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Body Glove: 60 Years Later

Sixty years ago Bob and Bill Meistrell, the co-founders of Body Glove, invented the first fully functional wetsuit. It changed the world of surfing and water sports forever.

BY The Inertia | Staff

  • 1963_mickeymunozhobiealter_ad

    1963 - Mickey Munoz and Hobie Alter agree on the Body Glove.

  • 50s_bill_surfing

    1950's - Bill Meistrel, testing equipment.

  • 50sbobmeistrelldiving_1

    1950's - Bob Meistel diving in an original Body Glove

  • 68270005

    Home of the Surf Suit.

  • Adobe Photoshop PDF

    Bill Brhinghurst, savoring the winter flavor.

  • dive-n-surf-front-zip-beaver-tail-short-arm_50s

    An original Dive n' Surf Beaver-tail short arm suit, circa 1950.

  • flag_chpt3_1

    Bill Meistrel, Manhattan Beach lifeguard and founder of Body Glove.

Sixty years ago today, Bob and Bill Meistrell changed the world of surfing forever. The co-founders of Body Glove, they invented the first fully functional wetsuit and opened up a whole new world of previously unsurfable waves. Founded in 1953, the brothers crafted the first wetsuit in the back of their Redondo Beach surf shop, Dive N’ Surf. Here are few of their earlier images to celebrate sixty years of warmth.