simple, if your wetsuit is made of Rubatex G231 or Yamamoto neoprene, It'll last for a long time.
If not, it won't.

Michael

Many thanks for the speedy reply, friend!

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Rubatex G231N was the industry standard for a long time for commercial urchin harvesting suits. Unfortunately Rubatex USA went out of business years ago and finding new old stock of material is pretty much impossible. I heard rumors that somebody started Rubatex back up but the glue they use to laminate to lycra on one side is water based and doesn’t hold up to repeated water immersion?? Kind of a strange rumor and I have no way of verifying it.
Yamamoto is too soft.
There was some stuff from South Korea that was Super tough that I had M&B Wetsuits in Long Beach make me a suit out of when I mentioned tough. This stuff was TOUGH, but it was also hard to move in and really hard to break in.
A custom builder with knowledge of alternative commercial materials available is your best bet. There are a few in Southern California still.