While on the topic of dry suit after market, has anyone actually removed the latex neck gasket and made the neoprene replacement that was described in a several months ago "Sea Kayaker" magazine? Was it easy? Does it work? Putting the sometimes uncomfortablness of the neck gasket aside, it is in my very humble opinion the weakest link in all my paddling equipment. You never know when it will decide to tear (even if it is new and has been inspected). On an 17 day SE Alaska (Misty Fiords) trip it let go on the second day. Bad news I no longer had imersion protection. Good news the suit was much more comfortable and kept 12 days of rain at bay. I have also been on several day trips here in New England and seen the gasket rip at a lunch breaks, put ins and after a day of paddling. Some positive feedback may help me decide to make the change to my pain in the neck gasket. Hal "Power your boat with carbohydrates not hydrocarbons" *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
John Kirk-Anderson wrote: > Hi all, > > My long-serving drysuit has sealed me in for the last time, and it's > time to seek a replacement. I really like my Kokatat expedition. I agree with all Dave's recommendations except one... the booties... fragile and a pain in the butt if you don't wear paddling shoes/boots all the time or don't have the foot-room to wear paddling shoes. You'll also pay a premium if you're not an off the shelf fit, as the latex ankle gaskets allow for different leg lengths. I'd never buy booties again. Drysuits are a huge pain in the butt to get on and off anyways, so the extra fussing with ankle gaskets isn't a big deal. Sure like the looks of the Immersion Research gear. The back entrance zip seems like a great idea, especially when safely tucked away, underneath the back of a PFD. Guess it all comes down to what fits you, your kayak, your weather, and your type of paddling. I'd make my decision based on what works for me, after trying on as many as I could and asking my paddler friends, and put a little less creed in online opinions and media hype. daniel __________________________________________________________________ Get the name you've always wanted _at_ymail.com or _at_rocketmail.com! Go to http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/jacko/ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
gypsy_trillium_at_yahoo.ca wrote: > John Kirk-Anderson wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> My long-serving drysuit has sealed me in for the last time, and it's >> time to seek a replacement. > > I really like my Kokatat expedition. I agree with all Dave's recommendations > except one... the booties... fragile and a pain in the butt if you don't wear > paddling shoes/boots all the time or don't have the foot-room to wear paddling > shoes. You'll also pay a premium if you're not an off the shelf fit, as the > latex ankle gaskets allow for different leg lengths. I'd never buy booties > again. Drysuits are a huge pain in the butt to get on and off anyways, so the > extra fussing with ankle gaskets isn't a big deal. > > Sure like the looks of the Immersion Research gear. The back entrance zip > seems like a great idea, especially when safely tucked away, underneath the > back of a PFD. > > Guess it all comes down to what fits you, your kayak, your weather, and your > type of paddling. I'd make my decision based on what works for me, after > trying on as many as I could and asking my paddler friends, and put a little > less creed in online opinions and media hype. > > daniel Just some comments based on my own experience with wearing a drysuit for a few years. Not continuously, of course! <grin> Booties. Some of the suits come with gortex booties, which are easier to get on and off than the latex ones. There are also somewhat more resistant to puncture and easier to fit inside water shoes. Of course, if you have large feet and a small foot area inside the boat, you're going to want all the room you can get and bare feet might be your only option. I can fit my feet with the booties inside water shoes into my boat, and the feeling of warm, dry feet is, as they say in the Mastercard commercials, priceless. A pair of light wool socks helps with the warmth as well. Zippers. Despite regular use of a zipper cleaner/lubricant, I find that the zippers are a bit of a job to open and close. You generally have two options: the front zipper that goes diagonally across the chest area, or a rear-entry zipper than goes across the shoulders. Those of us with limited shoulder movement and/or advanced age may find the rear zipper needs a second person to help with the opening and closing. Myself, I was unable to work the rear-entry zipper on two suits that I tried -- a result of an old frozen shoulder injury that limits the mobility and strength of my right shoulder. I can work the front-entry zipper just fine. There has been some discussion about the comfort of the rear-entry zipper, but to tell the truth, I've never noticed my front zipper once I'm in the boat and paddling. On the other hand, some lady friends who opted for the drop-seat relief zipper option have said that have noticed the zipper along the sides pressing against the seat. Not a major discomfort, but they did notice it. As Daniel suggested, try as many as you can. -- Darryl *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This may be a moot point, but why don't they make the