Isurus

Our passion is building world-class wetsuits that withstand the harshest conditions the ocean has to offer.

Living and surfing on and along the California coast, a frequent topic of conversation was how wetsuit innovation had stagnated and quality had deteriorated. It's about designing a wetsuit that improves the surfer's performance.

DECIDE TO BUILD A BETTER SUIT

Inspired by our quest for the best wetsuit, we turned to advice from around the world: materials scientists in Japan, athletes from Hawaii to Colorado, biomechanical engineers, and cold-water surfers on three continents.

Finally, you need to test in the elements

We put our theories of wetsuit advancement to the test along the California coast. The response from surfers to our first wetsuits was incredibly positive. And we did not sit back effortlessly on our laurels.

Our approach is to continually test, learn, refine and start again to ensure the best possible product with ongoing feedback from our respected surfing community and team riders.

www.surfisurus.com

In a series of violent tectonic activities that took place about 80 million years ago, a rock (located in the present-day Hawaiian island chain) traveled a very long way northwest to Mt. . Kurohime in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

It was Yamamoto who first discovered this unique rock, charmed by its properties, Yamamoto created an innovative company. This incredible rock, composed of 99.7% calcium carbonate, is miraculously free of almost all impurities. Using this limestone rock as a starting material, Yamamoto developed a number of high quality materials which found applications in various fields such as; water sports equipment, medicinal and fashion. With at least a 3000 year supply of this fantastic raw material, that's where Isurus Wetsuits comes in with the world's first compression wetsuits for surfing.

Better suits start with better materials. Yamamoto neoprene is widely recognized as the thinnest, lightest and warmest neoprene on the market. Yamamoto's exceptional performance characteristics, combined with its superior durability, are creating shockwaves for traditional neoprene manufacturers looking to compete and spawn a multitude of imitators producing inferior and inferior closed-cell imitators. The hydrophobic materials of isurus wetsuits have elongation properties of 450% of their original size – with excellent elongation and recovery values. This means it fits and acts like a second skin, giving you unlimited range of movement you've never experienced before. To quote the surfers, “it just feels good.”

Yamamoto's proprietary closed-cell manufacturing process also results in a neoprene that is also highly durable while remaining extremely stretchy that feels and acts like a second skin. It does not shed over time like traditional neoprene which, in a new suit, "feels" good, but quickly loses its elongation recovery as the cellular structure breaks down.

Traditional neoprene acts more like a kitchen sponge (in terms of water absorption) in many cases, increasing the weight of a wetsuit by 2 times or more, requiring more body heat to heat the water, plus less energy to paddle and maneuver in a restrictive wetsuit loaded with heavy water, and much longer drying times between surf sessions.

TITANIUM ZIRCRONIUM FLEECE

After exhaustive development, this is the warmest material combination we've found to date. A heat-reflective 4-layer sandwich construction – with #039 outer jersey (or Fine Mesh), laminated to #40 closed-cell Yamamoto® rubber, then a titanium liner, then our exclusive Zircronium fleece jersey liner creates an interior environment that reflects heat back to the body. This incredible wetsuit will be 40% warmer than regular neoprene. Nothing comes close. Zircronium fleece is also BlueSign® and Oeko-Tex® certified, this yellow gold colored lining material is simply the best jersey we have found/tested/and confirmed to outperform all others for its warmth, comfort, lightness and quick drying. Bluesign® and Oeko-Tex® work to ensure that chemicals, processes, materials and products are safe for the environment, safe for workers and safe for end users.

Supercharged compression, muscle stabilization and biomechanical side panel combine to create a suit that allows you to perform at your best. Greater range of motion, reduced fatigue, faster recovery times and improved circulation global are the key words of isurus combinations.

SUPERCHARGED COMPRESSION

Just another gadget? We do not think so!

The isurus suits have been specifically designed around “supercharged compression”. Compression garments are known to improve performance and recovery. Professional and Olympic athletes in all sports use them because it improves performance and shortens recovery. He's long overdue for surfing, and Isurus is leading the charge.

ARMS-UP DESIGN

Isurus has taken a new approach to designing surf wetsuits. The wetsuit pattern, like all clothing (for the last 50 years), was made with the arms hanging at your sides, fine for street wear, but for surf wetsuits it's restrictive. Isurus designed the suit with the arms raised above the head. Put your arms in the optimal power position for paddling.

