Dave Seng wrote: > I no longer own my coated dry suit, but it seems to me that it might have > been a little bit warmer than my Goretex drysuit _while I was wearing it_, > but the disadvantage of having all that extra moisture trapped in my > insulating layers was quickly evident as soon as I took the drysuit off on > cool or windy days. As long as I kept the drysuit sealed up tight I stayed > warm..... wet, but warm. That _is_ the disadvantage of the fully coated vs. Goretex dry suit. Your insulation is wet when you strip the dry suit off. The wetness does not bother you while you have the coated dry suit on as long as it is wicking type insulation. You actually feel quite warm. On trips with people around me who are wearing the Goretex variety of dry suit, they seem to have a greater need to add something warm at rest or lunch breaks than I have. And, I know I am going to be challenged on this, I swear that you reach what I term a happy, relative level of humidity inside the suit where you don't get any wetter; your body adjusts. You are wet but the wetness remains warm; it does not feel cold as long as air is not passing over the insulation, which it isn't because you are air tight inside the suit. The great advantage of the Goretex is that moisture doesn't build up inside, albeit that letting off of internal steam is limited when you are in the cockpit of your kayak...afterall, the PFD won't allow internal moisture to get through it and you lower body is encasted inside the boat where moisture can't go anywhere. (Of course, you can opt not to wear a PFD and sprayskirt and then the Goretex suit would be fully functioning in letting off moisture while paddling. You probably don't need a PFD anyway as the air in the suit will make you as bouyant as the Michelin Man. Am I going to get in trouble with stating such things? :-) BTW, I have my tongue well in cheek here.) >From what you describe for yourself, I am talking to Dave Kruger, you are fine with the outfit you have, i.e. Goretex jacket and farmer john neoprene. If you want to achieve slightly better insulation and greater breathability, go for the Polartec watersport suit, but they do cost about US$180 or so. And for more warmth, add a vest of the same material. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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 13 1999 - 14:28:32 PST
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