Re: [Paddlewise] Goretex or Not?

-----Original Message-----
From: David Seng <David_at_wainet.com>
To: PaddleWise <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 1998 2:57 PM
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Goretex or Not?


>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Gerald Foodman [mailto:klagjf_at_worldnet.att.net]
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 1998 1:02 PM
>> To: Dave Kruger; PaddleWise
>> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Gore-Tex or Not?
>>
>>
>> I would like to add this question:  Could the drysuit be worn
>> all of a 70 or
>> 80 degF day on a long distance paddle without having to do a
>> roll every half
>> hour to cool off?
>
>  Just my own experience here, but I roast in a drysuit (Gore-Tex or
>not) when the temps are above the lower sixties.  (Thankfully I live in
>a place where it doesn't often get much warmer than that!)
>When the weather gets warm, but the water is still cold, I often just go
>with my "Farmer Brown" wetsuit.  The water conditions also play a part
>in my choice of apparel - if it's windy and choppy I might opt for the
>drysuit - especially if the water is cold - simply because of the
>greater likelihood of taking an unplanned swim.
>
>Dave Seng
>Juneau, Alaska

I very much agree with this.  Paddling here in NW Washington, for a long
time I much preferred a 3mm farmer john with a polypropylene top, +/- a
paddling jacket.  I initially tried a nongoretex drysuit and didn't like it
because I got very wet.  I finally gor a Goretex drysuit and find I get less
wet, but I still get wet - as much as a cup in each extremity depending on
how long I'm working out, how damp the weather, etc.  Maybe I just sweat a
lot!  Nonetheless, I find there are real advantages to the Goretex drysuit
for colder or windier conditions.  But I don't expect it to keep me
perfectly dry.  I usually wear 2 mm long leg neoprene pants plus a pile top
under the drysuit.  This is a lot less restrictive than heavier neoprene.
So if it's 45F and windy, or below freezing in any conditions, I'll switch
to the drysuit.  But if I was on a limited budget, I'd probably stick to the
3mm neoprene plus paddling top.

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