Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a wetsuit with a built-in heating unit that warms the body, enabling surfers to venture into waters that were otherwise impossible to enjoy.

The Story: Surfing is no longer a seasonal sport – unless there’s an “in season” time to surf the Arctic Circle. Introducing the Rip Curl H-Bomb, the world’s first power heated wetsuit that was tested in the frigid waters of the Arctic Circle, and endorsed by the engineers, technicians, designers and surf team at Rip Curl. Though the concept was always simple, creating something viable was actually three years in the making. And that making placed an emphasis on movement, heating efficiency and power supply.

Creating the H-Bomb began by using a state-of-the-art neoprine,called E3, Rip Curl’s lightest, warmest and most flexible neoprine ever. It also wicks away the water, while efficiently and effectively heating the user’s core, thereby enabling the extremities to stay warmer. And, all of the seams are made to be ensure the cold stuff stays out, while the warm stuff stays in, which, incidentally, doesn’t mean urinating in the suit is necessary to further warm the body. However, in the event of such a situation, there is no danger to the user.

Heating the H-Bomb is breakthrough technology that conducts the heat using cutting-edge carbon-fiber technology that’s both non-corrosive and non-metalic. That’s coupled with a highly-flexible titanium lining around the carbon fibers that radiates the heat back to the body. In addition, users can choose three different temperature settings to heat the suit to their liking.

Powering up the heating unit is itself very impressive technology. The H-Bomb uses two lithium-ion 7.4 volt rechargeable batteries, each weighing in at a featherly 120 grams. A full recharge takes place in about three hours, and the power unit is stored in comfortable internal pockets that rest in the lower back, minimizing inconvenience and maximizing flexibility.