Patagonia ditch neoprene for good
Earlier this year I wrote an article titled 'How Patagonia plan to disrupt the system', the crux of which was Patagonia's increasing use of Yulex rubber in their wetsuits. The stated disruption wasn't just the movement away from neoprene - no small thing in itself, as we'll shortly find out - but the fact Patagonia were giving the technology away. They had no propietary ownership and were hoping other companies would also shift away from neoprene.
At the time the article was written Patagonia were manufacturing their suits - not all of them but some of them - with 60% Yulex, a rubber made from the Guayule plant that's native to Southern California. “The project started back in 2008,” said John 'Hub' Hubbard, Patagonia's Product Manager for Wetsuits of the search for a neoprene alternative.
When asked how long it would take to make a wetsuit entirely from Guayule rubber Hub answered, “It’s hard to say how far off a 100% version is, but knowing how far we’ve come to get to this point, it’s definitely possible.”
Suffice to say, it didn't sound like 100% Yulex suits would make an appearance in the near future. Yet Hub must've been keeping a tight poker face because not eight months later Patagonia have announced they're ditching neoprene for good and making 100% Yulex suits.
"We're saying goodbye to neoprene forever," says Hub. “Neoprene is nasty stuff, but for a long time we had no alternative. Through our partnership with Yulex we’ve invested in a plant-based game-changer and built it into our entire wetsuit line ."
As with their previous work, Patagonia and Yulex will again take an "open source" approach sharing the technology with other companies. The goal remains the same: they hope to create a shift toward cleaner and better materials throughout the surf industry.
The new wetsuit line will debut globally in Australia in March of 2016 with six full suits, with all products being converted to neoprene-free by end of 2017.
Comments
Awesome.
Whilst I like their ethics and eco approach, we live in Victoria and when its cold it's cold.
There is no comment about its effectiveness to retain heat versus neoprene. Does anyone have any experience or research data?
They already make some steamers with Yulex (think they're called the R2?) so it's not a completely new addition. What is new is making all of their wetsuits with Yulex.
Lot of guys around my coast had those suits, I believe the R is for Rigid. :D
Does it accentuate your figure better?
It's always a trade off - staying warm vs. having my hard-earned-abs hidden behind a wall of gormless rubber. I don't drink all these protein shakes just so I can look like any other chump as soon as I put on a wettie!
Perhaps they could manufacture some see-through chest panels and give the people what they want - an unobstructed view of Gaz's rig: rain, hail or shine.
I'm excited for the future of this technology
Nice one Gaz
If we are feeding straight into the R&D process I'd like some of those calf implants.....I also heard that you can get concrete butt cheek implants, so maybe chuck a couple of those in.
Anti Shark stripes obviously.
I will be the buffest looking SUP rider this side of Byron.
So can someone else come along and patent this technology if Patagonia don't?
I asked them that in my previous article and the answer was no. The rubber was developed by Yulex (an independent company that has the patent) and Patagonia, and anyone is free to use it. Patagonia don't have an exclusive license and in exchange for that it's agreed no-one else can get one either.
More information about the production and treatment of the plant material would be good. Raw materials from plants do not necessarily come at a lower environmental cost that those from oil and the processing can involve chemicals just as toxic (think ethanol, palm oil etc). Have Patagonia put all that info out there?
BB just did the usual Wiki search and it is an interesting plant. Produces something similar to the rubber plant and was used as a substitute in WW2 when the Japs cut supply of Malaysian rubber off. Need more of it to get the same amount of fluid as the rubber plant. The species (Parthenium argentatum) is in the daisy genus. Is says it isn't as stretchy as rubber however it doesn't have the allergic properties which latex does for some people. Yule reckon it is through refinement rather than adding any chemicals. Who knows could be bullshit however that would leave them wide open. https://yulex.com/yulex-pure-process/
Anyone out there tested one?
I've got an R2 Yulex from 2014 (60%?) - good stretch and generally warmer than other 3/2mm steamers I've had
Just bought a new R1 FZ suit. Still got the tags on it. Went to check and it's 65% neoprene and 35% polyester. Made in Thailand.
Bummer, interested to see how this Yulex stuff works out.
What was the cost of that suit zen ?
On special, 26,000 yen. Mothballing it for next season.
Starting to get cold here, already in a 4/3 and a few blokes starting to wear booties. I hold out as long as I can though. Bloody hate booties, gloves and hood even moreso.
The Yulex rubber's lifespan is similar to that of regular Neoprene however, if the Yulex extracting process is done in Guayule, then shipped over to Thailand where the Yulex rubber is manufactured, surely the Carbon footprint is quite high as apposed to Neoprene which is produced locally in Thailand?
Yeah but nah...neoprene might be produced in thailand but the chemicals (oil) have to get shipped there same as anything else, so I'd say carbon footprint is similar. Apples to apples etc.
Now your being bit of downer on our little green fest tree party there Stringa
.....................But it could be an inconvenient truth
Had a quick look at the website, looks to be about a $200 premium above the standard suit so pretty pricey for an already pricey suit.
I've been using an R2 that is about 60% Yulex, I can't remember exactly. It's by far the best suit I have worn. I've used in in Tassie in both the sea (at the moment seatemp is about 14) and more recently in the rivers (about 10) and it's been noticeably warmer than any other suit I've had while being more flexible. I was a Rip Curl devotee for ages and this feels much better. I paid $550 for it, which I see as being more than reasonable. I wanted to try out a Patagonia suit for a while, having used some of their other gear and been impresssed with their genuine interest in quality and durability, but waited for the kinks to be ironed out. So far so good!
$550 sounds reasonable.
I was talking to Glen Casey about getting a long sleeve springy in the yulex but couldn't wait and got a Need Essentials one.
For $150 to the door it's hard to beat as far as bang for buck goes.
If I had to pay double that or more I'd be asking lots of real hard questions.
How do you find the Need Essential Freeride?
As far as fit and warmth go, couldn't be happier. I mostly get through winters here in a 2mm long arm springy, so they get a bit of use.
I've used it a half dozen times and will mothball it until next Autumn/winter. If I get two or three winters out of it, I'll be ecstatic. Even if I only get one and it's looking a bit shabby by the end of next winter I'll be happy to downgrade it to a fishing wetty and get another one.
Seems like the biggest problem with Needs stuff is actually getting it. Supply seems to be having a hard time meeting demand.
Can I ask what size ya got Steve. I'm a perfect MT in Ripcurl wetties and the fact Need Essentials only make a Med or Large discouraged me.
I've got a medium Don.
Every medium from every manufacturer I've ever tried has always fitted me and this one does too.
I'm just smack bang in the dims for a M so it's easy for me.
Just had my second surf in the new Needs board shorts - $45
good value comfy boardies.
I think a point worth noting is that you don't need anything thicker than a 2/3 on the east coast.......A lot of these patagonia wetsuits are designed for far colder environments.
I find it funny that this is such a mis interpreted/ forgotten point.
I am as happy as can be in my trusty 3/2(insert brand of choice here) when surfing in winter on the east coast.
On another note, it's great to see some more environmental friendly alternatives being created.
I wonder if yulex will pass the pub test?
I reckon Yulex stubbie holders might make the grade.
Classic! Another great article Mr Nettle. Job well done.
Saw this article and the coastalwatch article, on fb. No chance I was dipping into that cesspit of clickbait...
How would I go about getting some sheets of this?