What is Geoprene?

Geoprene is an ECO conscious alternative to neoprene. Most wetsuits are made of neoprene which is a petroleum-based material. Geoprene on the other hand is 99.7% limestone. Limestone? How can you make a wetsuit from limestone?


Upon further research, I discovered one of the main manufacturers to heavily incorporate Geoprene to be Matuse wetsuits. Matuse uses Yamamoto's geoprene described as "sedimentary rock’s composed of mineral calcite (i.e. Calcium carbonate or limestone)," according to Matuse's online description. "It’s usually derived from shell secretions of marine organisms that fall from the water column and are deposited as pelagic ooze on the ocean floor. Many, many, many years later, this ooze becomes your premium (the ichiban) Geoprene-built Matuse suit." I would use the term 'back-to-basics' as the material is so earth derived, although this clearly sounds complicated. We can even further geek out with desciptions such as "its closed cell content is 23% higher than petroleum based competitors and its high performance cell structure allows for elasticity better than human skin: Its maximum elongation is 480-530% (human skin is only 60-70%)" on the Matuse website. 


And to go even further, with the fashion-like Matuse ads, what is a surf girl not to like!? Oh, the price. You can expect to spend a pretty penny on your eco-conscious geoprene wetsuit at between $400- $500 a pop. Although, judging by the description this may be worth the price with increased flexibility and warmth. So weigh your odds, as geoprene may be the only way to go for the eco consumer, although without trying them personally I can only tell you what I know from the net.

Check out Matuse's geoprene ad campaign.

for more information: matuse wetsuits

- DGM's associate director, Jenna Hannon