Rip Curl vs Xcel:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Rip Curl had more branded searches than Xcel among wetsuit brands in Australia. Rip Curl had about 1,600 branded searches, while Xcel had 720. Rip Curl made up 17.8% of all wetsuit brand searches we track, and Xcel accounted for 8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wetsuit brands, Rip Curl appeared in four of the five answers and Xcel in one. Rip Curl was mentioned before Xcel in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Rip Curl, about 2 searches for every 1 for Xcel
Who does AI mention more?
Rip Curl, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Xcel in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Rip Curl, named ahead of Xcel 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. Xcel 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 Xcel 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 Rip Curl or Xcel more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Rip Curl and Xcel 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, Xcel. 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 Rip Curl and Xcel comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Rip Curl was ahead of Xcel in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Xcel’s share of searches among wetsuit brands in Australia moved from 9.1% to 8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 720.
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, Xcel gained share of searches among wetsuit brands in Australia, from 6.4% to 8%.
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 Rip Curl’s and Xcel’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.
Other head-to-heads among wetsuit brands
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