Are Body Glove wetsuits worth it?+
For casual to moderate watersports, Body Glove is a strong value pick — a legendary American brand offering solid fit, warmth and durability at an accessible price. It's best understood as a dependable mid-range option rather than a high-end specialist suit, so it's a great choice for recreational surfing, swimming and paddling. If you're a serious cold-water surfer chasing the most premium neoprene, you may want a specialist brand; for most people getting in the water, Body Glove does the job well.
Is Body Glove good quality?+
Body Glove has real pedigree: the company is credited with helping invent the first practical wetsuit in the early 1950s, and it's been a fixture of the watersports world ever since. Its suits are widely regarded as good quality for the price — strong, warm and well-fitting for everyday use. As with any mainstream brand, the very high end of neoprene performance lives elsewhere, but for value and reliability Body Glove has earned its long-standing reputation.
Who founded Body Glove and when?+
Body Glove was founded in 1953 by twin brothers Bill and Bob Meistrell. They borrowed $1,800 from their mother and each bought a third of a local sports shop in Redondo Beach, California, called Dive N' Surf — the shop that became the birthplace of the brand. From there they turned a cold-water problem into one of the most recognisable names in surf and watersports.
Did Body Glove really invent the wetsuit?+
The Meistrell brothers are often credited with creating the first practical wetsuit in the early 1950s, in the back of their Redondo Beach surf shop, Dive N' Surf. The breakthrough came in 1953, when Bill Meistrell traveled to Bedford, Virginia and discovered neoprene — the insulating material used in the backs of refrigerators — which let surfers and divers stay in cold water far longer. That neoprene wetsuit is the foundation the entire brand grew from.
What does Body Glove make besides wetsuits?+
Wetsuits are the brand's origin, but Body Glove has branched into a wide range of watersports gear over the decades. Today it makes swimsuits, clothing, shoes, life vests, sunglasses, wakeboards, paddle boards, towables, backpacks, phone cases and snorkeling equipment. The common thread is a life lived in and around the water, which is exactly where the brand started.
Who owns Body Glove now?+
Ownership is shared. In 2016, Marquee Brands acquired a 75% stake in Body Glove, with the founding Meistrell family retaining 25% of the company. So the family that invented the practical wetsuit still has a meaningful stake in the brand they built.
Where is Body Glove from, and why does that matter?+
Body Glove is an American brand born in Redondo Beach, California — its roots are pure Southern California surf and dive culture, dating back to the Meistrell brothers' Dive N' Surf shop in 1953. That West Coast watersports DNA is central to the brand's identity and explains its lasting credibility in surf, dive and beach communities. It's not a fashion label that wandered into surf; it grew up in the water.
Which surfers and athletes does Body Glove sponsor?+
Body Glove has long backed competitive watermen and women across surfing and wakeboarding. Its surf roster has included names like Tatiana Weston-Webb, Conner Coffin and Mo Freitas, while past athletes include 2001 ASP World Tour Champion C.J. Hobgood and Bruce Irons. On the wake side it sponsors riders such as Harley Clifford and Rusty Malinoski. That ongoing athlete support keeps the brand connected to real performance use.
How do I pick the right Body Glove wetsuit for my conditions?+
Start with water temperature: warmer water suits a thinner spring suit or shorty, while colder conditions call for a thicker full suit, and Body Glove covers that whole range. Because the brand is praised for fit and easy on/off, getting the size right matters — a wetsuit should feel snug without restricting movement, since trapped water is what keeps you warm. Match thickness to where and when you'll actually be in the water rather than buying the warmest suit by default.
How should I care for a Body Glove wetsuit so it lasts?+
Neoprene rewards simple, consistent care: rinse the suit in fresh water after every session to flush out salt, chlorine and sand, then dry it inside out away from direct sun, since UV breaks down the material over time. Avoid hot water, washing machines and hard creases, and hang it on a wide hanger rather than a thin one. Treated this way, a Body Glove suit's durability — the brand is known for strong, long-lasting construction — really pays off over the seasons.
