Re: [Paddlewise] Doug's Ultimate Drysuit

As a newbe to paddling I have followed this discussion with a lot of interest,
'cause the next step I want to take is winter paddling, maybe not next year but
it will come!

My experience with Gortex and wind comes from skiing, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
over the last 15 years, in VERY COLD and WINDY conditions.  You do work up a
sweat coming down through a fresh snow fall.  I've found that in dry (not
snowing) conditions, my Gortex (REI) shell, with fleece (depending on temp,
sometimes it's everything I own) underneath and windy conditions, I don't
really notice any heat loss, and stay dry (except my back when I'm carrying a
pack and then it's very damp under thew pack).  Having said that, in snowy
conditions with the same layering it seems that I'm in a sauna.  The guys in
the ski shops say to wash the shell, I've done that and not noticed any real
difference.  The next step was to apply a treatment to the outer layer, sorta
like a water repellent to the nylon outer shell (the Gortex is under the outer
shell) and it didn't work any better.  I'm wondering just what a "Dry" suit
under a PFD, with your lower half isolated below your spray skirt would be
like.  From the discussion here, I would be reluctant to lay out big $ for a
Gortex dry suit without trying it in actual conditions.  And I can't imagine
any mfg. giving me a chance to test drive a dry suit long enough to get a feel
for the product.

Please keep up the discussion, I'm learning a lot.

John Blackburn

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