Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Matuse 4.3.2 Hoplight- A little info

Matuse 4.3.2 Hoplight
The cut of the suit is different, and it takes some new moves to slide into, which at first (just like no one could get into neck entry suits at first either) is a little tricky, but with a little instruction- becomes no problem. I’ve been wearing my Matuse 4.3.2 (It’s 2mm in the arms) for nine months now, and I’m pretty amazed at how it seems to be holding up. It has been the most flexible and light wetsuit I have ever owned. We all remember how damn chilly early January 2008 Ocean Beach was! I would put my Matuse on in the morning thinking, “This suit is way too thin and light to keep me warm!” But as I walked deeper into the sea, all I would feel is the pressure of the water surrounding me, not the COLD! That is partly because the cell structure of this unique (Geoprene is unique to the Matuse brand) neoprene is much denser then common neoprene, so not nearly as much water is being absorbed, giving you a warmth and lightness factor that I have not felt before. Is the suit the warmest ever? That is what some people claim- but I would simply say the wetsuit has kept me plenty warm for the duration of a regular session (to me this is 2 hours), but what makes me excited is the performance, my arms feel light and free, and I feel I can move more easily in the Matuse suit- which keeps me happy. Below is taken from Matuse’s website to give you more info about their uncommon neoprene.

WHY THIS YAMAMOTO RUBBER IS BETTER

The Big Picture

More Flexibility.
Matuse’s strategic panels and Yamamoto Geoprene combine to enable flexibility that’s even superior to that of the human body.
More premium performance.
More endurance: Energy is conserved since the body’s thermostatic line remains at a balanced level. This means longer and more fulfilling sessions.

More Warmth; Less Weight.
Yamamoto’s technology means thinner rubber is warmer rubber. It not only weighs less, it also allows athletes to focus on the right issues (like better surfing), and fuss less over the wrong ones (like being cold, uncomfortable—and performing like a wet noodle).
More incentives (to surf), less excuses not to.
It gives you more reasons why and less reasons why not.

The Details
Yamamoto Geoprene is the Ichiban
Standard, old-fashioned neoprene is petroleum-based: It's messy, it's hazardous-it goops up sea otters. Yamamoto Geoprene is derived from limestone that's 99.7% pure. And the purity of its limestone source - an ancient misty Mesozoic mountain - is also why Geoprene is so top notch.
Yamamoto Corporation has long been making rubber from a special polymer produced from rocks. Yamamoto estimates that their reserve of limestone will last approximately 3,000 years. Compare that number to the earth's dwindling supply of oil (as well as the astronomically high price per barrel) and you have a pretty good idea as to why Geoprene is not only better performing but also much more sustainable.
As with any product, how it performs according to its intended utility is paramount. On this note, the intended utility for wetsuit rubber is to keep you warm, light, comfortable and happy. Moreover, hopefully your wetsuit rubber performs long enough so that you don't heave it onto the scrap heap within 3-6 months of buying it.
Well, Geoprene gets an A+ for it's ability to fulfill its intended utility. This is because of its unique independent closed microcell structure.
To break it down, on standard suits, if a cell is connected with another-and if a wall of the cell is broken, the performance of rubber becomes largely lowered. Yamamoto has succeeded in making the perfectly independent cell (perfectly closed cell) into a micro unit. In essence, every cell in your suit has "the other cells' back." Keeping things tight like that.
This last point means that your suit will keep you warmer longer (meaning less wasted biomass as well).
In any case, because of this unique independent closed microcell structure, Geoprene keeps you warmer, lighter and just as flexible. These are some of the reasons why Geoprene puts a beatdown on standard, kitchen-sponge-like neoprene.

This rubber doesn’t suck
Unlike standard neoprene, Yamamoto rubber doesn’t suck up water. Yamamoto’s closed cell content is over 93%—23% higher than most competing materials. And with virtually no water absorption, the weight of this rubber remains nearly identical in wet or dry conditions.
This rubber has gas—and that’s a good thing
Each independent closed cell is filled with Nitrogen gas, enabling excellent thermal insulation and optimum heat retention.

This rubber backs itself up
Yamamoto’s uniform microcell structure ensures that if your suit’s surface gets scratched, new independent concave microcells are exposed to ensure continued functionality.

This rubber’s got more stretch than your own skin
Yamamoto's maximum elongation is 480-530%. The human skin's greatest elongation—found in the armpit—is only 60-70%. Even better, Yamamoto rubber never gets stretch marks.

This rubber’s got 3-DIS (i.e. 3-Dimensional Intelligent Skin)
Yamamoto applies this state-of-the-art technology to every foam compound. In addition to the "Regular Carbon Black" application, Yamamoto applies "Spherical Carbon Black"—which disperses all force loads: stretch, elongation, pressure and compression. Yamamoto also includes a "FE Polymer" which prevents self-curing and reduces aging (i.e. hardening) that affects inferior foam rubber compounds.

Also to get more feedback visit the Design Forum on Surfingmag.com where plenty of people seem to be talking about Matuse. Click Here
Visit Matuse at http://www.matuse.com