RE: [Paddlewise] Dry Suit Field Test

> What you're suggesting makes too much sense. i too wondered why a quality
company like Kokatat sells a high dollar drysuit that arrives with no
instructions for use.

I presume there are many, like myself, who are not intimately involved with
a paddling group or other experienced paddlers.  This list is my 'group' and
you <are invaluable>.

I would guess a lot of dry suits are sold to people like me who have some
vauge idea a dry suit might be a good thing in cold water/air and having
bought one will be protected from all harm, forever and ever, amen.  And if
it happens to be a little warmer than expected, a little ventilation might
be in order (reference the Lake Erie incident).

So in addition to some general guidelines on proper use of a dry suit, a
properly emphatic warning about its misuse should be included by the
manufacturer.  They put warning labels on everything else, don't they?


> i keep my head vertical while putting mine on... i am concerned about a
neck injury at a remote location. powder all over my bald head, ears, and
neck help it slip on easier. afterwards, i look like the Pillsbury doughboy.


Things I've learned so far:

Neck gasket:

I bought a large Kokatat Gortex dry suit that fit ok but the neck gasket
would eventually have caused me to pass out.  After a month of stretching it
at home to its limit, I took it back and exchanged it for an extra large.
Unfortunately, the neck gasket seemed just as tight and it didn't stretch
either.

Based on comments from the list, I cut a total of 3 rings from the neck and
it now feels great.  Haven't stuck my head under the water yet, but
hopefully it's still watertight.

Suit size:

I tried the large suit on in the store, sat down, went through paddling and
stretching motions (looking like an idiot) and decided it felt ok, not
great, but ok.

While I was trying to stretch the neck gasket, I started to doubt the fit
and had no real hesitation in exchanging it for an extra large.  The legs
are 3 or 4 inches too long now but I didn't buy the suit for walking.  I
much prefer the roominess than the snugness, particularily since there is
room for any kind of underclothes I choose to wear.  Also the ole bod is
free to expand a little in the future :-).

Underclothes:

As Ralph and others have pointed out, if you aren't wearing much underneath,
you're probably going to have serious problems in cold water.  My approach
so far is to assume if I'm not going to be comfortable in clothes in 40F
weather for an extended period of time, I'm not going to be able to handle
40F water either.  And wicking is just as important in a dry suit as it is
on the ski slopes (ouch, my aching shoulder).

All Gaskets:

Gaskets go over the skin.  Socks, liners, booties, gloves, etc. go over top
of the gaskets and the cuffs are then velcroed over top of them.  Watches,
braclets, short necklaces, etc. are probably not a good idea.  Sharp corners
may nick or puncture the gasket.

Zipper:

Make sure the zipper is pulled all the way closed.  I have to eyeball it
because it has felt closed when it wasn't.

Suit care:

Rinse with fresh water after use.  If fresh water not available, rinse in
salt water.  Salt water contains only about 10%(?) salt whereas you're
rinsing away a larger concentraions of salt.

Gasket care:

Use 303 lubricant(?) every month or so on gaskets to help prevent drying and
cracking which will cause replacement.  Most/many other lubricants(?)
contain chemicals that may be harmful to latex.

Zipper care:

I think candle wax was a suggested lubricant for cold weather.  I think bees
wax was deemed too slippery which might make it to easy for it to open on
its own(?).

Getting into suit:

I haven't put my foot through the arm yet but have managed to get it on
backwards.  It has been suggested that you use your entire finger length to
stretch the ankle gasket while putting your feet through.  I guess that
makes sense because it would spread the pressure over a wider area and
reduce the possibility of puncture.  I guess you need to watch out for rings
and fingernails.

My dry suit zips from the right shoulder down to the left rib.  I put my
left arm in, followed by my right.  I leave the neck until I'm ready to get
in the kayak.

Getting out of the suit:

I found the key for me is to get out of both wrist gaskets first.  Then I
grab the left cuff with my right hand behind my back and work my left hand
up the sleeve until I can work my shoulder out.  The right arm comes right
out then.


If there's anything wrong or missing with the above, please respond as I
plan to archive this.

Gee, I can hardly wait for my next test.  Maybe I won't die this time.

Clyde Sisler
http://csisler.com
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