Tech Focus: ION Seek Core & Seek Amp Wetsuits

Warmer, Stretchier, and Ready for Winter

There’s nothing quite like a good winter session. Empty beaches, plenty of wind, and the sort of conditions that make you glad you dragged yourself out of bed. Of course, all that enthusiasm can disappear pretty quickly if you’re freezing cold or fighting against a wetsuit that feels like it’s made from cardboard.

Wetsuit technology has come a long way in recent years, and ION has been busy refining its range with new materials, improved thermal linings, and a particular focus on flexibility. We caught up with Nik Baker down in Cornwall to find out what’s been happening behind the scenes and take a closer look at two of the key suits in the range, the Seek Core and Seek Amp.

Finding the Balance

When it comes to winter wetsuits, warmth has traditionally been the big selling point. Nobody wants to be cold, but as Nik pointed out during our chat, there’s a lot more to a good wetsuit than simply keeping the water out.

With the demands of modern watersports, flexibility is becoming increasingly important. Whether you’re wing foiling, kitesurfing, or spending hours paddling into waves, a restrictive wetsuit can make a noticeable difference to how quickly you tire.

It’s something ION has been working hard to address across its range. The idea is to create suits that offer the warmth you need without unnecessarily restricting your movement. If you can stay comfortable in a thinner, more flexible suit for longer, that’s a pretty appealing proposition.

Nik explained that ION has also moved towards a two-year development cycle for its wetsuit ranges, rather than replacing everything annually. That gives the design team time to concentrate on specific models, introduce new materials, and refine the details before moving on to the next part of the collection.

“There’s a lot more to a good wetsuit than simply keeping the water out.”

Seek Core: Performance Without the Premium Price

The Seek Core range is designed to offer a solid balance of warmth, comfort, and durability without the price tag of ION’s premium models; they’re still packed with tech, but offer great value for money.

One of the biggest developments is its neoprene-free construction. The Core uses a natural rubber-based material, incorporating ingredients such as oyster shell powder, soybean oil, and eco-carbon black. It’s part of a wider move towards alternative wetsuit materials, reducing reliance on conventional neoprene while maintaining the stretch and insulation riders expect.

Inside the suit, ION has introduced its Hot Stuff 3.0 thermal lining, made using recycled fibres. The lining uses a looped construction designed to trap air and provide insulation while remaining flexible. It’s the sort of detail that might not look particularly exciting on a wetsuit hanging in a shop, but it makes a difference when you’re spending hours in cold water.

“A restrictive wetsuit can make a noticeable difference to how quickly you get tired.”

Another interesting feature is Silk Stuff 2.0, a smooth internal lining designed to improve comfort and make the suit easier to get on and off. Anyone who’s wrestled with a cold, damp wetsuit in a car park will appreciate that one. Nik was particularly enthusiastic about how the material feels against your skin and how easily your arms slide through the sleeves. It’s a small detail, but one that makes living with a wetsuit that little bit easier.

ION has also worked on reducing the number of seams, particularly around the shoulders, where freedom of movement is essential. The Core uses glued and blind-stitched seams, with flexible internal taping around the knees and crotch and additional reinforcement in high-stress areas.

There are some useful practical touches, too, including reinforced drainage holes, a key pocket, an adjustable front zip flap, and ION’s Water Defender leg design, which helps prevent the legs from rolling up when water hits them.

The overall approach is pretty straightforward. Give riders the warmth and flexibility they need, include the features that matter, and keep the price accessible. For someone spending plenty of time on the water throughout the year, the Seek Core looks like a sensible option.

Seek Amp: Turning Up the Performance

Moving up the range, the Seek Amp takes things a step further, with a greater emphasis on flexibility, thermal performance, and the materials used throughout the suit.

One of the headline features is Max Flex, ION’s highly flexible outer lining, which is used around the chest, shoulders, and neck. Made using recycled nylon, the material has a distinctive structure designed to improve stretch and help water disperse from the surface, allowing the suit to dry more quickly between sessions.

“ION has been busy refining its range with new materials, improved thermal linings, and a particular focus on flexibility.”

