Today's stop at the local yak shop (Great River Outfitters, Waterford, Michigan) turned up another weapon in the battle against mean ole mister hypothermia ... "fuzzy rubber". Never heard of the stuff before! I soon expect to make such a fashion purchase, so why not throw this open for a bit of floor debate? What are the pros and cons for the three choices (of which I'm aware): dry suit, wet suit, fuzzy rubber? Is there a 4th and 5th option I've yet to learn of? What I'd like to purchase is a system suitable for three hydro-sports: sea kayaking, windsurfing and dingy sailing/racing. The lovely thing about the fuzzy rubber option (according to the sales guy) is that it can be layered up or down to suit power expended: thicker for sailing, thinner for paddling. Also, the two "wet" options will not be totally defeated if I snag my butt on a raw bolt end thus holing the suit. Sock it to me! Gary *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>From: "Gary Tabor" <ratracer_at_rust.net> SNIP "fuzzy rubber". >Never heard of the stuff before! SNIP> What are the pros and cons for the three choices (of >which I'm aware): dry suit, wet suit, fuzzy rubber? SNIP >Also, the two "wet" options will not be totally defeated if I snag my butt >on >a raw bolt end thus holing the suit. >Sock it to me! This spring I purchased a top that is fuzzy rubber in the torso portion and Lycra/fleece in the sleeves. I like it a lot for layering under my neoprene farmer john wetsuit (and for certain parties - you can never go wrong with basic black:-) If I get caught in a downpour or swimming, it still provides some warmth even if I haven't had time to slip on a coated paddling jacket. The jury appears to be still out on whether fuzzy rubber is as warm in the water as equivilantly thick neoprene. However, given its much greater comfort, there's a case to be made that you're more likely to be actually wearing it in time of need. (Sort of like the way a low-profile PFD that you'll actually wear is better than the bulkier, more-bouyant and theoretically "safer" PFD that's always tucked under the rear deck bungies:-) Philip Torrens N49°16' W123°06' *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Gary, The "fuzzy rubber" (HydroSkin) stuff is ok. It is more comfortable to wear. I use it when the water temperatures don't require a real wetsuit. They say it is equivalent to 2mm neoprene, which I think is a slight exaggeration. One use I've found for my fuzzy rubber top is to wear it under my farmer John. My wetsuit is a 2-piece model (Farmer John plus zippered jacket) which is way too hot when paddling (but very comfortable when practicing rolls and recoveries in S.F. Bay in the winter). The fuzzy top with short sleeves, worn under the farmer John, is quite warm but not awful. The price for fuzzy rubber is a bit high. Short sleeve shirt plus shorts total $125 at NRS, while a comparable sleeveless 3mm Little John is only $65, and the L.J. will keep you warmer. You can wear an inexpensive polypro t-shirt and shorts under either one to make yourself more comfortable, although from people's reaction I know I look like a clown dressed that way. One complaint -- the fuzzy stuff does not seem as durable as neoprene to me. After only one winter I'm seeing some cracks in the outer surface of the material, and yes! I do wash it in fresh water after every use. jerry. At 05:09 PM 03/09/2000 -0500, Gary Tabor wrote: >Today's stop at the local yak shop (Great River Outfitters, Waterford, >Michigan) turned up another weapon in the battle against mean ole mister >hypothermia ... "fuzzy rubber". > > > > > >Never heard of the stuff before! > > > > > >I soon expect to make such a fashion purchase, so why not throw this open for >a bit of floor debate? What are the pros and cons for the three choices (of >which I'm aware): dry suit, wet suit, fuzzy rubber? Is there a 4th and 5th >option I've yet to learn of? > > > > > >What I'd like to purchase is a system suitable for three hydro-sports: sea >kayaking, windsurfing and dingy sailing/racing. The lovely thing about the >fuzzy rubber option (according to the sales guy) is that it can be layered up >or down to suit power expended: thicker for sailing, thinner for paddling. >Also, the two "wet" options will not be totally defeated if I snag my butt on >a raw bolt end thus holing the suit. > > > > > >Sock it to me! > > > > > >Gary > > > > > >*************************************************************************** >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/ >*************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi, I am a fan of fuzzy rubber on paddling days when a dry suit seems like more than I need for warmth, but the water and/or air temps are still cool and I want some protection. But I have seen, on two separate occasions (on two separate bodies), the exterior fabric start to separate from the fuzzy interior fabric. In both cases, this was across the rear, probably due to extra stress (!), or maybe abrasion from sitting. Despite this, and despite its price tag, I find it comfortable and warm, without being too toasty on a warm day. For a photo of me and Linda Campbell making our "fashion statement" in the stuff, see http://www.isk.canoe-kayak.org/report8_99.html -- we're the two in the bottom front of the photos. We both have pants (mine were dubbed "Silverado") and she is also wearing a fuzzy rubber top. -Jody Russell *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
My wife and I both love the stuff. She's a little on the well-upholstered side, and once encased in a wesuit, her torso flexibility is very limited. The fuzzy rubber (Rapidstyle) is much more flexible and comfortable. If it gets cold, I wear some thick poly under it. That's not enough for 40/40 days, but plenty for most the the weather I choose to paddle in. I haven't worn my drysuit in over a year. Rapidstyle has excellent customer service, also. Steve *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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