Monday, December 5th, 2005...4:00 pm
Rip Curl Bomb Wetsuit Review
Rip Curl E Bomb, 3/2. Bought Sep 28, 2005. Retails for $269.
This fall I’m not going to even pretend I can 
do a wetsuit guide for the 2006 wetsuits. I can only buy one suit a year, and can’t really keep up with all the suits. So this is simply a review of Rip Curl’s top of the line suit for the 05/06 Winter. I’ve surfed in O’Neill, Victory, and Body Glove wetsuits in the past, but have never surfed Hurley, Billabong, Excell suits before. Rip Curl offered an E bomb for flexability and the F bomb for warmth. It’s mostly marketing garbage, the E Bomb is not much different than an Ultimate Elasto, and the F Bomb is not much different than a Fireskin.
Before I even bought this suit, it was tough to sort through all of the marketing bull that came with it. So I’ll do it for you. The E bomb is Rip Curl’s new top of the line suit for ultimate flexibility. It has the same “E2″ neoprene they’ve been using for several years. It has the same “bat wing” anti-flushing collar they’ve had. The zipper and hydro-loc collar are the same too. So what is new? A lot of marketing and some cool new features that may or may not be worth upgrading. The new features:
- Stash Pocket. That’s right, Rip Curl’s biggest improvement this year is a pocket near your knee that holds a key. It even has a cord you can attach your key to, and then zip it up safely. Sounds stupid, but it is nice to get to your key without unzipping your suit, and the double protection means it’s less likely to get lost. This has worked flawless for 70+ sessions. My opinion: bang.
- Hydrophobic E2 Neoprene. Instead of a smoothie or slickskin this year rip curl tried a new type of neoprene that they use in the arms and chest to repel wind and bead water. At first I thought this was the best invention ever, water just beaded off my arms and chest. However, after several uses, I couldn’t tell the difference between this neoprene and the normal E2 neoprene. This happened with the 2 Bombs I tried. My opinion: bust.
- Minimized Seams: They did cut the neoprene a little different this year which does seem to make the suit more comfortable and flexible. My opinion: bang.
- Critically Taped Seams: They put a 1″ or so piece of seam tape on the critical sections where stress is induced. A great idea, but after only 13 sessions one of these pieces of tape had ripped in half and brought the neoprene with it, actually worsening the situation. My opinion: bust.
- Blast Proof Knees: They offered this on some suits last year, but not my fireskin. These knees are way better then their old “film” style ones. Much thicker and durable, but a little stiff and inflexible. They appear to be holding up well. My opinion: bang.
- Aquaban Liquid Tape: Almost 100% of the seams has the liquid tape that O’Neill pioneered a few years ago. Flexible yet keeps water out. However on my first suit I tried all of the aquaban fell apart in 2 months as if it was 3 years old. Not good at all. Rip Curl replaced the suit and it happened again on the 2nd suit in 2 months again. I think Rip Curl has a waranty headache on it’s hands. My opinion: bust.
Summary: Rip Curl suits are still the most flexible and warm suits I’ve ever surfed with, and thier warranty department is top notch. The bomb builds on the Ultimate Elasto base, adding a few features and improving on the suit. However, don’t buy into all the hype, some of their additions this year (like the hydrophobic neoprene) don’t really work. Still I’m impressed with the suit except for the aquaban falling out and the ankle delaminating. After 4 months in two of their suits I think I might not recommend Rip Curl’s as much as I used to.
Where to Buy:
Your Local Surf Shop
Wetsand
Froogle
History of this Suit:
Sep 28, 2005: Purchased
Mid October, 2005: Rip in Shoulder (13 sessions)
Early November, 2005: Aquaban Seams all Trashed (30 sessions)
Late November, 2005: Returned to Rip Curl for above problems, and received brand new suit as replacement. (41 sessions).
January, 2006: Aquaban seams getting trashed again. Ankle Delaminating. (30 sessions in 2nd suit)
16 Comments
December 7th, 2006 at 10:39 am
Loved your review, Wish I could find more like it on the web. I am considering a new suit this season. I’m 6′1″ and 165–sort of long and lanky. Want top of the line, because I only buy about once a year. considering psycho 2, quicksilver cl6 and bodyglove vapor, as well as billabong. Any ideas beyond ripcurl? (I don’t like the idea of having to deal with warranty every year because of seams failing). thanks!
December 21st, 2006 at 1:25 pm
Just got my second warrenty suit in 8 months, first time delaminated on the chest and sleeves. second suit, knee pads cracked and pealed in 3 months. If I/Ripcurl keeps this up I will never have to buy a suit again.
On the positive note: suit is unbelivablly stretchy comfy and warm. and the company is WAY fast with warrenties and repairs.
December 25th, 2006 at 10:02 am
I purchased one of the bomb wetsuits and it fell apart. It was warm and flexibile, but it fell apart in about 3 monthes. The suit is good but who wants a suit that falls apart so easily. I surf everyday and this suit has held up horribly. But yah its very stretchy comfy and warm. PS Whats another good wetsuit, because i was looking at the mutants and the psychos and they looked pretty awesome.
