[Paddlewise] cold weather clothing

Rob, if I were to add a core layer I would wear it under my farmer johns
rather than over them.  However, I guess it depends on what type of training
you want to start!?  Do I dare to assume it has something to do with paddling?

Obviously, if you were to wear them on the outside and you got wet there would
be very little insulation properties here, worn on the inside you'd  be
warmer.  However, depending on how much you sweat you might start feeling a
little cold and clammy if you became less active.  A neoprene wetsuit is far
from breathable and most of the moisture is just going to stay there.
Wearing  something like capilene or polypropylene may help wick some of the
moisture out from under your farmer johns and may even add a little insulation
by trapping moist/air between the weave!  Personally, I'd stay away from a
cotton core layer because I know how cold I've become when wearing it
snowshoeing and when cotton gets wet it stays wet and I can understand when
"THEY" say COTTON KILLS!





 I use to scuba dive when I was younger and for some reason saved my wet suit
.  I started kayaking a few years ago and used my farmer johns a number of
times before purchasing a dry suit.  Surprisingly, it still fits!  Used with a
dry top I actually stayed fairly dry when practicing my wet exits.  Water
doesn't really come up through the leg openings and with the jacket snug
around the waist very little water enters under the jacket.  Of course my
farmer johns are for diving and are a little thicker than others I've seen
advertised.  I can remember though, when diving and entering the thermal cline
how the cold water use to squirt in, up the lower back and it would make me
jump every time until the water  was warmed by the body.   This is an ongoing
occurrence while diving, move just right, squirt! 


I couldn't afford a scuba diving dry suit back then and I've heard there are
special classes for wearing one.  Nothing like diving head down because all
the air has gone into the pant legs. 


Rob, though some of this has nothing to do with your question I've added a few
things  because of everything I've read lately about cold water clothing.  I
also don't have any data on wetsuits over dry suits and which one will let you
tolerate the cold longer but I can tell you which I would choose and it would
be a dry suit to keep me warmer!  If I can be so bold, don't take my word for
it ask an underwater diver who welds for a living, on some oil rig, in the
North Atlantic, which he would put on!


Bill Doody


 


























Hello All,


I have a question regarding cold water/weather clothing and here it is:


If I were wearing a farmer john style wetsuit, water proof socks, mid calf


booties with a good outer sole, and a paddling or splash top, gloves, etc.,


would it be appropriate to wear a "core layer" garment under the farmer john


or over it? I am trying to decide on acceptable late spring gear for the


purposes of taking the training I want and starting earlier than June or


July!!


Advice always welcomed,





Rob Castle


 






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