KOREGULATOR

An additional lumbar/kidney panel, or “CORE” temperature regulator, is extremely important, as the kidneys are the body's primary blood filtration organs where all blood passes, constantly circulating and warming from the heart – down to the extremities the most distant. This, combined with the enhanced circulation of Isurus Advanced Compression Design, increases body heat and improves energy levels and shortens recovery time.

BIO-MECHANICAL SIDE PANEL

Isurus designed a one-piece side panel, which extends from the hip to the elbow joint, which provides unlimited flexibility and maximum paddling power.

MUSCLE STABILIZATION TECHNOLOGY

Surfing exposes muscles to high-frequency muscle vibrations, a cause of premature muscle fatigue. MST muscle stabilization technology based on kinesiology developed by Isurus, wraps and stabilizes the main muscle groups stressed during surfing.

DURAFLEX® MATERIAL

100% Acetal® (POM) non-corrosive hardware and cord locks to ensure everything stays tight and doesn't rust or corrode.

SALMI® ZIPPERS

Only the best combination zippers on the market today, with the perfect combination of metals to ensure the zipper performs for the life of the product.

FRONT DRIVE SYSTEM

Water trapping zone on the forearms for increased paddling power.

SILICONE PRETENDERS

Cuffs and ankle cuffs to prevent 'blowouts', water infiltration and improve seals.

KEY POCKET

Simple and effective flap pocket with elastic retaining loop

GUTTER BALLS

Drain holes for efficient outlet of excess water

If you live in a cold water area and want to surf all year round, you need a good wetsuit. Being cold in the water is no fun at all. In the words of former Surfer Magazine editor Steve Hawk, being cold is the quickest way to ruin a good session.

When you're warm, your body is more flexible, you can move freely, and you have more energy to put into your surfing because you're not burning up while trying to stay warm.

In surfing, this makes the difference between creating the next section and lagging behind in the foam. That's two fewer duck dives to reach alignment and five fewer paddle strokes to catch a wave.

This means more waves and longer rides.

Greater range of motion, reduced fatigue, faster recovery times and better overall circulation are the hallmarks of isurus suits. Here's why Isurus wetsuits are best for cold water winter surfing:

LIGHT AND FLEXIBLE YAMAMOTO NEOPRENE

Japanese Yamamoto limestone neoprene is softer and more stretchy than standard petroleum-based rubber. This means your suit quickly adapts to your body, improving freedom of movement and racket performance.

In addition to being flexible isurus wetsuits, they are super light. The reason is that the top of the line Yamamoto neoprene we use only absorbs 2% of its weight in water thanks to its closed cell construction.

The neoprene that dominates the market absorbs 40% of its weight in water when new and approaches 60% as it ages. These old school neoprene wetsuits absorb cold water like a sponge. It takes a lot of valuable body heat to warm up a waterlogged cold suit, so you get cold faster.

Our quest to make the best winter suit available begins with using the best rubber. In our opinion, you can't do better than Yamamoto.

TITANIUM LINED

Our warmest suits are now lined with a thin layer of titanium thanks to Yamamoto's patented 5-step process.

Ti absorbs heat from your body and then radiates it back to you. Yamamoto claims it increases heat by 40%. We don't make this claim, but we do know that it significantly increases heat without an increase in weight or thickness of the suit. This does, however, add to the cost of the suit. But if you're going out in freezing winter conditions, we think it's worth going titanium lined.

We've also added Z-Fleece which is the warmest and lightest insulating material we've found to date. Nothing we've tested comes close.

We also added a layer of titanium covering the lower back, including the kidney area. We call this the KoreRegulator panel. We've found that if you keep these vital organs warm, your extremities stay warm.

One of our most popular winter suits is the Ti Alpha 5.4. It is now lined with 80% titanium and features the KoreRegulator panel on the lower back.

INTEGRATED SUIT HOOD

When you have to dive into cold water, your head quickly becomes cold. A wetsuit hood will keep you warm and prevent you from getting ice cream headaches.

A wetsuit hood can also help prevent surfer's ear (also known as swimmer's ear), a condition in which the ear canal bone develops extra bone growth to protect the eardrum.

isurus balaclavas are designed to fit perfectly. The hood will not only protect your ears from cold water, it will also reduce wind chill as you wait for your wave.