Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Re: cold weather ware

Posted By: Rod Estvan
Date: Wednesday, 18 October 2000, at 2:58 p.m.

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

I have 4 different options. First I have a farmer john shorty for water down to about 65 degrees. Second I have a full light weight wet suit for water down to about 56 degrees. Third I have a 7mm wet suit with hood by Cameo out of Austria for water below 56 down to about 42. Fourth I have a US coast guard approved survival suit for water below 42. The survival suit has internal floatation and I do not need to ware a vest with it.

If I am swiming in cold water the 7mm will work fine in water below 42 because I am generating heat. I personally feel more secure in a wet suit, I always jump in the water before I kayak and I feel that I am not psychologically prepared for Kayaking if I can't at least take a dive in the water. No doubt I am use to wet suits because of my diving background.

The survival suit has significant problems in restricting movement. But if you are kayaking off ice shelves chances are very likely that you are going to get wet and the air tempature is below 32. A survival suit is designed to address that very issue and deals with cold water shock. The Inuit seal skin suits were also bulky but like a survival suit they protected the kayaker against cold water shock to some degree.

As always the great downside to wet suits or survival suits are toileting issues. On multiday trips they can also be a problem, because you may not be able to properly air them out.

Rod in Chicago

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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