WHY WE USE LIMESTONE NEOPRENE?
Yamamoto Limestone Neoprene is the diamond of wetsuit innovation and performance. Made from limestone extracted from Mt. Kurohime at Niigata prefecture in Japan, it is a non-petroleum based material that is the industry standard for premium neoprene and superior
We are the only brand to include Yamamoto Limestone Neoprene in all our wetsuits, no matter the price level. This premium material is typically only used in high-end products.
BENEFITS OF LIMESTONE VS OIL-BASED NEOPRENE
BETTER INSULATION:
Our premium Japanese limestone-based neoprene is 95% water impermeable compared to 70% for standard petroleum neoprene. It absorbs less water, dries faster and provides more wind chill protection.
SUPERIOR HEAT RETENTION:
The use of nitrogen bubbles in its inner structure makes limestone neoprene have an improved barrier in comparison to the oil rubber.
BETTER FITTING
One of the main properties of Limestone is that i.t has memory. This means that over time it remembers the shape of your body. In such a way, you have a better fitting wetsuit. This is why you will see it in 90% of the Thriatlhon wetsuits.
LONGER LIFE:
Llimestone neoprene wetsuits tend to last 2 to three times more than oil-based ones. Thus, decreasing your need of buying a new wetsuit. So it not only gives you better performance but also for a longer time.
LESS ENVIOROMENTAL FOOTPRINT:
Uses less energy for its raw material extraction, its factory is powered by renewal energies and it is a longer lasting product.
All while keeping great flexibility and allowing you to use a 1mm thinner Wetsuit.
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
But don’t just take it from us! You can find online scientifical studies that proof all these points.
Yamamoto neoprene has a unique cell structure and has a 23% higher closed cell ratio for added buoyancy and flexibility [1]. The cells are evenly spaced and filled with nitrogen gas that increases heat retention [2].
HOW IS YAMAMOTO LIMESTONE NEOPRENE MADE?
Making a long story short, Wetsuits are basically pieces of foam rubber that have nylon or polyester inner/outer layers and are stitched together to the shape of the human body.
Most wetsuit rubbers use a petroleum derivate called butadiene to create. But there is a better performance and more environmentally friendly alternative: Limestone.
Let’s be clear, Limestone rubber is not a green rubber either. Nevertheless, it uses of energy to manufacture is smaller and the risk of oil spills at the ocean inexistent.
The key of its superior characteristics and performance vs oil are on the inner structure that is created once treated, which has a much more consistent and constant pattern.
The Yamamoto Limestone Neopreone process is as follows:
1. Drill Limestone out of Mt. Kurohime at Niigata prefecture
2. Create polychloroprene rubber chips by putting them into a furnace and heated at a temperature around one-tenth of that used for refining petroleum
3. Melt and bake those rubbers chips to turn sponge blocks. THIS IS WHERE THE MAIN DIFFERENCE RESIDES as it creates a very high micro-cell structure gives it exceptional thermal insulation properties.
4. Those blocks are sent to the NeilPryde factory, where blocks are cut into proper thickness and shapes,inner and outer liner layers are added and then stiched/ glued into to create the final product.