The Yulex Wetsuit by Patagonia

Working towards a more sustainable wetsuit

Patagonia first produced their now signature Yulex wetsuit back in 2016, and has since made vast improvements to the design and has steadily becomes a competitor to mainstream neoprene suits.

The latest Yulex was announced this past fall on a coast-to-coast wetsuit repair tour. The new design offers improved movement and surfers are now putting it to the test.

Our Take on the New Patagonia Wetsuit

Many of my sessions with this wetsuit were out at dawn, when the water is coldest and the air hasn’t fully warmed up yet, however this wetsuit poses unparalleled warmth with a wool lining to keep your core warm. Paddling out you don’t feel restricted by movements and the sizes fit snug and true to size. It felt more durable than many other wetsuits, and the extra comfort of knowing that I can get it repaired is an added bonus. 

While this material is less widespread than neoprene, it’s possible that Yulex will soon rival the popularity of neoprene, and pose a more sustainable alternative to wetsuit design across the board. With the large environmental and social benefits of the material, there will be many benefits to this shift, and enable surfers to truly advocate for the planet through their actions.

Neoprene is the leading material for wetsuits, made from microplastics that can shed into our waterways, and it is a nonrenewable resource contributing to CO2 emissions.

Wetsuits often need to be replaced, resulting in thousands of pounds of waste which typically doesn’t get recycled or reused. There are wetsuit repairs on the market, but many suits aren’t designed for ongoing mending. The Patagonia wetsuits, however, are designed for repair, and they carefully balance sustainability with durability. Patagonia’s featured program, Worn Wear, offers consumers the chance to buy and sell used goods.

They chose to still use some neoprene in their suits as a lining for the eco-friendly Yulex, making it last longer and hold up to the harsh elements, yet they take priority to sourcing the neoprene from recycled materials. However, this still poses a risk for microfiber shedding and detrimental environmental effects. Patagonia reports that this is just a step in the right direction, and they’re actively seeking out better options to line their new wetsuits.

What is Yulex?

These wetsuits are made from Yulex, a sustainably sourced material derived from Hevea rubber trees and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Unlike neoprene, Yulex can stay in production for up to 30 years, offering a renewable alternative. Their wetsuit factory SHEICO has also been Fair Trade Certified since 2018, making it the first fair trade, renewable wetsuit design on the market. 

Patagonia isn’t the only company to work with this material. Other companies such as Seea have also made wetsuits using Yulex, and they’re working to make it more mainstream. The material doesn’t have a patent and Patagonia urges others to start using renewable rubber in their designs to make the wetsuit industry more sustainable overall. Taking this trajectory to leave the material unpatented has been another choice by Patagonia to prioritize the planet over profit.

“We don’t care what brand makes your Yulex® wetsuit — if you’re not wearing neoprene, we’re stoked.”

Patagonia works with Hevea plantations in Guatemala and Sri Lanka, as well as smallholder cooperatives across Southeast Asia. Yulex has upheld EU standards for deforestation, and seeks to continue their commitment to the planet and people while scaling their operations. While there are always setbacks to sourcing ethically made materials, these strong regulations are a step towards equity and environmental sustainability, something that is often lacking in the wetsuit industry with neoprene wetsuits being made in toxic environments with unfair wages to workers.

 

Check out Patagonia’s new Yulex wetsuit today through their website and to read more about their design practice and sustainability ethic.

Find more of our gear reviews in the Gear We Love section.