Re: [Paddlewise] Wet suits/dry suits

"Thomas M. Heineman" wrote:
> 
> Any thoughts on when you need a wet suit vs. a dry suit.  Lake Michigan
> is now 53 degrees and dropping rapidly.
> 
> I need to buy a wet suit and/or dry suit and am curious what the
> guidelines are.
> 

I've worn both wet and dry suits and definitely prefer the dry suit in 
cold conditions.  I keep the wet suit (farmer john) for marginal 
conditions in the summer and the dry suit for the other three
seasons.

The problem with the wet suit is that if you go in, you get wet! In 
cold water this is unpleasant at least (like the time I went through
ice while scrambling over the rafted ice sheets from the water to 
the shore on Jan 1 a couple of years ago - that's when I resolved to 
get a dry suit).  On the plus side, wet suits are relatively cheap
and easy to maintain.

Dry suits keep you dry.  They don't insulate and you have to wear
insulation underneath.  I have a one-piece fleece liner suit (great 
for pajamas when winter camping!) and supplement it with other layers
as conditions require.  Highly recommended - you can't easily tuck
your top back into the pants on a two piece liner when you're all 
wrapped up.  I went with the Gore-Tex suit and find that while I 
get quite sweaty when paddling (the insulation required for water
will always be too warm for paddling in air), I get dried out to 
a comfortable level when stopped for a break.  The wicking properties
of the fleece dry your skin and the Gore-Tex eventually lets the 
perspiration evaporate.  Don't expect miracles, though.

Make sure a dry suit fits comfortably.  You'll want some room to
move.  The neck seal bugs me, especially if I shave.  I've stretched
it adequately, but it doesn't let my neck rotate when I turn my 
head.  Hence, the suit has to be loose enough to twist with the
neck seal.  Similarly, you want lots of arm movement.  

You'll still need head and hand protection.  I find neoprene 
pogies quite warm and usually put them on the paddle but push
them off to the middle until I need them.  For head protection
I wear a rubbery fleece cap.  I haven't got a neoprene hood 
yet, but should get one for really cold weather.

There are several manufacturers of dry suits.  I'd recommend the 
paddler-specific companies like Kokatat or Stolquist, rather than
the sailing companies.  The Kokatat Meridian and Stolquist Charc
are virtually identical, so choose based on color :-)  I got
the latex booties and can't understand why anyone would want ankle
seals instead.  Now you can get neoprene socks attached and if I
had the choice at the time, I'd have got those.  Get the relief
zipper as well - it's a lot easier to pay for it than to remove the
suit every time you need to pee!

Other info available on request!
Mike
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