From: <JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com >> > > 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. > > > > Which is better? > > > > Joe's response seems to be the standard answer --- you want some water next > to the skin, but as little volume of water to heat as possible, and as little > circulation, or "flushing" as possible. To the question of warming layers > OVER the wetsuit, sure: there is some value in insulation over the suit, > assuming you're talking dry state. The desired state. But if you swim this > outfit, the fleece, or whatever you are wearing on top of the neoprene, is > going to function best as a sea anchor, and will provide absolutely no > warmth. Just a clarification in case anyone thought that Polartec over > neoprene would add insulation during a swim. Several points. When I have worn a wet suit, really just a farmer john type, I have found that wearing a polypro long sleeve top under the upper portion of the suit was of some benefit. This was partly as a rash guard as mentioned by Joe and also as a bit more insulation both when over the water and in it. The over the water warmth is self-evident; the in the water not so self evident but worked. However, the latter only works if the suit is fairly tight and the thin layer of polypro just fit under it. The water does not not flush readily through the polypro because the neoprene won't let it. As for insulation over the neoprene, it is true that you wouldn't get much insulation if you then had nothing above that extra insulation level to keep water from flushing in and out of that insulation. But if you had a waterproof jacket over all of that and a PFD on top of it, then water flushing would be reduced and the over the neoprene insulation would work to a degree particularly in the body core area covered by the PFD. If you doubt that insulation under a paddle jacket offers no warmth in the water, venture out on some day with water in the high 50s and try the paddle jacket with just thin capilene underneath it; then repeat the test with say synchilla or polarfleece. The synchilla or polarfleece won't be as good an insulation as on dry land but it will have some insulation value. Nor will the synchilla/polarfleece be as good as watersports fleece, but it would have some insulation value. If one is going to mix or add layers of insulation, one would best off going for any of the dedicated watersports fleece. You could wear the thin stuff available from Rapidstyle (I forget its name but it is a watersports polypro; I have a top of this fabric and it works) under your neoprene farmer john. Over that wear a short sleeve or long sleeve watersports polyester fleece marketed under various names. Then wear a jacket over that. As for soaked insulation acting as a sea anchor, that is not true while you are totally immersed. Water pressure acts pretty much the same while in the water wether you are in swimming trunks or wearing fleece. Where the soaked insulation will inhibit your movement dangerously is when you try to climb up out of the water on to your boat. Then you will feel like you are wearing cement. Thanks for the info on that new material being tested by the SEALs. I have every confident that within the next 10 years there will be a jumpsuit of a material that would see you from land to 45 degree water and back out again without a hitch. You could even go for dinner in still wearing it. Some of the watersport fleece has come close to this. I have one from ONeill with a proprietary fleece not the normal Madden Mills stuff that could do just about that. I wore it during a two hour drive, paddle trip (immersing the lower half) and back out again to go to a late lunch with friends after giving a formal talk. And then back home the two hour drive. All the time wearing and not taking off that suit. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Fri Feb 23 2001 - 06:56:24 PST
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