How much does a wetsuit cost?

At ONE SURFING CO, we adapt the price of our neoprene wetsuits to your needs.

Our prices are part of our eco-responsible approach. A quality product at a fair price.

In this article we will look at pricing policy from 3 different angles:

• The brand.
• Functionality.
• Sustainability.

We will therefore divide our reflection into three main parts:

1. Approach to the market and the major surf brands.
2. The surfers' experience.
3. The unique and innovative approach of ONE SURFING CO.

Neoprene wetsuits are an integral part of a surfer's life, essential for year-round practice in the most extreme conditions.

In addition to other equipment such as surfboards, daggerboards, leashes, pads etc., wetsuits represent a real budget all year round.

So every surfer is on the lookout for cheap surf wetsuits or to take advantage of sales while maintaining quality materials to maximize their performance once in the water.

1. What is the pricing strategy of the major surf brands?

Ripcurl, Quiksilver, Billabong, O'neill to name but a few of the leaders over the last 50 years. They were part of the golden age of the surf industry.

O'neill is one of the pioneers in the design of neoprene wetsuits, and has been involved in development with competitors for years to optimize warmth and flexibility.

The primary purpose of a neoprene wetsuit is to keep you warm in relatively cold water. Brands have therefore developed different products for different water temperatures.

To do so, they played with the distribution of neoprene on the body to maximize warmth and comfort.

Some examples of neoprene distribution:

• 4/3mm: ideal in winter for surfing in water between 10°C and 14°C.
• 3/2mm: perfect for the shoulder season in water between 14°C and 18°C.
• 2/2mm: for a summer protected from UVs and wind in water above 18°C.

The creation of this range is essential to meet different needs depending on where you surf.

Nevertheless, brands have also decided to create several sub-sections within this range, with materials of varying levels of performance, in response to price constraints.

As a result, they are able to offer a low-end, mid-range and high-end 4/3mm.

In the world of wetsuits, low prices are often seen as low-performance but highly durable products. Neoprene is quite stiff and uncomfortable. Nevertheless, it provides extra strength for longer wear.

As you can see, as you move upmarket, quality improves significantly, but durability decreases. This is because neoprene is very flexible and therefore more fragile. On the other hand, soft neoprene provides comfort and performance in the water when rowing and on the wave.

For other products, price ranges differ only in functionality. For example, photo quality is different on an inexpensive camera VS a high-end one.

But when it comes to neoprene wetsuits, durability comes into play, and contrary to what you might think... An expensive surf wetsuit is not necessarily more durable than a first-price one...

To get an idea of surf wetsuit prices :

• Decathlon wetsuits are available from under €100 up to €200.
• Quiksilver, Ripcurl, O'neill etc... wetsuits: between €250 and €600 or more.

And when it comes to sustainability, manufacturing and marketing several ranges of neoprene wetsuits isn't necessarily the best solution. There is a much more eco-responsible approach. We'll talk about this a little further down in the article on ONE SURFING CO's strategy: fair prices to suit your practice.

2. The surfers' experience.

Whether you're a beginner or an expert surfer, you're looking for performance and comfort. Because yes, every surfer is passionate, whatever their level, and wants to spend as much time as possible in the water. But it's important to optimize your surfing equipment budget according to your level of practice.

If you're a beginner or intermediate surfer who doesn't have the chance to practice often, you're more likely to opt for a first-range neoprene wetsuit. This way you optimize your budget with a product that will still allow you to enjoy yourself and protect you from the cold.

IF you're a beginner, intermediate, advanced or expert surfer, but you're lucky enough to surf all year round. It might be a good idea to invest in a surf wetsuit that's a little more expensive, but also more comfortable.

Let's talk about the children, the future champions who spend their lives in the water...

If your main purpose is to swim all day while protecting yourself from UV rays, there's no need to invest heavily in a neoprene wetsuit.

However, if you're going to be surfing all day, you'll need to invest in quality neoprene to avoid chafing and maximize comfort, so you can stay passionate!

In short, a top-of-the-range wetsuit provides unrivalled comfort, but remains fragile. Prices vary.

A low-end wetsuit will be durable and inexpensive, but less comfortable.

The question is: do you favour durability or comfort?

Unless the solution is right in front of you...

3. ONE SURFING CO's unique and innovative approach to wetsuits

The ideal equation sought by all surfers:

Top-level athlete's surf gear at an affordable price to perform in perfect waves.

A dream come true!

What if it were possible?

ONE SURFING CO is the first French surf brand created in Hossegor, the European capital of the sport.

Above all, we're passionate surfers and we want to solve our problem.

To have access to neoprene wetsuits at prices that are fair in relation to our intensive practice, while having an important eco-responsible approach.

When we talk about product sustainability, we often mean durability as well as the manufacturing process.

Unfortunately, the wetsuit that lasts a lifetime doesn't yet exist... We're very pragmatic on the subject, and know full well that children who are passionate about their sport will change wetsuits every year as they grow up fast. Likewise for adults and children, with intensive practice, the wetsuit is not durable...

Don't forget that neoprene faces the most extreme conditions in surfing! Salt, cold, drying in the sun, changing clothes on tar, etc. are not the best way to optimize the product's durability.

At ONE SURFING CO, we're well aware of this.

We have created a single range of wetsuits for adults and children with different thicknesses. We use top-quality Japanese Yamamoto #40 neoprene to give you the best in warmth and flexibility. What's more, it's made from limestone to avoid all petrochemical elements.

Finally, by bringing all this data together, we offer a surf wetsuit subscription system. At ONE, every surfer is an athlete and deserves a top-of-the-range wetsuit at a fair price - that's the ONE ATHLETE program.

The principle is simple: you don't have to pay for your new wetsuit all at once. You can simply pay over time. The total cost of your ONE wetsuit is spread over 19 months, free of charge. You can pick up a new neoprene wetsuit from the 12th month onwards in exchange for the worn one. So a total paid of 204.00€ for a 4/3mm = 17.00€/month for 12 months.

Thanks to this subscription formula, you have access to very attractive prices that match your passion, especially for children who grow up fast and need to change wetsuits every year!

Of course, we don't encourage over-consumption. If you want to keep your wetsuit, you can simply pay it off for 19 months at a very low monthly rate.

Finally, we refurbish and recycle all neoprene wetsuits, regardless of brand or condition, thanks to a number of French partners.

It's an interesting approach. The subscription is designed to meet the needs of surfers who practice intensively all year round.

Other surfers can buy a wetsuit of our own brand, repaired by us. So we're also offering attractive prices on a wetsuit that's certainly second-hand, but with top-of-the-range materials to maximize comfort.

In short, we design a single range of high-quality, eco-responsible wetsuits with prices to suit your practice.

Our vision is to share our passion for surfing with quality products and an innovative eco-responsible approach.

To find out more, click here or contact us by email at [email protected]

Remember, a wave is a unique story, so write yours now.

Happy surfing!