Hi Rob, Let me give you my .02:) I've been taught a wetsuit works by trapping a thin layer of moisture next to your skin allowing it to be warmed by your body. For a wetsuit to do its job it must fit snugly so that the warmed water inside the suit does not easily exchange with the cold outside water. Some folks advocate a THIN undergarment like polypropylene worn under the suit as assisting with slowing the exchange of body-warmed moisture with the cold surrounding fluid. Personally I wear my farmer john next to my skin on my lower body and a Polypro shirt under the farmer john top. As long as I'm working this is enough to keep me comfortable in air temps down to the mid 40's or so. I know it will also allow me to be mobile for a short immersion in 50 degree water if necessary. Any additional layering is put on the outside. Once I stop for lunch I'll need to throw another layer or a wind shell on, as my farmer john doesn't provide much protection from wind. If I'm paddling solo, or planning to roll, I'll have a paddle jacket with latex wrist gaskets on my upper body as the farmer john top does not provide much protection for your upper body for a long immersion. Having said all that, I don't wear a wetsuit if I think I'm likely to spend any time in water colder than 60 degrees, around here with a few exceptions the salt water is never much over 50. I will wear a drysuit with insulating undergarments. Another Rob. Rob Castle wrote: >Good Folk of Paddlewise, >As the original poster of the message "Cold Water Clothing", I am still >waiting for an answer to my simple question. *************************************************************************** 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 Wed Mar 12 2003 - 09:36:10 PST
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