ION claims the material offers 30% more flexibility, which is a significant improvement on paper. The rest of the suit uses Eco Stretch, another recycled nylon-based outer lining designed to provide freedom of movement without compromising durability.

Inside, ION combines flexible thermal lining with Graphene Plush 2.0, a material designed to improve heat retention while remaining lightweight. Graphene has become increasingly popular in technical clothing, and ION uses it as part of its thermal lining system to help manage warmth without adding unnecessary bulk.

The Amp also uses I Foam, a low-density neoprene foam incorporating oyster shell powder, designed to provide insulation while keeping the suit flexible. It’s worth noting that the Amp and Core take different approaches to their construction. While the Core uses a neoprene-free natural rubber material, the Amp uses ION’s I Foam neoprene. Both incorporate alternative or recycled materials, but they’re not the same thing.

“The Seek Core is designed to offer a solid balance of warmth, comfort, and durability without the premium price tag.”

The Amp also benefits from fully taped internal seams, reinforced stress points, and fused edges around the arms and legs. Silicone sealing details help reduce water flushing around the openings, while the front zip has been designed for easy one-handed operation.

It’s a comprehensive package, with the emphasis firmly on combining warmth with the freedom of movement that more demanding riders need.

Why Flexibility Matters

One of the more interesting points Nik raised during our conversation was how much wetsuit flexibility affects fatigue.

“The Amp takes things a step further, with a greater emphasis on flexibility, thermal performance, and advanced materials.”

It’s easy to focus on how warm a suit feels when you first get into the water, but if you’re constantly working against the material every time you move, you’re using energy that could be better spent enjoying your session.

That’s particularly relevant for wing foiling, where you’re continually moving your arms, rotating your shoulders, and adjusting your body position. The same applies to kitesurfing, especially when you’re riding aggressively or spending long periods on the water.

Nik explained that as you move through ION’s range, from the Core to the Amp and ultimately the Select, the aim is to offer progressively greater flexibility and warmth. That can potentially allow riders to use a thinner suit for more of the year, rather than automatically reaching for the thickest wetsuit in the cupboard as soon as the temperature drops.

“If you’re constantly working against your wetsuit every time you move, you’re using energy that could be better spent enjoying your session.”

Of course, everyone feels the cold differently, and choosing the right thickness will always depend on the conditions, but it’s an interesting way of looking at wetsuit performance.

The Little Things

There’s another aspect of wetsuit design that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves: drying time.

If you’re lucky enough to be getting on the water regularly, particularly during the winter, there’s nothing worse than pulling on a wetsuit that’s still soaking wet from the previous day.

“The flexibility of modern wetsuits means some riders can spend much of the year in a 4/3 rather than automatically reaching for something thicker.”

Both the Core and Amp feature linings designed with drying performance in mind, something Nik was particularly keen to highlight. He also pointed out that the flexibility of modern wetsuits has improved to the point where some riders can comfortably spend much of the year in a 4/3 rather than automatically stepping up to a thicker suit.

It’s not necessarily about making wetsuits more complicated. Sometimes the best improvements are the ones that make everyday life on the water a little easier.

Two Different Approaches

The Seek Core and Seek Amp are aimed at slightly different riders, but they share the same underlying philosophy.

“A wetsuit needs to keep you warm, obviously, but it also needs to let you get on with whatever you’re doing on the water.”

The Core is all about delivering dependable warmth, comfort, and flexibility at a more accessible price. Its natural rubber construction is an interesting development, while the updated thermal linings and practical features make it an appealing option for riders who want a capable wetsuit without spending a fortune.

The Amp takes those priorities further, introducing more advanced stretch materials, additional thermal technology, and a higher level of seam finishing. It’s designed for riders who are prepared to invest more in their wetsuit to get greater freedom of movement and comfort during demanding sessions.

What stood out from our conversation with Nik was just how much attention ION is paying to the relationship between warmth, flexibility, and fatigue. A wetsuit needs to keep you warm, obviously, but it also needs to let you get on with whatever you’re doing on the water. With the latest Core and Amp, ION is continuing to push that balance, and there are some genuinely interesting developments in both suits.

Winter might be on its way, but at least the wetsuits keep on getting better.