Re: [Paddlewise] Wetsuits, Poly Undies, and trying not to die in Rosario Strait

From: Joe Pylka <pylka_at_castle.net>
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 00:20:48 -0500
> Silly question: I was of the understanding that wetsuits should be worn
next
> to the skin with no intervening layers, and that additional cold weather
> clothing should be worn over it.  Some one suggested to me that polypro
long
> underwear could be worn under the wetsuit, and was better than wearing it
> over a wetsuit.
        Ideally yes, the wetsuit should be next to the skin.  If you are a
diver I would definitely advocate this, because the idea of a wetsuit is to
trap a layer of water beneath it so it does not circulate and the body heat
warms up just that small amount.  Allowing some sort of channel for the
water to wick through would move heat away rapidly.
        Mostly I do this as a paddler but on occasion I will wear a VERY
thin capilene shirt beneath it.  Sort of a rash guard.  The rationale for
this is that I will not be totally and continually immersed, so a large
degree of water transport won't occur.  I imagine, though, that if I had to
spend some time in cold water (lost contact with the boat, or something like
that...) that this could nonetheless be a negative thing.


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Received on Thu Feb 22 2001 - 21:21:01 PST

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