This ENHANCES the wetsuits inherent ability to trap a thin layer of water next to the skin, and SLOW the flushing of this warm water and hence cooling of the body. This is the ONLY time I wear cotton on the water. And in cold, wet conditions, the undergarment also enhances the warmth retaining qualitities of a wetsuit once you are OUT of the water. **************************************************************** I've used to think that wetsuits don't need any water to work when immersed in a water. Air between the body and FJ (and air bubbles in FJ layer) is poorer heat conductor, i.e. better insulator, than water. In fact, FJ works *despite* water layer, not because of it (as it was substantiated on some other forum, with which conclusion I can't disagree). Perhaps it needs additional research to establish whether *thin* underwear slows down water exchange, but to me it's obvious that it has to be *thin*. Because ultimately zero water volume around the body is better than *any* water volume. Increasing the thickness of underwear, we increase the volume of water circulating around the body. At the first glance, thin underwear can be useful in *some* spots where FJ isn't tight enough, so underwear material is replacing the water that otherwise would be there, and slowing down water flow through these gaps. Thin underwear will give additional insulation *before* immersion, due to the trapped air in it. If there is little or none such spots on a given body, it would be reasonable to assume that there is little need in such underwear. Separate issue is fleece over the FJ (under paddling jacket or dry-top). It's function is to protect from cold *air*, and I don't know why is it redundant or how thin underwear could replace it. Alex. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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