From: "Steve Cramer" <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu> > Polyester fleece of many types, which is sold generically as polypro and > also as Coolmax, Thermax, Polartec, Capilene, etc. Actually, these are very different products. Polypro is polypropylene, not polyester and has very different properties. The Coolmax products I've seen are not fleece and I know a lot of folks who consider it a good warm weather fabric but not great in cool weather (myself and my partner Amie included - she loves Coolmax for training and running marathons, but leaves it in the drawer in winter). I only wear Polartec fleece in my drysuit. I wear a 100 weight, one piece bunny suit as a minimum and add a 100 or 200 weight sweater as the temps go down. I do use wool socks (Smartwool hiking socks) and add long johns (Polartec PowerDry or sometimes Louis Garneau cycling tights - the non-stretchy, fake wool kind) if its really cold. In the fall, the water is still warm even though air temps drop - that's when I wear lighter fleece in the dry suit. The winter means thick fleece and comfortable paddling. In the spring, the water's cold and the air is mild - thick fleece and less paddling comfort due to being too warm while paddling. My bias towards Polartec is based on experience. Some competitor's products are good but others don't have the wicking etc that Polartec gives. It's a case of YMMV, I guess. Mike *************************************************************************** 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 Tue Feb 05 2002 - 11:52:59 PST
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