Ive had a limestone based Matuse for several years and love it. Takes in no water and dries in no time at all. Recently shopped for a 4/3 and noticed that both the Rip Curl E-Bomb and the Xcel Infinity say "made from limestone-based neoprene" on the label. The shop owner (Chaunceys, OCMD) told me Rip Curl has been using it for a couple years now. I would assume that the "quick dry" marketing for the F-Bomb is also based on the limestone properties, but didnt look. I ended up buying the Xcel Infinity 4/3 and its super buttery neoprene...easily lightest, softest and supple ive seen yet, but sure enough say's "limestone" on the label. Anyone know whats up? Are Rip and Xcel buying the yamamoto stuff from Japan for their top line wetsuits.
No my brand new Xcel Infinity 4/3 DOES say "made using limestone-based neoprene" just like the Matuse ive had for 3 years now, and according to Chaunceys, just like Rip Curl e-bomb.
They probably developed their own formula (in which case they can't call it Geoprene) or licensed it from Yamamoto Corp. just like Matuse did. With the price of petroleum now the price point difference between the limestone and petroleum has become closer. Here's a some info about the chemistry: http://www.thecleanestline.com/2008/05/green-neoprene.html
$3.70 is cheap compared to the rest of the world because we subsidize the oil companies like CRAZY in the U.S.! That said, and more on topic, I don't like the gas prices any more than the next person, but I'm glad that companies are being forced to innovate and discover new (and usually better!) materials to use in their products. Limestone-based neoprene is just one of many great examples.
