O'Neill

Jack O'Neill is one of the most influential figures in surfing history – not as a competitive surfer, but as an inventor. In 1952, he opened the first surf shop on the U.S. West Coast in his San Francisco basement and began experimenting with neoprene materials at the same time. The water off the coast of Northern California is cold, and Jack wanted to be able to surf all year round. Driven by this, he developed the first commercially available wetsuit – an innovation that made surfing in temperate waters possible worldwide. His famous motto, "It's always summer on the inside," perfectly summarizes this philosophy.

O'Neill moved to Santa Cruz in 1959, where the company is still based today. The brand grew into a global wetsuit institution and developed numerous innovations over the decades: reinforced knee pads, warmer inner lining materials, and various zipper systems. Today, the O'Neill range includes wetsuits for all temperature ranges and all surfing levels, from affordable entry-level models to high-performance suits like the Psycho Tech and the Hyperfreak. In addition to wetsuits, O'Neill also offers boardshorts, bikinis, rash guards, T-shirts, and accessories. The brand has been part of Boardriders/Quiksilver since 2013 but has retained its independent identity.

O'Neill's culture is shaped by the spirit of a man who placed comfort and function above all else. Jack O'Neill lost his left eye in a surfing accident in 1971 – and continued to surf into his old age, with an eyepatch. The consistency with which he remained true to his sport is part of the O'Neill character. The brand sponsored athletes like Peter Mel and Reef McIntosh and is particularly strongly anchored in the European surf scene.

At Surfari, we carry O'Neill wetsuits, boardshorts, bikinis, and surfwear – for everyone who knows the water, regardless of the temperature.