Bill Leonhardt wrote: > > Hello fellow paddlers, > > I'm posting this to two lists to maximize the response so my apologies up front to those who get this twice. > > I am now in the process of shopping for drysuits for my wife and myself and I'd like to invite input regarding options. My intent is to go for Gore-Tex, front closure units with relief zippers, most probably from either Kokotat or Stohlquist in high visibility colors. > > Right now I am unsure of the best (for me) choice regarding sewn on socks or booties I know I pretty much want to stay away from just having the latex gasket at the ankles After years of struggling with the ankle gaskets, I finally decided to have socks put on. I just got the suit back (it needed a neck gasket as well). I have yet to use it but clearly socks are better than the ankle gaskets. I have found that worse than even the tightest neck one. Mine are of latex since that is all that Stohlquist offered me (at least that is what I was told). The downside of the latex is that it supposed to be fragile and won't last long (latex never does). But, from another listserv, I have heard from users of latex who indicate that even if it punctures, if you have your foot in a neoprene bootie, you effectively are keeping out water. And so even worn out latex should be reasonably okay. My choice would have been neoprene if I could have gotten it as it is tougher and repairable and quite long lasting. The latex feels cold to the touch and so I know I will need to wear a good insulation between me and it as well as, of course, wearing neoprene shoes. I don't know if my regular neoprene shoes are big enough for all of that. I will experiment soon to see. ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jan 17 2001 - 11:01:15 PST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:36 PDT