The all-new Patagonia Regulator wetsuits for Fall 2026 are out now, along with new boots and gloves. A bunch has changed since their last line, which was released about three years ago.

The first thing that catches your eye when seeing the new suits is the U-Zip entry: an invention by the Japanese team of C. World, responsible for Axxe wetsuits, and refined by Patagonia. U-Zip minimizes flushing and makes it easier to get in and out of your suit.

Whenever you put on a Regulator, you might notice a complete redesign in all patterns. The women’s suits in particular have an improved fit thanks to the feedback of Patagonia ambassador and big-wave rider Paige Alms. Of course, fit is a highly personal thing, so it’s best to just go and try one on.

Patagonia’s Fall lineup uses Yulex2.0, an updated and improved natural rubber alternative to conventional petrochemical and limestone rubber. Yulex is made from rubber from FSC-certified sources, harvested from rubber trees that can produce rubber for up to 30 years. Patagonia pioneered natural rubber in wetsuits, which meant that those first suits weren’t the best in terms of performance. Because of this, a lot of people stopped buying Patagonia wetsuits and haven’t experienced the progress Yulex has made. This in and of itself is a story, which you will read all about in #37 of Nordic Surfers Mag. Funnily enough, the last version before Yulex2.0 was already very good, but Yulex2.0 is really knocking it out of the park and practically indistinguishable from limestone and petrochemical rubber in terms of performance. Durability is something that has yet to be proven, even after 4+ months of heavy testing on our own end.

All internal and external face fabrics are now NetPlus, a postconsumer recycled nylon made from 100% recycled fishing nets from South America, replacing polyester. According to Patagonia, a first in the wetsuit industry. What you might notice is how this new lining feels softer against the skin and to the touch. The nylon itself is colored using a solution dye. This means color is added by melting it into the yarn, instead of washing it into it, requiring no water in the dyeing process. This isn’t a new technology, but to pull it off in NetPlus is.

The entire Regulator wetsuit and accessories lineup now uses reclaimed carbon black, which is made by recycling old suits and car tires. Patagonia states that production of BolderBlack uses at least 90% less water and emits at least 90% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional carbon black, which is used to color rubber and fabrics, but also to add strength to rubber.

Our editor Ron de Leeuw has been working on a piece about these suits since April 2025 and has traveled to Iceland, Cornwall, Japan, and California to cover it. You will have to wait for his full story in the upcoming print edition of Nordic Surfers Mag, which will be #37, but we’re already confident enough to share with you that this Fall 2026 Regulator line is worth checking out.

Always keep in mind that it’s better to repair what you already own than to blindly buy something new. Take care of your gear and your wallet will thank you later.