ION Interview — The Real Wetsuit Guide
Features / Sun 17th Dec, 2017 @ 4:05 pm
“The Real Wetsuit Guide” in Issue 66 of IKSURFMAG looks at the more important aspects of buying an expensive piece of rubber— things like the fit, materials, the eco-footprint and ultimately, the most crucial question of all, can you piss in it? In assembling the article, Rou Chater sat down with ION brand manager Bastian Haberler. Here’s the full interview!
What are the three most important features in a wetsuit to you?
– A good fit
– A good material choice, tapings and Power Seams where needed (We believe that more is not always better. Every extra taping also makes the wetsuit stiffer so we think carefully about where to place such things.)
– A solid construction that helps the suit to last long and a timeless design that the customer enjoys for a long time
Which technologies are you utilizing at the moment that make a real difference to the wearer of the suit?
Our Plasma Plush lining is for sure one of the warmest on the market. Also, it allows the wetsuit to dry really fast. Plus, we have our Sweep_Cut feature. This is a special cut on the arms to allow maximum freedom of movement in the shoulder area, avoiding seams in places that reduce the freedom of movement. Another unique feature is what we call Ninja Knee and Ninja Spine. These are placed in critical areas that need a lot of stretch (the knees and the lower back). To create more stretch in these areas, we use a thinner foam and the most elastic linings.
Where do you stand on the impact of wetsuits and the environment?
A long-lasting suit is always the most important thing for us. Educating the customer to take care of their wetsuit (we have care instructions printed on the inside) and performing a detailed quality control are important steps. It is, to be honest, really hard to build a “sustainable” wetsuit. There are sustainable materials for wetsuits but if you closely look at them and analyze the super long transportation path, it simply doesn´t make sense in our eyes. The environmental footprint might not be huge for the material itself but it’s a different story when we factor in the transportation. Currently, there is no material solution for a more sustainable wetsuit for us. We don´t want to do greenwashing in any way. As soon as there will be a sustainable alternative that is a good overall package, we will try to implement it into our range.
One thing that we started with the 2018 collection is the incorporation of Aqua_Alpha which is a solvent free, water-based glue. It reduces solvent usage by 600gram per wetsuit. That is great for the environment , the costumer and also for the workers at the factory as there is nearly no bad smell from the glue. The difference is huge. It’s a good step for the people behind all the great wetsuits!
What do the wetsuit of the future look like to you?
We are continuously trying to develop new linings that are warmer and stretchier then what we have right now. Mostly, the inside lining is what reduces the stretch. Also, we have an eye on wearable technologies and smart fabrics. Another trend is to avoid seams which makes sense in terms of durability. Also, having less seams means less chance of seams blowing out.
Can you piss in a wetsuit these days and not damage it?
We do not recommend to do so but sometimes there is just no other way, right?
Follow this link to find the full range of ION wetsuits!
By Lindsay McClure
Lindsay is a pro rider from Hood River in the USA, she works for IKSURFMAG as our Features Editor and is an integral part of the team. Lindsay is really into wakestyle riding and can be found in the Hood River Slider Park during the summer months, she also travels all over the world with the World Class Academy helping younger riders develop through kiteboarding!
