Invention to stay warmer in the water

A TORQUAY inventor is hoping to reignite his legacy in the surf fraternity with a rebranded product.

More than two decades ago, Chris Lyons invented the first heated wetsuit, a novelty which sparked curiosity from local surfers to international divers.

Now after years of refining, test and reimagining his early concepts, he has relaunched under the new name of Wettie Warmaz.

The original heated wetsuit used built in wires and connecters, practical for its time, but was “far from perfect”, according to Mr Lyons.

The new version is a patent pending design that removes wires completely and comes in the form of a kidney belt.

The belt is fitted with lightweight heaters that warm the body’s core, while a wristwatch remote lets surfers or divers adjust the temperature on the fly.

“When I first came up with it, the idea was simple: how can we help people stay in the water longer, warmer and more comfortable?” Mr Lyons said.

“It’s been an endless pursuit — you can’t let go of something like this once you’ve seen how much it helps people.”

For Mr Lyons, the new system is the culmination of lessons learned from decades of dawn surf checks and feedback from early adopters.

“People wanted warmth, but they didn’t want hassle: cords, plugs, special suits,” he said.

“They wanted it simple, safe, and to work with what they already had. That’s what we built.”

The relaunched product is fully waterproof and rechargeable, allowing surfers to be warm in the water every session.

“It’s about more than warmth. It’s about freedom — to surf more often, stay out longer, and not let cold water tell you when to come in,” Mr Lyons said.

Now based where it all began 20 years ago in Torquay, Wettie Warmaz is shipping its first run of the new system, with limited stock available.

“This is my legacy,” Mr Lyons said.

“A mark I’m proud to leave on the industry I helped pioneer.”

For more information, head to wettiewarmaz.com