Just to try to clarify one issue, Chuck, what you are describing as Malden's "Thermal Stretch" is, I'm pretty sure, their new "Rubberized Thermal Stretch" material; they still make "Thermal Stretch" --- in an earlier life known as Polartec 2000S --- and it's good stuff, but for sea kayakers' purposes, the "Rubberized" stuff is probably even better. (And the Rubberized Thermal Stretch is the stuff Dana Chladek is using in her Rapidstyle garments.) Where Malden billed "Thermal Stretch" as "windproof", "breathable" and "water repellent", their "Rubberized Thermal Stretch" is "semi-breathable" and "waterproof", eliminating evaporative cooling. The jury's out on the comparative abrasion resistance, but my personal bet is that the straight "Thermal Stretch" might be a little better. At various times, both material have been credited with the thermal insulation of two to three mil neoprene in the water, but my bet is that the Rubberized stuff will be warmer. I own a full "jumpsuit" of Polartec 2000S --- maybe five years old. Works well as an emergency backup to a drysuit, and, since it breathes better than the Rubberized version, for my purposes, it's fine. (I'm not using it to be comfortable in cold water --- just to survive until I can change my situation with a wet re-entry and roll, a self rescue, a swim to the beach, or an assisted rescue.) But it works. As a straight replacement for a neoprene wetsuit, the Rubberized variety is probably much better. REI, Colorado Kayak and other big shops also offer a variety of garments of this material, and Dana Chladek (Rapidstyle) may offer a farmer jane/john in the fall. Another small company, Lochsa Connection (<www.gorp.com/lochsa>), offers a farmer jane/john --- as "Otter Skins", along with other pieces --- but their web site doesn't feature the stuff; gotta get their catalog. Good features and a competitive price --- $116 for the john/jane. Agree with your bottom line, Chuck --- good stuff, lots better than neoprene for paddling. Jack *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Aug 19 1998 - 12:51:37 PDT
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