Re: [Paddlewise] PaddleWise Drysuits

I also find that I can't stay dry in a Goretex drysuit, paddling vigorously
in the Pacific Northwest.  I suspect that the high humidity here limits the
effectiveness of Goretex, since the vapor pressure outside is relatively
high.

Nonetheless, the Goretex still works much better for me than when I tried a
coated drysuit in the past.

I find that if I'm going to wear a drysuit, I might as well wear neoprene
underneath it!  Since any moisture I generate tends to gravitate toward my
seat, I find that neoprene is particularly important there.  So my solution
is to use the following progression as the weather gets colder:  1) 2mm
neoprene pants with a pile top;  2) add a paddling jacket; 3) substitute a
2-3mm farmer john wetsuit for the neoprene pants, still with pile top and
paddling jacket; 4) neoprene pants, pile top under a drysuit; 5) farmer john
wetsuit, pile top, under a drysuit.  The pile top can be short or long
sleeve, for more flexibility.  A warm hat or balaclava allows me to adapt
for a range of temperature on a given day, taking it on or off.

The combination of neoprene under the drysuit keeps me warm and safe in the
coldest weather here, and is much more comfortable for paddling than going
to heavier neoprene.

Bob Apter

----- Original Message -----
From: Dickson, Dana A. <dana.dickson_at_unisys.com>
To: <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2000 8:38 AM
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] PaddleWise Drysuits


> Insulation under both the coated and the Gore-Tex drysuits is going to be
> damp after strenuous paddling.  Gore-Tex works when the vapor pressure of
> the water inside the garment exceeds the vapor pressure of the water
outside
> the garment.  As a result you have close to saturated air and damp
> insulation under the drysuit.  Damp fleece is not a good an insulator as
dry
> fleece.  My experience using my Gore-Tex drysuit in MN in the winter
> provides anecdotal evidence to support this.  On New Year's Day and on a
Dec
> 4 paddle with air temps near or below 32 F.  I was warm paddling and
chilled
> very quickly when I stopped.  I warmed up when I removed all my damp
> insulating layers and put dry fleece on.
>
> Dana
>


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