One comment on jrussel's question about protecting latex booties and keeping warm --- I understand and appreciate the many responses about protecting thin latex booties, but I doubt that any of the proposed solutions would help keep the paddler *warm* in the environment for which we wear drysuits: i.e., in the water, out of the kayak. I would suggest that the paddler's thermal insulation needs to be maximized inside the dry, sealed booties, rather than assume that neoprene booties or mukluks or any other external protection could provide even marginal thermal value while swimming. Certainly, some thermal energy must escape through latex booties, and, if that could be protected in a "wetsuit" environment --- by a neoprene wrapper of some sort --- I suppose it might add some limited thermal value. But, again, my bet is that it is too small to be measured. I'd try to insulate my feet in the (relatively) dry environment of the booties with liner socks and relatively thick fleec! ! e socks --- remembering that, while swimming, water pressure will tend to compress thick socks, decreasing their insulative qualities to some degree --- and simply try to protect the latex as much as possible. My suit has neoprene booties built in --- vs. the latex option --- which are relatively tough and durable, and may provide marginally more thermal insulation than latex; for me, in boats with limited footroom (VCP Pintail and CLC North Bay) two pairs of socks and the neoprene booties are all that fits inside, anyway. So I appreciate the (hopefully) increased survivability of the neoprene. Since the key is to dress for the water, I'd suggest trying a swim --- or at least a "wade" in protected surroundings --- using one protected and one unprotected latex booty to see what happens. My guess is that you'll find that it's the dry stuff that keeps you warm, not the layers of wet neoprene over the booty. (I'd try it myself if I could find anything that would fit over the neoprene booties!) Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Jan 27 2000 - 18:37:32 PST
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