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From: <Gypsykayak_at_aol.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] gear for women/fuzzy rubber
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 16:20:38 EST
a search for fuzzy rubber turned up www.SheGear.com

in addition to a catalog, they have true adventure stories and links to other sites.

>From their catalog: "Fuzzy Rubber is ideal for all watersports. The material is waterproof and windproof, so it's more comfortable and more functional than neoprene. 

Fuzzy Rubber is made of a Polartec Thermal Stretch and a rubberized waterproof coating outside. The fabric has the warmth equivalent to 2.5mm neoprene. It's warmer in windy conditions because the rubber layer totally blocks the wind, and it dries faster than neoprene."

can anybody offer any comments/advice?

Wes Boyd suggested that fuzzy rubber (sounds kinda kinky to me :) could also be used as an all-around keep warm garment to warrant schlepping it on what is basically a non-paddling trip.

sandy kramer who is being tempted by offers from Doug in Victoria (have been told he should be out and about way before my August AK Inside Passage trip) and Jolie on San Juan Island to stop being such a wimp


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From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] gear for women/fuzzy rubber
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 17:07:21 -0500
Gypsykayak_at_aol.com wrote:
> 
> a search for fuzzy rubber turned up www.SheGear.com
> 
> "Fuzzy Rubber is ideal for all watersports. The material is waterproof and windproof, so it's more comfortable and more functional than neoprene.
> 
> can anybody offer any comments/advice?

Don't know about SheGear, but I own 3 pieces of fuzzy rubber, Meg has 2
and my son 1. Great stuff. It's about the most comfortable paddling top
I've ever worn in the rain, makes you feel very duckish. Rapidstyle
(http://www.rapidstyle.com) makes the best, IMO. Patagucci's is good,
but $$$ and cut small. Wyoming Wear and REI have their own version with
a different fabric, but the Enterprise Mills fuzzy rubber with genyooine
Polartec is better.

AFAIK, it only comes in basic black.

It's been much easier to talk Meg into paddling in the off season now
that she wears FR instead of a wetsuit.

-- 
Steve (Fuzzy rubber: it's not just for women)
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From: Kirk Olsen <kolsen_at_imaginelan.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] gear for women/fuzzy rubber
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 17:42:46 -0500
At 05:07 PM 1/17/02 -0500, steve cramer wrote:
>Gypsykayak_at_aol.com wrote:
>> 
>> a search for fuzzy rubber turned up www.SheGear.com
>
> but the Enterprise Mills fuzzy rubber with genyooine
>Polartec is better.
>
>AFAIK, it only comes in basic black.

I bought a chunk of blue fuzzy rubber at the Malden Mills factory store.  They had several colors to chose from.  I've yet to turn the fabric into anything wearable.

kirk

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From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk_at_rockandwater.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] gear for women/fuzzy rubber
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 17:13:25 -0500
On Thu, Jan 17, 2002 at 04:20:38PM -0500, Gypsykayak_at_aol.com wrote:
> can anybody offer any comments/advice?

Dana Chladek's company (RapidStyle) also makes fuzzy rubber.  I finally
broke down and bought some this year -- my old neoprene finally started
to self-destruct -- and it is Extremely Very Nice.

The shorts are fleece-lined, which means they don't chafe like Neoprene;
they're also much more comfortable to put on when already wet.  They flex
better, and they have this grippy stuff on them that helps them adhere to
the boat...that grippy stuff plus the mini-cell foam pads really helps
keep me in there, even when being worked in holes.  They're also lighter
and much more comfortable to walk in.

The top is so warm and comfortable that I don't need my dry top for
wintertime workouts.  In fact, I'm probably going to try it plus a
layer of poly under it and a regular paddle jacket over it on the
Tohickon (should it ever get water in it again) just to how it compares
to the dry top.

I can't believe I ever paddled in the winter without this stuff.  No
more plain neoprene for me!  Yeah, it's pricey, and yeah, this probably
means I'm getting spoiled, but I don't care.  I'd paid my dues doing
whitewater in a farmer john in January. ;-)

---Rsk
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From: John Williams <jwill_at_hiline.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Baja Transportation Question?? La Paz to Loreto & Back Again
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 17:30:41 -0800
Could you give me some advice about transportation from La Paz to Loreto and
back again?  The air tickets my wife booked to go kayaking leave us with
this problem.  Any suggestions?
I am interested in whatever kind of experiences people have had such as
renting a car and looking for gasoline---or good bus lines.


