Re: [Paddlewise] Dress for water temp, not air temp - ummmmmmmm

From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:19:56 -0700
Derek wrote:
> Dress for the water temperature, not for the air temperature.  I've
> always thought this advice to be a bit of a paradox.  This time of year,
> the water is very cold yet the air temperatures are comparatively
> warmer.  If you dress for the water temp you are overdressed for the air
> temp.  If you overdress inside your drysuit, your body will sweat.  Your
> clothing will get soaked with sweat.  Your wet garments will cause you
> to chill.  You start out dressed for cold water, but end up prepared for
> neither.  

If your dry suit, in combination with the sweated-up garments is not warm 
enough while you are out of the water, that arrangement will not be warm 
enough if you go in.  You have at several options:

1. Don't paddle under those conditions.
2. Periodically change out of the sweaty stuff into dry stuff.
3. Learn the method of rotary cooling (e.g., rolling) and use it.
4. Acquire a breathable dry suit.
5. Paddle less vigorously.
6. Use a neck ring to allow venting at the neck while paddling vigorously, 
and remove the ring when you get to conditions in which you might capsize.
7. Avoid capsizing and wear fewer layers under the dry suit -- and take 
your chances.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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Received on Sun Mar 15 2009 - 22:20:01 PDT

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