What is a Wetsuit Made Of? (CR vs. SCR vs. SBR Neoprene Explained)

You pull on your wetsuit, zip it up, and paddle out into the cool water, comfortable and warm. We know it’s made of "neoprene," but what does that word really mean? Have you ever noticed that a high-end, expensive wetsuit feels dramatically softer, stretchier, and lighter than an entry-level rental suit? Is it just the brand name, or is there a fundamental difference in the material itself?

The truth is, "neoprene" is a general term, and the material inside your wetsuit can vary dramatically in quality and performance. Understanding the "ingredients" is the key to choosing a suit that will perform as you expect and last for seasons to come. This is your simple, clear guide to the "alphabet soup" of wetsuit materials: CR, SBR, and SCR. As the material manufacturers at https://neoprenecustom.com who create these foams, we want to pull back the curtain and show you what's really inside your suit.

The Core Ingredient: Neoprene Foam

At its heart, a wetsuit is made from a sheet of neoprene foam. This is a type of synthetic rubber that is filled with millions of microscopic, sealed bubbles of nitrogen gas. These trapped gas bubbles are what provide the insulation that keeps you warm.

However, the "rubber" part of that foam can be made from different chemical polymers, which leads to the different grades.

The Three Main Grades of Wetsuit Neoprene

1. SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber): The Budget-Friendly Base

• What it is: SBR is a low-cost, general-purpose synthetic rubber. It’s the same type of durable rubber used to make car tires. It is not technically "neoprene."

• Performance in a Wetsuit:

  • Feel: It is the stiffest, heaviest, and least flexible of the three.

  • Durability: It has lower tear resistance and tends to "pack out" (become permanently thin) relatively quickly.

  • Insulation: It has a higher water absorption rate and a less uniform cell structure, making it a less effective insulator.

• Where you'll find it: In very cheap, entry-level, or "no-name" brand wetsuits. It allows for the lowest possible price point but at a significant cost to performance.

2. CR (Chloroprene Rubber): The High-Performance Premium

• What it is: This is the original, genuine neoprene. It is a high-performance polymer specifically designed for flexibility, resilience, and resistance to the elements.

• Performance in a Wetsuit:

  • Feel: This is the "buttery-soft," super-stretchy, and lightweight foam you feel in a top-of-the-line wetsuit. It offers the maximum range of motion.

  • Durability: It has excellent tear strength and a powerful "memory" (resilience), meaning it springs back to its original thickness after being compressed, ensuring it stays warm and fits well for a long time.

  • Insulation: It has a superior, highly uniform closed-cell structure, making it the most effective insulator.

• Where you'll find it: In the highest-end competition, pro-level, and cold-water wetsuits. Premium versions, like limestone-based CR, offer even greater performance and better environmental credentials.

3. SCR: The Strategic and Popular Blend

• What it is: This is the most common material found in the vast majority of mid-range wetsuits. SCR is a blend of both CR and SBR rubbers. The raw materials are mixed together before the foam is cured.

• Performance in a Wetsuit: The performance of an SCR blend depends entirely on the ratio of CR to SBR.

  • A High-SBR Blend (e.g., 20% CR / 80% SBR): This will feel much closer to a pure SBR suit—stiffer and less warm, but still better than 100% SBR. This is often used in entry-level suits from reputable brands.

  • A High-CR Blend (e.g., 70% CR / 30% SBR): This is the sweet spot for a great all-around wetsuit. It offers a large portion of the flexibility and warmth of 100% CR, but at a more accessible price point. It feels dramatically better than a high-SBR blend.

• Where you'll find it: In the bestselling 3/2mm and 4/3mm fullsuits from most major surf and dive brands.

As a brand, the grade of neoprene you choose for your product line is a strategic decision. It directly communicates your position in the market.

Are you competing on price alone, or are you competing on performance?

• A distributor might sell you a single grade of "neoprene," often without telling you the true SBR/CR ratio.

• A true manufacturing partner like https://neoprenecustom.com gives you the power of choice and transparency.

We work with brands to:

• Supply cost-effective SBR and SBR-rich blends for their entry-level lines.

• Engineer custom SCR blends with a specific ratio to help them hit the perfect performance-to-price ratio for their bestselling models.

• Provide premium, 100% CR and limestone-based CR for their flagship, high-performance wetsuits.

The material inside your wetsuit is its heart and soul. By understanding the difference between the grades, you can make a smarter choice as a consumer and build a better, more competitive product line as a brand.

To have a technical discussion about the perfect grade of neoprene for your next project, contact our material specialist, Kevin, at kevin@neoprenecustom.com.