O'Neill Wetsuits

O'Neill wetsuits is (one of) the oldest wetsuit company out there. It started as a surf shop opened by Jack O'Neill in the 1950s. From that first surf shop in a garage across the Great Highway in San Francisco O'Neill and O'Neill wetsuits evolved into one of the top wetsuit brands in the market. No wonder, they had a head start :). Today O'Neill is no longer just a surf shop or a wetsuit manufacturer, their range of products is much wider and includes wetsuits, surfboards, boardbags, swimsuits, clothing, shoes and more... But one eyed Jack O'Neill still stands behind and represents his family businesses.

A Short History

History of O'Neill wetsuits is history of a man called Jack O'Neill. Jack is one of the people credited for inventing the first wetsuit. Being a surfer in San Francisco back in the days mean that you were constantly battling with cold water. So Jack soon dedicated his life to inventing things that would keep surfers warm in the lineup and after a few unsuccessful attempts he invented the wetsuit (more wetsuit history, if you want). Jack O'Neill soon moved his surfshop down the coast from San Francisco to Santa Cruz where their surfing division headquarters are still located. By the way - his surfshop was also the first modern day surfshop. Until then surfshops only sold surfboards, but Jack expanded that to wetsuits and other stuff.

Another quite big surfing invention came from the O'Neill family. Jack's son Pat developed the leash. This is also how Jack lost his eye. While he was testing a leash made out of surgical tubing, which was too elastic his board snapped back and hit him in the eye. Jack now wears an eyepatch that kind of became an icon.

"It's always summer on the inside."*

O'Neill is responsible for several improvements and inventions in the field of wetsuits. Some of his wetsuit models even became generic names for wetsuits - spring suit, long john, short john. As already said, today O'Neill wetsuits are one of the top brands of wetsuit in the market so if you are going to get an O'Neill wetsuits we are sure you'll stay warm.

*"It's always summer on the inside." is O'Neill wetsuits slogan

O'Neill Makes Wetsuits For

Surfing

O'Neill Wetsuits Website

oneill.com

O'Neill Wetsuits PhotoS

For sizes check out O'Neill wetsuit size charts.

O'Neill wetsuits

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Comments

0 #1 shane 2009-12-21 06:37

will there be a new winter suit range,a new pyscho freak and when would it be released in 2010, one of the top of range selections thanks.

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0 #2 Jon Row 2010-01-25 19:11

Oneil's fall apart to quickly. If we want to get the most out of surfing, we have got to get over this habit of buying junk from companies that we think are cool because they sponsor good surfers. Buy a Patagonia, Matuse, Hotline or Xcel if you want to have good karma with mother nature, they were made to last.

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+2 #3 M 2011-04-03 12:40

Quoting Jon Row:

Oneil's fall apart to quickly. If we want to get the most out of surfing, we have got to get over this habit of buying junk from companies that we think are cool because they sponsor good surfers. Buy a Patagonia, Matuse, Hotline or Xcel if you want to have good karma with mother nature, they were made to last.

What a load of crap. I've had my Psycho 2 for almost 3years now, only damage there is, is my own fault. Every manufacturer probably has some problems along the way, over years. So will your favourite brands, so quit bashing.

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0 #4 Manuel 2011-08-01 03:27

I don´t know how to choose mi size. I did not see on your site anything about sizes.

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0 #5 ed 2011-08-11 04:59

Quoting M:

Quoting Jon Row:
Oneil's fall apart to quickly. If we want to get the most out of surfing, we have got to get over this habit of buying junk from companies that we think are cool because they sponsor good surfers. Buy a Patagonia, Matuse, Hotline or Xcel if you want to have good karma with mother nature, they were made to last.

What a load of crap. I've had my Psycho 2 for almost 3years now, only damage there is, is my own fault. Every manufacturer probably has some problems along the way, over years. So will your favourite brands, so quit bashing.

It's not a 'load of crap' at all!!! Just because yours hasn't fallen apart doesn't mean they are all good...sheesh how dumb-ade can you be.
My O'neill long john lasted about 5 sessions before it split and stretches in all the WRONG places and was truly a piece of rubber rubbish!

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0 #6 Joe 2011-09-19 15:39

My O'neill wetsuit has lasted 3 years so far and I surf all the time. I don't know what you are talking about. I love the fit, I love the design. Those other brands, especially Patagonia and Matuse, cost way too much!

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0 #7 Joe L 2012-01-08 23:28

The psyco 2's are reliable long lasting suits and very flexible. The genral concensus of the top off the line psycofreak wetsuits, which alot of my friends use (including myself) is there is a definate trade off of flexibilty for warmth. The wetsuit handles the cold really well, you can surf for 2-3 hours in 7c water without to much trouble. As for the flexibilty, it will leave you with massive trapezius and help burn off that beer gut just in time for summer. In my opinion if you are going to be surfing in water temperatures close to 10c stick to the super flexible psyco 2's and pro's. There also seems to be a consistant issue with the chest and back plate ripping away from the seams on the pyscofreaks, this should happen within the warranty period. Although, I have heard that Oniell have recently (late 2011) started using a different material on the chest and back plates. With all this said I will still be buying another Psycofreak for the coming winter.

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