neck gaskets out of neoprene, instead of unreliable latex? Is it not stretchy enough? Bradford R. Crain Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Was Dress for water temp, now after drysuit > Agree strongly with Sid's comments -- booties are terrific. > > My Kokatat GORE-TEX drysuit was built with neoprene booties rather than > latex -- which was then the option. Pre-Goretex booties, I think, with > latex being the option. The neoprene booties are thick -- like an old > winter dive suit, maybe four mil or more -- but they're good insulation > and keep my feet warm with a pair (or two) of ragg socks under the > neoprene. The biggest upside -- they're compact enough to wear by > themselves in a very restrictive cockpit -- like my Pintail's. > Downside, although you can walk in the suit, I would be careful with > abrasion and possible puncture of the material; so you almost have to > have monster slide-in shower shoes or something to protect the bottom of > the neoprene socks when ashore. Small price for the comfort and the > warmth of that thick material, and maybe less fragile than latex. > > Haven't been able to find neoprene options on their Web site, but a > phonecon just confirmed that they still offer them if requested. And > Kokatat has an outstanding reputation for backing up their products, > replacing items -- or even whole suits -- if issues develop with their > products -- which isn't often. > > Joq *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
There are "splash jackets" that have neoprene neckseals, and they have some water resistance if you're being hit by spray or heavy rain, but they're "water resistant" as opposed to "waterproof"; if you swim that kind of gear, it will flood. Joq -----Original Message----- From: Bradford R. Crain [mailto:crainb_at_pdx.edu] Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 12:16 PM To: Martin, Jack; SNStone_at_aol.com; gypsy_trillium_at_yahoo.ca; PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Was Dress for water temp, now after drysuit This may be a moot point, but why don't they make the neck gaskets out of neoprene, instead of unreliable latex? Is it not stretchy enough? Bradford R. Crain *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Folks, Thanks to all for the great response to my request for info on drysuits. My old Goretex one has full booties, a relief zipper, and the seals replaced with Chillcheater material, as mentioned by Tord. All of these features rated highly in users-comments. I had been particularly interested in Kokatat suits, and the feedback from users was very positive for them, which was good to hear. I think that is the way I'll go, now it's just a way of paying for one! Our dollar's pretty crap at the moment, so does anyone know of federal bail-outs to poor Kiwi paddlers? I'm off on Friday for two weeks paddling in Preservation Inlet and Chalky Inlet, the southern-most fiords in Fiordland, which should be an interesting trip. 11 metres of annual rainfall, exposed to horrendous weather, and gazillions of vampire-like sandflies, with very few visitors to feed them. Can't wait! Cheers JKA John Kirk-Anderson PO Box 409 Christchurch New Zealand <jka_at_netaccess.co.nz> +64 21 634 448 (cell) +64 3 3294 928 (home) BCU Level Four Coach (Sea) NZOIA Level Two Sea Kayak Instructor *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
re: dry suits and booties I bought my kokatat dry suit before booties were available. once some friends started getting drysuits with booties I sent my suit back for booties to be installed. One of the best paddling equipment investments I've made. I work for an outfitter/retailer and don't think they've sold a drysuit in 6 years without booties. Get them and you won't be sorry sid **************Great Deals on Dell 15" Laptops - Starting at $479 (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220029050x1201385914/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doub leclick.net%2Fclk%3B212974460%3B34272906%3Bh) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Agree strongly with Sid's comments -- booties are terrific. My Kokatat GORE-TEX drysuit was built with neoprene booties rather than latex -- which was then the option. Pre-Goretex booties, I think, with latex being the option. The neoprene booties are thick -- like an old winter dive suit, maybe four mil or more -- but they're good insulation and keep my feet warm with a pair (or two) of ragg socks under the neoprene. The biggest upside -- they're compact enough to wear by themselves in a very restrictive cockpit -- like my Pintail's. Downside, although you can walk in the suit, I would be careful with abrasion and possible puncture of the material; so you almost have to have monster slide-in shower shoes or something to protect the bottom of the neoprene socks when ashore. Small price for the comfort and the warmth of that thick material, and maybe less fragile than latex. Haven't been able to find neoprene options on their Web site, but a phonecon just confirmed that they still offer them if requested. And Kokatat has an outstanding reputation for backing up their products, replacing items -- or even whole suits -- if issues develop with their products -- which isn't often. Joq *************************************************************************** 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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