Thanks in advance
John

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From: Mary Zuschlag <mzuschlag_at_attbi.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Baja Transportation Question?? La Paz to Loreto & Back Again
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 16:14:09 -0800
I just returned from Baja but I did a stretch north of Loreto.  I think the
bus is a good option also you can rent a car, but in the past I have found
it to be quite expensive partially because you must purchase insurance.  We
had to end our trip a little early due to the wind and we walked into a
small town, St Nicholas and asked for a ride to our cars. Within 5 minutes
we had a ride and paid them about $50 for the trip.  Generally you can find
a ride fairly easily if you are willing to pay and ask around.  A little
Spanish goes a long way.  If you need more certainity then go with the bus
or a car rental.  Gas was not a big issue for us.  We drove all the way down
and had no trouble finding PEMEX stations.  There are some long stretches
without gas stations so keep an eye on your guage.  Mexico 1 is a good road
it isn't the pothole hell it was in the mid 90s. I don't like to drive at
night because there are no shoulders and the trucks fly through there.

This year I didn't find the seas to be as rough as what Jay describes, but
we had one day of beam seas that were running about 4 feet and by the end of
the day it was close to 5 or 6.  We were about 20 feet apart and folks
completely disappeared in the swells/waves. We rose at 3 am and were on the
water by 6:15 (predawn)usually stopped by 10 or 10:30 when the winds came up
and we started seeing numerous whitecaps.  It was windy every afternoon.  We
had a some gentle morning paddles when the water was oily smooth so you can
get both conditions.

Nols monitors the VHF if they have trips out, they generally monitor channel
23, and of course there is 16, again Spanish is helpful. Keep your schedule
flexible and figure on layover days when you might be winded out.  Our last
2 days were forecasted for strong Santa Ana type winds, and the folks on
shore were worried about us rounding some difficult points. We had already
decided not to push forward.  Get around points early; those areas tend to
be shallow with breaking waves.  Have a great trip!  We had a blast, and I
posted some of my pictures on the web. -- MZ

visit my website: http://www.mzuschlag.com

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From: <Gypsykayak_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] gear for women/fuzzy rubber
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 19:43:25 EST
In a message dated 01/17/2002 5:10:34 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
cramer_at_coe.uga.edu writes:

<< Patagucci's is good, but $$$ 

and cut small.>>>

In that case, guess who won't be buying Pata-what's-his-name?  :)

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From: Hal <hlevin_at_jlc.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] gear for women/fuzzy rubber
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 21:06:27 -0500
My wife also bought the blue fuzzy rubber at Malden Mills and took the time
to make me and herself wet suits.  It took some time but they are great.
Mine is on the second year and has held up well.
There are several patterns to use.  I have a shortie wet suit and she used a
pattern for a 2 piece long pants and long sleeve biking suit.

Hal               "Power your boat with carbohydrates not hydrocarbons."
Wilton, NH



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From: <JSpinner2_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] gear for women/fuzzy rubber
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 21:24:03 EST
In a message dated 1/17/02 9:23:23 PM !!!First Boot!!!, Gypsykayak_at_aol.com 
writes:

<< Fuzzy Rubber is made of a Polartec Thermal Stretch and a rubberized 
waterproof coating outside. The fabric has the warmth equivalent to 2.5mm 
neoprene. It's warmer in windy conditions because the rubber layer totally 
blocks the wind, and it dries faster than neoprene."
 
 can anybody offer any comments/advice? >>
I'll second what everyone else has said here. Great stuff but it isn't 2.5 mm 
weight for most of us. RapidStyle is local to DC and she makes great stuff. 
The "nice" thing is that she does custom fit at a very reasonable price for 
us folks with less than ideal measurements. She has a VERY good return 
policy, "make the customer happy!" 
    I've got these kind of bird legs that attach at an unreasonably wide 
place on me so the legs on all my pants are big enough to get both of my legs 
into, literally. That isn't good for wetsuit wear. I'm hoping to have her 
make me both the top and bottom of a suit this March/April so I will have it 
for the cuff, before I can go back to the shorts and t-shirt. I wish I could 
find something on her reduced rack to fit because it is seriously reduced. I 
just have to get over to the shop when it is open.

Joan
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From: <Gypsykayak_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] gear for women/fuzzy rubber
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 08:37:49 EST
In a message dated 01/17/2002 9:25:34 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
JSpinner2_at_aol.com writes:

<< The "nice" thing is that she does custom fit at a very reasonable price 
for 
 us folks with less than ideal measurements.  >>

gulp....you mean you actually have to take and send your measurements?????  
well, i guess that's a good incentive to lose some flab

you-know-who
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From: Jan Axelson <jan_at_lvr.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] gear for women/fuzzy rubber
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 19:12:04 -0600
Is fuzzy rubber similar to hydroskin?

http://www.nrswetsuits.com/#hydroskin

Jan Axelson
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