Re: [Paddlewise] Immersion Gear Revisited

Duane said (snip):
> Paddlewisers,
>
>  Recently, there was a discussion about immersion gear here on Paddlewise. 
> Then I just received the SK mag email newsletter, which also had info 
> about immersion gear. Once again, people who wear immersion gear are made 
> out to be safe kayakers.
>
>  I think too much emphasis is put on immersion gear at the expense of 
> skills and judgment. Everytime a kayaker dies of hypothermia, it seems the 
> blame is put on not wearing any or enough immersion gear. I disagree. I 
> blame the hypothermia deaths on not having the skills and judgment to stay 
> out of the water. Sure, there is a time and place for immersion gear, but 
> I think a lot of people are using it to make up for having less than 
> enough skills and judgment. It's sort of like feeling safe when driving 
> recklessly because your car has an air bag and your seat belt is on.

What I got out of the editor's perspective resonated with widespread 
reality. What I got out of reading comments from some of the industry 
leaders was that Duane isn't too far of the mark here - though I took the 
sentiments as in, if you aren't skilled, then you should be wearing a 
drysuit sort of thing. While I can shake my head at that, I'm also reminded 
of the advanced paddlers I know who say, hey, I'm skilled at this stage of 
the game, I don't need no stinking drysuit. So, where does that leave the 
newbie's supposedly erroneous proposition that he or she should be in a 
drysuit (immersion gear) when one hears the corro;;ory argument from the 
advanced paddler?

The issue of insulation is a bit of a red herring, if one assumes the 
inclusion of a drysuit as one's immersion apparel corresponds with 
appropriate layers underneath for the conditions, etc. Though, Duane does a 
service by reminding us about the false sense a security a dry layer of 
synthetic material can leaves a paddler with.

But hey, the fact that various sources are discussing this is a goog thing. 
It's all good.

Doug 
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