THE BLACK SHEEP
Nineplus Wetsuits
RETRO STYLING - MODERN TECHNOLOGY
THERMAL LINING
WATER PROOF
FEATHER LIGHT
WIND PROOF
FAST DRYING
STRETCH MEMORY
Nineplus Wetsuits ensure you spend your energy pulling yourself through the water and not pulling the water around with you.
Nineplus wetsuits are built around the contours of the human body. The slight muscle tones of the body can be followed and when this is done the whole wetsuit moves easier against the body as we walk, move and stretch. As the Yamamoto neoprene has a greater density but is not heavier it stays fixed in position and it gives a much better overall fit against the body.
Since 2000 Richard Balding, Tommy Yamamoto & Kiddy Lue have worked tirelessly on creating a completely unique wetsuit that performs above all expectation while remaining timeless and classic in its approach. Using minimal Japanese design with the worlds best production techniques with the best Neoprene in the world the Nineplus wetsuit is a revolutionary product. Nineplus has been copied over and over in its designs although is protected somewhat by its development and progress along with the exclusive arrangements and research it constantly shares with people dedicated to the progress of performance based design. Its progress over profit and solutions over sales which make Nineplus a truly unique and relevant company in its marketplace.
Our suits are extremely modern in terms of fit, comfort and weight, while retaining the retro styling of a classic smooth-skin (single lined) wetsuit. There are many production secrets that help create the Nineplus wetsuit which includes the special machines and machine specialists used to stitch the single lined smooth skin down to even 1mm thickness used on the 2/1mm full suit. The average weight of a 3/2mm full suit weighs in at just 1kg. As the suits have a minimal water retention (the outside single lined smooth skin) cannot soak in any water and the lining being a nylon will dry out in under 10 minutes when left to dry. This means that the wetsuit when taken off the body is only minimally heavier than when dry and put on. Super low modulus stretch with optimum cell recovery – in regular terms you can stretch Yamamoto to its maximum over 2000 times and it will not bag out. Other neoprene has around 300 times and it loses it stretch.
We Use Yamamoto Neoprene
Something quite unique to a Nineplus wetsuit is the use of smooth-skin – or single lined neoprene as it’s known in the business. This is found on both the top and bottom surfaces of the neoprene when it is pressed in a mould (like a giant flower press) the surface layers are sealed by the mould and is why the surface is smooth and completely water tight. The neoprene sheets are then around 30cms thick with the inside being known as ‘foam’. The ‘foam’ is sliced into various mm thicknesses (5mm, 4mm, 3mm etc) and then sandwiched within stretch nylon (what regular wetsuits are made from). The softer the inside cell and the more elastic the nylon the more stretch in the neoprene. At Nineplus we only use the top & bottom surface areas which naturally are smooth from the rubber moulds. This is resistant to both the wind, water and when used with blind-stitching forms an impenetrable barrier against the elements. This is the main reason Nineplus uses smooth-skin. Smooth-skin also absorbs no water so no weight is added. It means you spend your energy pulling yourself through the water and not pulling the water around with you.