Re: [Paddlewise] 1 vs 2 piece dry suits

Robert Woodard wrote:

> An 'almost' related thread on dry suits: Does anyone have an opinion of a 1
> piece vs a 2 piece dry suit? A two piece suit would seem to me to be the
> most convienient. I just can't see a 2 piece being very water tight. It
> looks like it would have to be cinched up tight enough around the waist to
> make you turn blue. Or am I missing something?
>
> I'd like to buy a two piece because of all the combinations I could then
> have with wearing other clothes with it (wet suit, semi-dry top, etc), but
> I'm afraid it would end up being just semi-dry (i.e. wet with less water
> flushing through it than a wet suit), and I already have a semi-dry combo I
> wear over my wet suit.
>
> I've also seen a 2 piece pant/top combo where the pant top and the inner
> tunnel of the dry top rolled together. Any experience with that?
>

I was tempted to get a two piece for the same reasons, however, the prevailing
opinion in rec.boats.paddle was that you need two people to get you into a
two piece if you want the seal around the middle to be watertight.   If your
spine can twist like a corkscrew, you're probable ok, though.  They are
evidently quite dry.  I finally opted for a one piece and find it's quite a challenge
to get out of singlehandedly.

>
> And finally: Best time to buy? Is spring a good time when people are trying
> to clear their winter stocks? Summer?

My suit was a special order, so it didn't matter when I bought.  If you want
things like booties (recommended) and a relief zipper (definitely recommended),
and Gore-Tex (I recommend, in spite of the cost), you'll not find it on the rack.
I don't know what things are like in your neighbourhood, but around here,
drysuits aren't a big consumer item and you pretty well have to order one.
That could mean full price.  It is currently a bad time, I've been told, to order,
since everyone else is and the manufacturers are filled with orders for
custom versions of their suits.  That could make delivery time long.

Mike



***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************