Bob Apter wrote: > > My experience is that this product is considerably less warm than neoprene > if really wet. I have also found the above, *once one is out of the water*. In the water, the fuzzy rubber is nearly as warm. Thus with warm air temps and cool water temps, the fuzzy rubber works very well (so long as the water is not too cold). In more extreme conditions, the fuzzy rubber works well in combination with neoprene (or with a dry top). For example, I have found that a combination of fuzzypants and a fuzzyshirt with a 3mm neoprene farmer john (or shorty john) is both warmer *and* considerably more comfortable than the neoprene by itself. I swam in a snowmelt river with this combo and was reasonably comfy (although it was not a long swim--this would not be adequate for prolonged immersion in such cold water). Add a dry top and you can extend the range even further. I like to have the choice of various layerings from which I can choose based on the air temp, the water temp, and the likelihood of prolonged immersion. Some folks will tell you that you should *always* dress for prolonged immersion regardless of any other factors, even on a flat day when you are with other paddlers and it is 90 degrees. I believe that this is too extreme, but then again by the standards of some of the folks on this list I am quite reckless. (Although I am not "wreckless"--my insurance company can attest to that. :-) If you are very risk averse, just wear a drysuit in all conditions. If you can tolerate this approach, more power too you--you will be safer than with lesser garb. A friend of mine wore his GoreTex drysuit (with substantial insulation underneath) every day on a two week trip in Alaska where we had many hot (not warm) days, and he says that he was never uncomfortable. He also wears his precurved 2mm black neoprene Glacier Gloves regardless of the air temp--says he likes the feel. Some people are just luckier than others in that they can paddle comfortably in anything regardless of the air temp. Dan Hagen *************************************************************************** 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 Sat Feb 06 1999 - 07:18:47 PST
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