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From: Peter Unold <pjunold_at_daimi.au.dk>
subject: [Paddlewise] Alternatives to neopren shorts?
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 15:28:09 +0100
Hi Paddlers

For a long time I've wanted to find an alternative to my neopren
shorts for a number of reasons:

o It's no laugh to put on neopren shorts on day two a trip, especially
during winter.

o After a couple of days paddling, the skin starts to get irritated
from the 'environment'.

o Once wet, it takes nothing short of a heatwave in the evening to dry
out the shorts.

Now I've seen two alternative offerings which looks interesting:

Navarro from Canada makes paddling shorts in so called Nav-skin. 

A number of companies uses Polartec 'Aqua Shell' for their shorts. 

Any experience with these? Especially as related to multiday
trips(anything goes on day 1). 

 best regards
  Peter

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From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Alternatives to neopren shorts?
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 11:08:11 -0500 (EST)
On Sat, 17 Mar 2001, Peter Unold wrote:

> For a long time I've wanted to find an alternative to my neopren
> shorts for a number of reasons:

I love my fuzzy rubber from Rapidstyle. I don't know if it'll dry
overnight in really humid weather, but it's Polartec inside, so it drys
quick. Even damp, it's not noxious to put on.

WyomingWear, REI, and Patagucci also have it, but Rapidstyle is the best.

Steve Cramer                     


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From: Whyte, David <david.whyte_at_amsa.gov.au>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Alternatives to neopren shorts?
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:56:01 +1100
----Original Message-----
From: Peter Unold [mailto:pjunold_at_daimi.au.dk]
Hi Paddlers
For a long time I've wanted to find an alternative to my neopren
shorts for a number of reasons:>>


Peter I know that feeling of putting cold wet neopren on the next
morning and would also be interested in alternatives. I remember one
morning when it had been raining all night and my neopren was wet and
cold so I heated up some water and poured it over the shorts then put
them on. For the first few minutes it was very nice and by the time it
had cooled down it at least matched my body temperature.

David

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From: Marian Gunkel <marian-list_at_gmx.de>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Alternatives to neopren shorts?
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 23:41:18 +0100
I am using a short and a balaclava (hood) by Reed (UK). It is called
chill-cheater (haven't got their URL handy, should be something like
www.chill-cheater.co.uk or .com).
It is a polyester, rubberized on the outside and similar to 2 or 2,5 mm
neopren.
Especially the hood is working perfect: I had been using it for rolling and
reentry practice in the Irish Sea (Anglesey, Wales) in early April and never
felt cold.
I prefer it very much to neopren since it stretches and if turned
inside-out, it is usually drying fast.

David wrote:
> I remember one
> morning when it had been raining all night and my neopren was wet and
> cold so I heated up some water and poured it over the shorts then put
> them on. For the first few minutes it was very nice and by the time it
> had cooled down it at least matched my body temperature.

I did that last November on a three-day-trip at the Baltic Sea. In the
morning, just before the put-in, my feet (in neopren socks and neopren
shoes) were so cold I poured tea over them. It worked for a while until we
got into the boats (where my feet usually warm up quite fast).


Marian

Marian Gunkel, Berlin, Germany
www.mariangunkel.de
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From: Christian <rebel_at_snip.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Alternatives to neopren shorts?
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 21:43:39 -0500
I was checking out the chillcheater suits which, by the way, are at
www.chillcheater.com and was wondering if anyone has found anything similar
here in the Good Ol' US of A? It looks like just what I need for the chilly
spring mornings paddling the rivers of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
As always, I appreciate any help the group can supply
                    Christian


Original Message -----
From: "Marian Gunkel" <marian-list_at_gmx.de>
To: <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2001 5:41 PM
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Alternatives to neopren shorts?


> I am using a short and a balaclava (hood) by Reed (UK). It is called
> chill-cheater (haven't got their URL handy, should be something like
> www.chill-cheater.co.uk or .com).



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From: Jochen Grikschat <grikschat_at_surfeu.de>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Alternatives to neopren shorts?
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 11:21:45 +0100
Jo, my thoughts:

> morning when it had been raining all night and my neopren was wet and
> cold so I heated up some water and poured it over the shorts then put

I think the wet shorts are more problematic when you get out of the boat
and your legs and unprotected body will coll down by the wind.  The VI-er
act in the morning is hard, for sure. I heat up my body circulation and 
hurry up to get into the boat.
With the winds problem, I always got a dry flleece pants in the front
compartment or another protection I put over my wet shorts. Ready! Even in
winter I paddle most time with a neoprene shorty. Normally no problem, as
far you donīt stop the action. But its also a matter of habit. Remember to
the cold water escapedes. 

But I like it, paddle with shorts. Not really overheated or cool. Good
transpiration behaviour. As far, as you donīt come out of the kayak! In
winter some people get a spontaneous cold when they see my shorts!

Another problem is when your personal accumulator is empty. Then you are in
really trouble. On a tour several years ago, I cooled down, nothings helps.
Strong winds, almost 100 Km paddled so far (river), and I couldnīt warm up
my body by paddling. There was nothing to burn, I eat a bar of chocolate
and the motor restarts. 

bye
Jochen
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From: Marian Gunkel <marian-list_at_gmx.de>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Alternatives to neopren shorts?
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 11:11:41 +0100
Christian wrote:
> I was checking out the chillcheater suits which, by the way, are at
> www.chillcheater.com and was wondering if anyone has found anything
> similar here in the Good Ol' US of A?

>From what they say on their website, they happily deliver to oversea areas.
Note that the prices are British pounds.

And, you wouldn't find something similar that is a "100% British product" (I
love the British way of understatement :-)!
However, that (British made) was one of the reasons I bought it when I was
living in the UK.

Marian
(always trying to buy locally produced stuff, no affiliation with
chill-cheater-company Reed)









Marian Gunkel, Berlin, Germany
www.mariangunkel.de
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