Re: [Paddlewise] Doug's Ultimate Drysuit

> > I guess I'm still of two minds on the Goretex vs
> > non-Goretex. On the one hand,
> > Goretex will provide a dryer end user, but at a
> > horrendous price. It will also
> > wear out quicker. 

I have been trying to stay out of this since I usually
start an argument when I say this.  So against my
better judgement I will put forward this opinion.

Let me start by saying that I suspect that Goretex's
perceived effectiveness can be in any of the following
categories:
  1. Folks it actually well works for.
  2. Folks who rationalize that it works well for them
because they spent a bunch of money on it or because
"everyone says it is better, so it must be".
  3. Folks who it actually doesn't work well for.
  4. Folks who rationalize that it doesn't work well
for them because they balk at the cost.

It's effectiveness probably also depends to a great
extent on the conditions it is used under and the
design of the garment.

I have personally been disappointed with every Goretex
garment that I have owned.  Even without factoring in
the substantial cost, I just haven't found it to
really offer a real advantage in severe conditions.

For regular use like a jacket, pants, or whatever, a
well designed properly fitting garment doesn't need
breathable fabric.  With proper layers underneath to
wick the moisture away until it is evaporated out the
neck hole, pit zips, or whatever it seems unneccesary.

For a dry suit, I never found the breathable fabric to
help much either.  I wind up wet anyway, only I am
more likely to feel wet and cold with the breathable
fabric.  With the cheaper non-breathable fabric I
usually feel wet only when I take it off at the end of
the day.  So even if I am a little drier (not dry)
with Goretex, what good is that if I feel wetter and
colder.

I suspect that one of the problems with Goretex is
that it can't really work when the outer side of it is
covered (by a wet PFD and a spray skirt for example). 
I suspect it also does not really breathe when the
outer layer is soaking wet.  So in those conditions it
works as well as the cheap stuff at best.  At worst it
manages to breathe enough to carry some heat away, but
not enough to keep you dry.

I should say that much of the use I put my drysuits to
was in a rainy whitewater paddling situation.  You may
use it in dryer conditions or you may not sweat as
much as I do or whatever.  So I am not saying it is a
waste of money for everyone, just that it isn't
effective for everyone in all conditions and in some
cases may not be even as good as a nonbreathable
fabric.

Pete





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