Xcel began in 1982, when founder Ed D’Ascoli started the company from the bedroom of his home at Sunset Beach, Hawaii. With some of the world's most demanding surf directly on his doorstep, D’Ascoli saw an opportunity to develop high-performance products for surfers who demanded more from their equipment.

There was an interesting contradiction at the heart of the brand from the beginning. Hawaii might be associated with warm water, but D’Ascoli had grown up surfing the cold Atlantic coast of New Jersey. He understood first-hand that warmth, flexibility and durability all had to work together if a wetsuit was going to keep a surfer in the water for longer.

That focus on product development became central to Xcel's identity. In 1990 the company moved from Sunset Beach to its headquarters in Haleiwa, while its expansion into California helped establish Xcel in the recreational diving market as well as surfing.

Today Xcel continues to put research and development at the centre of its approach, producing wetsuits for everything from tropical water through to seriously cold conditions. The brand's reputation has been built on stretch, warmth, durability, sealed construction and a fit designed around performance.