In the coastal village of Kåseberga, Southern Sweden, our office is housed in an old grocery store from the early 1900s, with a small surf shop next door. It’s here that the newly launched SurfEars 4.0 was born—shaped with the ocean nearby. Kåseberga, once a traditional fishing village, has transformed into a surfing haven by the Baltic Sea. Rolling green hills meet the ocean, creating a calm environment where we can focus on designing ear protection that lets people hear while protecting their ears from the elements. In 2020, we moved from Malmö to Kåseberga, drawn by the ocean and the lifestyle of this slightly remote area.
Now, with the sea right outside the office, we take surf breaks at lunch, skip the commute, and find endless inspiration. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, we thought it could be nice to reflect a little on how far we’ve come together—from our very first version of SurfEars in 2014 to the launch of SurfEars 4.0 this year. What started as a personal solution has now grown into a product and a brand shaped by a global community of water lovers. Join us as we share the story of how SurfEars has evolved, with some insights from our founder, Christian Dittrich.
Christian, tell us about your journey. How did SurfEars come to be, and what inspired you to create this product back in 2014?
Well, as a lifelong surfer and former swimmer, ear infections have always been an issue for me, but it got serious during a surf trip to Morocco, where I ended up with a quite bad infection from the polluted water, closing my ears and nearly losing my hearing completely for a week.
That’s when I knew I had to find a solution. I had tried every earplug on the market and realized that there wasn’t a product that could protect my ears while still letting me hear clearly in the water and communicate with my friends. With my background in tech and product development, I decided to try creating something that might solve this problem for myself and others. So, that’s how SurfEars started—it was born out of the need for better protection without losing the joy of surfing. And it turned out I wasn’t alone with this problem. Every version since has been about listening to our community and improving the product step by step.
How has moving from a city like Malmö to Kåseberga shaped the development of the new SurfEars 4.0?
Moving from Malmö to Kåseberga was a natural choice. We wanted to be closer to the ocean and nature and commute less. Surfing during lunch breaks and having the luxury of constantly being inspired by the environment have made a huge difference. Some of us already lived out here. Our office and the peace and simplicity of this area, along with its creative community, have really helped us focus. I guess all of this plays a role in the way we approach design and product development. With SurfEars 4.0, we’ve brought that sense of natural simplicity into the materials, colors, and the overall feel of the product.
SurfEars 4.0 has several new features. Could you share a little bit about what makes this version stand out?
SurfEars 4.0 is really the culmination of everything we’ve learned over the years. The re-engineered core and mesh are probably the biggest improvements, significantly increasing durability and lifespan, while still offering the benefit of hearing your surroundings clearly. That’s critical – our users want to stay connected, whether it’s hearing the waves or communicating with others in the water. We’ve also introduced a new wingless option, which broadens the use of the product. It fits comfortably under wetsuit hoods, swim caps, and helmets, making SurfEars 4.0 more versatile than ever before.
You’ve introduced new color options for SurfEars 4.0. What was the idea behind that?
The colors are inspired by the natural world—the sea, the sky, and the coastal landscape. It’s a collaboration with my girlfriend, who is a ceramic artist. We wanted them to feel organic, like something you’d find in nature, while also making the product easier to spot among your gear. When you’re heading out for a surf session, you want something functional but also reflective of the environment you love. These new colors bring that sense of connection to nature.
How important is sustainability to SurfEars?
It’s absolutely central to everything we do. Living in a place like Kåseberga, you can’t help but feel the responsibility to protect the ocean and the environment. With SurfEars 4.0, we’ve taken major steps toward sustainability. We’re using ocean plastics and recycled silicone to reduce our environmental footprint. But it’s not just about the materials we use; it’s also how we think as a company. We want to leave the smallest impact possible, not just in product design but in our packaging and shipping processes too. We’ve created sustainable packaging and shipping materials to make sure we’re doing everything we can to minimize waste. It’s about making sure we’re part of the solution, not the problem.
The feedback from your community has clearly influenced the development of SurfEars 4.0. Can you talk about that?
Our community is everything, and of course, it also helps being deeply involved in these sports ourselves, experiencing the needs and problems firsthand. From the very beginning, we’ve been listening carefully to what our customers need and want. Whether it’s a professional surfer, a kayaker, a diver, or a swimmer, their feedback has greatly influenced the development of our product. With SurfEars 4.0, we introduced a wingless option because we heard from divers, swimmers, and kayakers that they wanted a sleeker design without the wing. We’re constantly trying to evolve based on real-world use cases and what the community tells us they need. That’s why we’ve focused so much on versatility—creating a product that works across different water sports but still offers the same level of protection.
What does it mean to you to celebrate 10 years of SurfEars?
It’s hard to believe it’s already been 10 years. When we started in 2014, I didn’t know how far this journey would take us. It began as a way to solve my own problem, and now we’ve built this community of surfers, swimmers, divers, kayakers, and water lovers around the world. To celebrate a decade of SurfEars is really about celebrating the community that’s made it possible. Their feedback and support have driven everything we do, and we’re excited to keep growing and evolving with them.
Finally, what’s next for SurfEars?
We’re always looking ahead, listening to our community, and finding new ways to innovate. Our goal is to keep pushing boundaries—not just with ear protection but with all aspects of sustainability, design, and versatility. We want to stay true to our roots here in Kåseberga, creating products that are deeply connected to nature while solving real problems for water lovers. We’re happy and excited about the future, and we’re grateful to have such a passionate community driving us forward.
