Related Products
Product Details
Rip Curl Men's Flashbomb Heatseeker 4/3mm GB Zip Free Steamer is worth all the superlatives we can throw at it but saying things like 'this is the best suit ever made' don't get you far in this day and age so we're just going to stick with the tech. The Heat Seeker takes all the heat-inducing tech destined for the Flashbomb range but adds the most considered external panelling of any suit we've seen, be it surf, dive, tri or otherwise and is without a doubt the best suit in terms of wind-chill mitigation.
As per the Flashbomb range, you can rest assured knowing you're getting the best neoprene, tape sealed seams, chest zip and a full internal thermal lining. These elements are key to any high-performance and cold-water wetsuit.
How does the Heat Seeker seek heat?
The Heat Seeker works on two fronts, firstly by heavily mitigating wind-chill with their Liquid Mesh Torso and Sleeve linings and secondly by the heat-generating capabilities Rip Curl tout their new Flex Energy neoprene to have. We are not privy to how Rip Curl achieved this heat-generation but we can tell you that George Beuchat, one of SCUBA's founding pioneers, invented the Isothermal Wetsuit back in the 50s and the principles seem similar, except Rip Curl's version actually generates heat, doesn't just work to keep heat static - obviously we're excited to see what Rip Curl have achieved with this principle in 2019. This may sound crazy, but there are dozens of complex textiles on the market today that can somewhat magically modulate their insulation and airflow. Some work on ambient temps, others with movement or moisture content (let's say humidity is high, the textile will contract, to increase air-flow, therefore reducing heat retention of your garment: because you're in high humidity) So yeah, we're not surprised Rip Curl, the company responsible for more advancements in wetsuit tech than the test combined, managed to get these textiles into their lining.
The Heat Seeker's Liquid Mesh External Panelling takes a fresh look into smooth-skin external linings, something we've seen fading away from high-performance mens surfing wetsuits in recent years, because of connotations with low-stretch. What the Heat Seeker searched for was a highly flexible and hydrophobic elastomer that is durable enough for use in the high-stretch seams without de-laminating. In achieving this goal the Heat Seeker is the undeniable champ when it comes to mitigating wind-chill and is here to say. Because this lining is hydrophobic, it repels water, which means these panels are always dry, therefore avoiding cold-water wicking - a cold surface wicks heat ~25x faster than a dry surface, so being dry is important. The reason we see none of this elastomer in the legs panels of the Heat Seeker is because more often than not you'll be sitting upright on your board and the elastomer is designed with wind-chill in mind, not chill of the water.
To get the most out of your Rip Curl Men's Flashbomb Heatseeker 4/3mm GB Zip Free Steamer we recommend washing it with the Australian made Wetsuit Wash and reading our Wetsuit Maintenance Guide.
Rip Curl Men's Flashbomb Heatseeker 4/3mm GB Zip Free Steamer Features:
- Heat Seeker External Panelling: A modern improvement on our most effective mitigator of wind chill: smooth skin. Get more info on this above
- Flex Energy: Rip Curl makes great use of their Flex Energy neoprene which touts a core foam that induces heat through your physical activation of the suit, the more your move the more is generated. Isothermal wetsuits have been around for a while, but have not been practical to the surfing industry until Rip Curl figured it out this year
- E7 Neoprene: A contender for the stretchiest and warmest material on the market. Unrivalled stretch, great warmth, supreme comfort and softness are part of the parcel to Rip Curl's top line wetsuits
- E7 Flash Lining: 100% E7 Flash Lining that is exclusive to Rip Curl. The E7 Has an insane 20% more stretch than E6 Flash Lining. Additionally, there is further improved drying properties for ultimate warmth and comfort
- Glued and Blind Stitched Seams: A high-performance seam is one that has a great deal of stretch but is also sealed and a GBS seam ticks both of those boxes. The only downfall is durability but Rip Curl have remedied this with their E5 Tape. Learn more about seams
- 3/4 Liquid Tape Seals: A neoprene 'tape' that is laid along the inside of the seams to increase durability and is super comfy on the skin, much more so than stitching
- Lock Slide Closure: Adjustable closure that helps seal the shoulder entry of the Zipperless Flashbomb
PLEASE NOTE: Wetsuit Warehouse cannot sell Rip Curl products to customers outside Australia at this time.