Rip Curl
Torquay, Australia's flagship surf brand — the Flashbomb and E-Bomb wetsuits are the reference performance suits for CT surfers and cold-water chargers.
About Rip Curl
Rip Curl was founded in Torquay, Victoria in 1969 by Doug 'Claw' Warbrick and Brian Singer, and grew alongside the modern professional surf tour. The brand runs the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach — the longest continuously-running professional surf contest in the world — and has spent five decades building one of the most respected performance wetsuit lineups in surfing.
The current wetsuit range is anchored by the Flashbomb Heatseeker (flagship cold-water suit with Ecoprene E7 neoprene and the fastest-drying lining on the market), the E-Bomb (ultra-stretchy performance suit favored by CT surfers), the Dawn Patrol (entry-to-mid-level everyday suit) and the newer Flashbomb Fusion — a warmer, lighter version of the classic Flashbomb.
Rip Curl is stocked at essentially every surf retailer worldwide plus its own extensive store network and e-commerce. The wetsuit range is designed at Rip Curl's Torquay HQ; production is at Rip Curl's own Thailand factory, one of the largest wetsuit manufacturing facilities in the world.
Popular Rip Curl models
Sources we reference
Surfex is an aggregator — we do not test boards ourselves. These are the retailer, editorial and manufacturer pages we cross-check when writing about Rip Curl. Numeric aggregate ratings are only shown once we've scraped a real customer-review widget on one of our product review pages.
Where to buy Rip Curl
| Retailer | Notes | Visit |
|---|---|---|
| Rip Curl (direct) | Full wetsuit range, size guides and warranty | Visit |
| Cleanline Surf (Oregon) | Deep cold-water Flashbomb inventory | Visit |
| Wetsuit Wearhouse (US) | Widest US Rip Curl selection, verified reviews | Visit |
| Surfride (Southern California) | Local surf shop, Rip Curl wetsuit demos | Visit |
| Real Watersports (North Carolina) | East coast Rip Curl distributor | Visit |
FAQ
Which Rip Curl wetsuit should I buy?
For cold water, the Flashbomb Heatseeker (with its fast-drying lining) is the flagship pick — warm, stretchy and back in your bag by the next morning. For performance surfing in temperate water, the E-Bomb 3/2 Zip Free is the reference. For entry-level buyers, the Dawn Patrol 4/3 is the value pick.
What is a Flashbomb lining?
Flashbomb suits use an internal insulation lining that both wicks water off the neoprene and dramatically speeds up drying — a Flashbomb typically dries in under an hour vs. 6–8+ hours for a standard suit. It's the main reason CT surfers pick Rip Curl for back-to-back sessions.
How long do Rip Curl wetsuits last?
With regular use (2–4 surfs a week) and proper rinsing, a Flashbomb typically lasts 2–3 years before the neoprene loses stretch. An E-Bomb — stretchier and thinner — usually lasts 1.5–2.5 years. Rip Curl offers a limited manufacturing warranty on stitching failures for six months on most models.
How does Rip Curl compare to O'Neill or Xcel?
Rip Curl, O'Neill and Xcel are the three most-reviewed premium wetsuit brands worldwide. Rip Curl's Flashbomb is the drying-speed leader; O'Neill's Psycho Tech competes on pure warmth and stretch; Xcel's Drylock competes on cuff/neck seals and durability. Fit differences between the three brands are the main deciding factor — try in a local shop when possible.
How much do Rip Curl wetsuits cost?
New Rip Curl wetsuits range from about $220 (Dawn Patrol 3/2) to $650 (Flashbomb Heatseeker 5/4 hooded) in the US. The reference E-Bomb 3/2 and Flashbomb 4/3 both sit around $450.