I've been jealous of those of you with Gore-Tex suits with attached booties and relief zippers. My coated nylon Stohlquist Tsunami cost me only $219, so the old adage "you get what you pay for" is the operative principle. Yet I'd like to optimize it. Fortunately it has a diagonal front entry zip, which ,while it rules out in-cockpit use, is a lot better than a cross-the-shoulders rear entry zip. As I stroll briskly for the bushes, I'm removing my PFD, unzipping, and hiking up my (spray)skirt. At $100 for a retrofit zipper, I can stroll VERY briskly. Speaking of relief, I felt better when other posters noted that the function of the Gore-Tex is compromised by a PFD, sprayskirt tunnel, etc. I always felt that for me, at any rate, Gore-Tex was inadequate for aerobic activity. And that I could wear thiner layers in my coated suit. But I still wanted those booties. Although I wear Chotas, I want better insurance in case of a swim. But adding booties to a coated suit only ensures that the pools of condensation will trickle down to my toes, instead of stopping at my ankles. So I'm experimenting with SealSkinz "Water Blocker" socks. They're impermeable like the regular model, but add "an in-cuff seal that blocks water from entering over the top of the sock, in case of an unexpected spill." I can't pull them on over the drysuit, so I'm going to put them on first. Theoretically, in the case of a brief swim, there will be enough a seal between the sock and the gasket that only a little water, transported by capillary action through the outer fabric of the sock, will make its way inside the suit. There, it will be blocked from entering the sock, and will instead join the condensation that's already pooled up around my ankes, which I can periodically drain during shore breaks, by removing the mukluk and! ! ! ! ! ! wiggling a finger inside the gasket. That water will be kept away from direct contact with my ankles by the extra height of the sock inside the suit. It sounds good on paper, will report on results. Meanwhile, you ailurophilic quajakophones-- did you know that the Eskimo word for "cat" is (drum roll...): "pussi." You can check it out at: http://www.pageweb.com/kleekai/eskimo2.htm Since it turns out that I knew more Eskimo than I realized, I am translating a beloved children's tale into that language. I've already got the title finished: "Mukluk Pussi." Dan Harrison *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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