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After the Big Sea documentary and heightened awareness of wetsuit materials and their wider impact, we’ve seen some major brands manufacturing with Sheico switch to alternative materials with improved sustainability credentials. The new material is called Ocena – it’s FSC-certified natural rubber (from trees) blended with oyster shells (a waste product) that are used to get the calcium carbonate in place of limestone – which would previously be mined and is carbon intensive. End-of-life vehicle tires also make up the carbon black element. ION have also implemented AQUA, a solvent-free lamination glue.
We tested both the women and men’s suits in equivalent Core build level, and they share the same tech, materials used, and implementation other than the pattern and colorways.
Out of the box, it’s time to cast any preconceptions of natural rubber suits aside as the wetsuits feel extremely pliable. You wouldn’t know this suit is made out of alternative materials, and if anything, it feels like a significant step up in terms of softness and comfort than some of ION’s offerings at this price point from previous seasons. The suppleness of the material also means the suit isn’t a struggle to put on; even with broad Viking shoulders the suits seemed to augment to our body shapes very well.
In terms of features, as with most ION suits there are plenty of inbuilt treats which make it a great crossover suit for both wind sports and surfing. The Hot Stuff 3.0 lining makes up the chest, back and thigh panels, giving your core a decent layer of extra insulation with the jersey now made from recycled materials. The remainder of the suits, arms and legs have a smooth internal surface which allows super easy entry and exit, which can sometimes produce wear points.
For the seaming, it’s glued and blind stitched, with high-stretch tape internally on the legs and arms. There’s also intelligently placed circular patches to reinforce the higher stress areas and junctions where the panels meet. Knee pads are an important factor with many people crossing between wingfoiling and kitesurfing, and these have been thought about with a tough Kevlar-like nonslip material which won’t delaminate.
A unique feature is the water defender sticks, which are some removable/replaceable plastic battens that firm up the inside of the leg cuffs. This is quite a novel approach and definitely minimized, almost completely blocked, any flushing. They tucked neatly into some pockets and I barely noticed them. The shoulders are seamless, and allow for really good flexibility here if you need to paddle and cross over into traditional surfing, an intelligent consideration. More fixtures and fittings include replaceable drawstrings in the front zip flap and a key pocket hidden under the chest panel. The neck aperture is slick skin, which grips and stays in place well, avoiding any ruffling and water ingress. The YKK zip runs from the inside to outside and the carriage is secured with a plastic popper.
As with most wetsuits, fit is one of the most important factors in how well they perform. The extra pliability in the materials in the Core range for 2026 means this is an ultra-successful update for ION, and a step in the right direction environmentally as a bonus. The range is also pitched at a very fair price point considering the quality of the materials utilized, and eco credentials. It’s a warm, comfortable and flexible wetsuit which will enhance your sessions as things start to get colder.