January 14th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Yah i am looking to buy a new suit its now 2007 and i went down to the store and this is all they sell in australia Perth that seems ok but damn such a pricey suit coming in at $550! thats loads!!! i was thinking spending max $400 but yah alot of hype about these but now i know they came out in 05 thats two years i am 169cm tall and my weight is 74kg if anyone knows a good suit to buy or any ideas what i should research drop me a line cuellar52@hotmail.com its summer time so no rush.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:16 am
bought an F-Bomb in December 2006 and the liquid tape cracked apart at several spots in just 2 weeks…all pinched and poked me to painful rash spots.
March 7th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Great review!
Wish I read it before I bought my 3/2 F-Bomb chest zip…. My suit lasted three months and then started to fall apart (i.e. large rip under the zipper, all liquid seams peeling off, and the plastic collar clip broke off).
April 5th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Bugger just brought one hopefully the warranty is as good as above, only been worn once but two years old so we will see.
April 6th, 2007 at 4:37 am
Great review, interesting to see that even a top of the line model can have serious issues.
May 11th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
My 4/3 F-Bomb has cracked up in about 3 months. My buddy just returned his for the same reason and received a brand new suit within a week. I hope the same goes for you guys and me as well. Check out Patagonia’s new suits. Ive heard many good things
June 15th, 2007 at 4:16 am
got a Fbomb 3-2 returned two times because the seams break and create painfull rush on my skin
will never buy rip curl again
July 24th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Dude,
Try out a Hotline. I have had my Airfighter for 5 years and it is still toasty. Cool review.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Man what is up with Rip Curl and their suits falling apart?! I thought I was just unlucky. I have just been sent a new E-bomb to replace my fireskin that came apart. After reading all these comments I now have little hope of that lasting very long either. I don’t want to spend my life sending back suit after suit every few months. I’ll just surf it until it breaks then by a nice simple Billabong Osilator like my dad’s, it’s lasted over a year so far with no problems at all.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:28 am
have an Fbomb suit…same problem with the seams. they started wearing down almost immediately, and broke and started poking me all over the place. The suit may be good for 2 or 3 months…I’ve returned mine once, and they gave me a new one, and the new one did same thing.
Also, although rip curl advertises it’s “flexibility” out the ying-yang (as many other suits do), there is a difference between “flexibility” and “mobility.” Flexibility: the amount the suit will mold and shape to the contour of your body. Mobility: how the suit fits and MOVES with your bodies specific functions (where your shoulders bend, how your knees bend, etc…) Unless your planing on growing 13 inches in one year, MOBILITY should be of bigger priority than flexibility…because the mobility of the suit is what allows you (your body) to be FLEXIBLE. All of this is a huge MARKETING SCHEME for the big corporations to save money because making neoprene with less seems (and bigger panels) cuts their spending.
Stick with O’neil, hurley, billabong, body glove, hotline…any suit that DOESNT advertise seam reduction as something good.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Wish I had found this review page earlier, have just this morning ordered one for canoeing and specifically for going snorkelling on holiday this summer in Mexico. Hopefully it won’t be getting as much stress as some of you surfer guys give yours, will have to wait and see. Like some of the other guys posting above, I thought I had done my research , looking at O’neill, Billabong, Bodyglove etc and thought I was making a good decision on specification and looks, am feeling a bit disapointed now even before I have recieved it!
April 8th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I’ve used the RipCurl F-Bomb for 2 years and like it. I have a 5/4/3 MT and a 4/3 MT. The seams cracked. However, the seams also cracked on my X-Cel Infinity. The X-Cel also ripped on the neck and had other problems with the suit. I am in Northern California. The Hotline factory is in Santa Cruz. Maybe I should drive down there and check it out. I heard they make rugged suits. Though, I’ve been happy with my F-bombs. I got around 100 sessions from them. I bought the integrated hood and like that too.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I’m a 15-year-long user of Rip Curl wetsuits (in Australia).
The first one I bought was a “Dawn Patrol” 3×2mm. I used this steamer on average 3 sessions per week and it lasted 8 winters! I thought, “I’ll stick with Rip Curl if they make them that well!”
After that, I went for an “Ultimate”, which seemed to last pretty well until it was stolen by some low-life. I had that for 3 winters until then.
I replaced that with another “Ultimate”, going for the seam-sealed version. This one clearly was not up to the same standard of materials or workmanship I’d previously experienced (this was now 2004). The shoulder panels and knees wore through within 3 years, leaving only the outer skins remaining (no rubber inside). In addition to that, the legs delaminated on the inside and the smoothie rubber on the chest cracked.
What I’m after now is a well-made, environmentally conscious materials wetsuit. Unfortunately, Rip Curl don’t have one (prod, prod, Rip Curl!). Patagonia, Bodyglove and Matuse all have them. Not only do they use environmentally considerate materials (limestone-based), but they are warmer and more durable. It’s win-win all around!
Unfortunately, I can’t seem to get any of these here in Australia. So, I’ll wait until I can pick one up in America on my next trip, and make the rapidly deteriorating Rip Curl Ultimate last another winter.
Rip Curl do have a very dependable product backup (warranty), which I’m yet to fault. I just wish they’d take the initiative of the other companies and produce a “greener” wettie. Then they’ll keep me as a customer.
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