[Paddlewise] Drytops wetsuits etc.

"I use a thick (6.5mm) skin diver's farmer john wetsuit with a dry top.
This keeps me fairly warm even when water gets under the drytop (after
smimming). . .
 but it does use a bit of energy
> because it is so clingy and springy.  Once I even wore my farmer john
> under a drysuit.

Wow! What kind of water temps would make that advisable? Maybe I'd do it

if I were paddling in the Shetlands. e"

Elaine,

I was just too lazy to change out of the wetsuit, but I wanted the
drysuit to keep my torso warm.  I was cozy!  Actually it isn't such a
crazy idea.  You can get very wet (from sweat) inside a dry suit, and,
although you are protected from evaporative cooling by the drysuit, you
will loose more heat to convection when your fuzzy layers become
drenched with sweat.  I do paddle on very windy winter days in 45 degree
water, and the neoprene would provide some back up if you ripped a seal
on your drysuit.  I might be inclined to wear a looser "fuzzy rubber"
farmer john under the drysuit, next to my skin, when paddling solo in
winter storms.

Nick

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