Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Best solution??still available

Posted By: Randy Kanuff
Date: Wednesday, 18 October 2000, at 2:54 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Hybrid Dry Suits (Craig Bumgarner)

: When dry suits first started coming out in the eighties, I bought what I call
: a hybrid dry suit. It was distributed by one of the European windsurfing
: companies. Sorry, I can't remember the brand name. It was made from
: 1/8" neoprene with a sealed shiney outside surface and came in an
: upper and lower piece with a roll up seal in abdomen region. I used this
: suit for winter windsurfing and at the time considered it better than the
: one piece, baggy, cloth dry suits.

: The top was a loose fit with dry suit seals at the neck and wrists. There was
: room for a light sweater and plenty of room for shoulder rotation. The
: bottom was like wet suit pants, snug fit and had no seals at the ankles
: allowing a little water in, but not much. I once spent 20 minutes in 30
: degree water working on anchor lines (ice laden) for my trimaran without
: serious discomfort.
: The main feature I liked was the trim, compact fit. This was a great asset
: windsurfing. Swimming was easier and there was less fear of the suit
: filling up if there was breach in the suit. Getting in an out of it was
: easier than the "bag suits" of the day. You could also use the
: two pieces separately which I did on occasion.

: These would seem to be good assets in cold weather kayaking as well, but I
: have not seen this kind suit on the market anymore. All I see are the bag
: suits. I used the top last year for winter rolling practice and though the
: seals were starting to go, it worked well.

: BTW, the seals on my suit are now fully disintegrated and I am pleased to see
: from this thread they might be replaceble. The "belly roll" seal
: is also gone. This is a sheet of neoprene or latex seal material about
: 12" wide by 36" long. Anyone know where I can get a piece like
: this? I might be able to get this dry suit back in operation if I can find
: this part.

One of my favorite suits is a Kokatat 2-piece Gore-tex. I have the Gore-tex bibs and rather than the regular Gore-tex top I have the TecTour top. This has latex wrists but a neoprene neck closure and a hood. The neck can be left open for ventilation until nasty conditions arise. Dumping with the neck closed is essentially dry, dumping with the neck open doesn't let much water in before you have surfaced and are rescuing.
It makes a great paddle jacket by itself and seals to the bibs for a one piece very dry suit (if you roll it together carefully).

This gives me lots of choice on how I want to dress depending on the water and air temperatures and conditions. Same price as a single piece suit or the regular two piece suit. You can buy the top first and add the bibs later if money is a problem.

Randy

Messages In This Thread

Cold weather wear
Mary -- Monday, 16 October 2000, at 12:01 p.m.

Re: Cold weather wear
Shawn Baker -- Monday, 16 October 2000, at 2:07 p.m.

Re: Cold weather wear
Robert Woodard -- Monday, 16 October 2000, at 9:00 p.m.

Re: Cold weather wear
Frank -- Monday, 16 October 2000, at 11:45 p.m.

Re: Neoprene hoods
Shawn Baker -- Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 10:59 a.m.

Re: hoods
Lee -- Wednesday, 18 October 2000, at 11:15 p.m.

Re: Cold weather wear
Martin Glader -- Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 4:30 a.m.

Re: Cold weather wear
Shawn Baker -- Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 11:44 a.m.

Re: Cold weather wear
Martin -- Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 1:26 p.m.

tried them all
Randy Kanuff -- Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 4:55 a.m.

Buy the goretex drysuit
Ed K. -- Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 12:30 p.m.

Re: Buy the goretex drysuit
MT -- Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 5:07 p.m.

Re: Buy the goretex drysuit
M. Hamilton -- Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 6:12 p.m.

Re: Buy the goretex drysuit
Brian Nystrom -- Tuesday, 17 October 2000, at 6:39 p.m.

Re: Buy the goretex drysuit
Bruce -- Wednesday, 18 October 2000, at 12:25 a.m.

Re: Hybrid Dry Suits
Craig Bumgarner -- Wednesday, 18 October 2000, at 5:19 a.m.

Best solution??still available
Randy Kanuff -- Wednesday, 18 October 2000, at 2:54 p.m.

Re: cold weather ware
Rod Estvan -- Wednesday, 18 October 2000, at 2:58 p.m.

Re: Cold in Southern California?
Don -- Wednesday, 18 October 2000, at 9:58 p.m.

Re: Cold in Southern California?
M. Hamilton -- Wednesday, 18 October 2000, at 11:06 p.m.

Re: Cold in Southern California?
Greg Stamer -- Thursday, 19 October 2000, at 10:43 a.m.

Re: Cold in Southern California?
M. Hamilton -- Thursday, 19 October 2000, at 6:07 p.m.

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