Need Essentials vs Rip Curl:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Rip Curl had more branded searches than Need Essentials among wetsuit brands in Australia. Rip Curl had about 1,600 branded searches, while Need Essentials had 1,000. Rip Curl made up 17.8% of all wetsuit brand searches we track, and Need Essentials accounted for 11.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wetsuit brands, Rip Curl appeared in four of the five answers and Need Essentials in one. Rip Curl was mentioned before Need Essentials in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Rip Curl, about 60% more searches than Need Essentials
Who does AI mention more?
Rip Curl, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Need Essentials in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Rip Curl, named ahead of Need Essentials in every answer
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Top wetsuit brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Rip Curl was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Need Essentials was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Rip Curl was listed before Need Essentials in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
O'Neill5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Rip Curl4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Billabong3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Need Essentials1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Xcel1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Patagonia1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Quiksilver1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Roxy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Cressi0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Zion0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about wetsuit brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which wetsuit should I buy in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best wetsuit brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best wetsuit for surfing in winter?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“wetsuit”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“mens wetsuit”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.
Is Need Essentials or Rip Curl more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Need Essentials and Rip Curl by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 wetsuit brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Rip Curl, Need Essentials. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | O'Neill | Rip Curl | Need Essentials | Billabong | Xcel | Roxy | Patagonia | Quiksilver | Cressi | Zion | Project Blank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24.1% | 16.5% | 12.7% | 11.2% | 9.1% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 23.9% | 19.8% | 13.2% | 10.7% | 7.3% | 5.9% | 4% | 4.9% | 3.2% | 4% | 3.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 24.2% | 19.1% | 13.1% | 10.1% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 3.2% | 2.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 27% | 18% | 11.2% | 9.9% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 1.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 33.5% | 13.9% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.6% | 2% |
| Mar 2026 | 26.6% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 9.7% | 8% | 4.3% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 2.9% |
| Apr 2026 | 27.1% | 14.3% | 14.3% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 4.4% | 2.9% |
| May 2026 | 25.8% | 20.8% | 13.6% | 7.2% | 9.3% | 2.8% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 1.9% | 6.3% | 2.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 32.6% | 17.8% | 14.1% | 7.4% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 2.4% | 5.3% | 2.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 24.6% | 36.8% | 10.9% | 6% | 6% | 2.2% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 3.3% | 1.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.2% | 39.4% | 9.5% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 2.8% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 32.2% | 17.8% | 11.1% | 8% | 8% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1.9% |
Rip Curl sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “rip curl wetsuit”.
How has the Need Essentials and Rip Curl comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Rip Curl was ahead of Need Essentials in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Need Essentials’ share of searches among wetsuit brands in Australia moved from 12.7% to 11.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rip Curl’s share of searches among wetsuit brands in Australia moved from 16.5% to 17.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.3K to 1.6K.
How did search popularity change for Australia wetsuit brands in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, O'Neill overtook Rip Curl to become the leader among wetsuit brands in Australia, with 32.2% of the searches.
In September 2026, Need Essentials gained share of searches among wetsuit brands in Australia, from 9.5% to 11.1%.
In September 2026, Rip Curl lost share of searches among wetsuit brands in Australia, from 39.4% to 17.8%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Need Essentials’ and Rip Curl’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Need Essentials
1 branded search term
- need essentials wetsuit
Rip Curl
1 branded search term
- rip curl wetsuit
Other head-to-heads among wetsuit brands
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