Alibaba Drysuit - One Year Review!

[@followingrj]

Pete, dry suit aside, I find it incumbent upon myself to tell you that you don’t have enough boats in your quiver.

[@packraftadventures]

I've had mine all winter! Done some swims in class 2-3 "learning white water paddling". Had a gnarly swim in a storm at the coast just two weeks ago, and a swim when I fell of a dock in december. It has hold up dry and tight every single time. And I've already gotten my intended use out of it with a plus that it actually saved my life in the storm. All n all thank you for the original review! I would have kept up with my wetsuit runs and 2 weeks of fever afterwards if I didn't get this.. now I'm ready to invest In a premium one cos I know it is worth it. This is the ultimate gateway DRYSUIT!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Boom!

[@Madocthevindicator]

I just wanted to add this comment. I bought the Alibaba drysuit, texted with a Chinese dude and he assured me it would arrive fast. I had the suit in 7 days! They had some in the States already. I'm 5'5" 170 so the medium fits, large would be more roomy for heavy clothing underneath. 280.00 total cost shipped to Oregon. I would have never known this was made in China and I'm a made in USA guy. It has a relief zip front, and rear, two large zip pants pockets, everything is well made and even. The latex seals are ok, tight enough. It's form fitting, not baggy or weird. The booties fit my 9.5 feet with extra room. If it doesn't leak, I give this 9 out of 10 so far, (for a Chinese product) and I'm very picky. I was apprehensive to do this purchase, but it was fast with Fed Ex.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Fantastic! keep us posted!

[@richardsweeney4901]

I am a bit over 1 year into using the alibaba drysyuit - I love it but I have only used this suit. A little over 2 years into WW kayaking mainly up in Buffalo NY area, water runs more consisitently high in the fall,winter and spring - especially winter with snowmelts/rains, I have paddled and at times swam in water that is mid 30's in air that is mid 30's - this drysuit does what is needed. MY only complaint is the zippers are a bit stiff and you need to be certain that you got it closed all the way - it is a tough close it up process at the very end of the zipper. I have yet to net get hot in this suit regardless of the temp - I always sweat despite trying to limit layers under it. This review was helpfulbefore buying it - the comments as well - gave me confidence on the purchase

[@RiverKingsKayak]

right on Richard!

[@mikeemmons4062]

Pretty impressive for the price. Around here, thee water can stay cold well into may, and every year we have multiple drownings due to people not being dressed properly for cold water. This is a good option for those who aren't willing to spend enough for high quality gear.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Indeed Mike!

[@danielfischer1811]

I'll be darned, not kidding Last nite I purposely dug up last year's video and got on the website. Was still on the fence. Woke this morning and man there you are . I'm a novis so thanks for the 3 min. ..... I'm gonna pull the trigger.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Daniel! be sure to leave your review comments!

[@trhuffer]

Thanks to your initial review and this update -- I'm thinking for about $200 and for my purposes "good enough!" $800, $900, $1200 for a drysuit was keeping me off of the colder water. I paddle locally 2-3 hours a session for fun and exercise, no white water. I just need to survive a swim back into my boat or the creek/canal bank. And just extend my season a month or so fall and spring. For $5 more I just ordered the version with redesigned neck and wrist overcuffs (still latex underneath), and cordura on the elbows, knees, and seat. So we'll see how that goes!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Fantastic! I think you will enjoy being prepared and safe out there! Let me know how it does for you!

[@larrythreatt2197]

Do you have a link for the one you bought?

[@CARBONJUNIORS]

Could you tell us the model number? Is it the dm2 or dm17?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

@@CARBONJUNIORS there is a link in the video description that takes you right to the exact suit. Im not sure of the model #.

[@ThomasStuven]

Thank you so much for the reviews. I am thinking about buying one of these. Not because of the price, I could afford the well known brands, but because of the size. None of the major brands seems to produce anything larger then XXL and I need 3XL at least as I am almost 2 meters tall. This drysuit is so far the only one available in that size and you're the one who showed it to me. Thanks.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Thomas! Let me know how it does for you!

[@patrickt1087]

I bought one of these suits and it delivered last month. I kayak fish during winter months. Water Temps get down into the 30's and air temps can be in the 20's. I have yet to take this into the water. I do believe that it will provide adequate protection for me fishing in lakes during the winter should I accidentally fall in or my kayak tip over. I wear a pfd and carry extra clothes, a towel, and outer wear in a dry bag with me as well. I believe it is much better protection than not wearing a dry suit because I cannot afford $900+ for one of the better known brands.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on!

[@matthew3576]

How has it held up? Have you swam with it? I am looking to get one for the same purpose

[@MrKayaktom]

nice video Pete, just FYI I would not put level 6 in the same category as Kokatat or IR. I've been using their Fjord drysuit for about 3 years now, it keeps water out, but doesn't breath very well, my base layer is usually damp. The location on the zipper is a pain also, I can't zip it up solo, it always snags itself or clothing layer.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks KT!!

[@canoesino9290]

As little as I get out in cold weather boating this is the way for me

[@RiverKingsKayak]

right on!

[@jailen461]

Pete you said maybe 10 to 15 uses all together. If I couldn't afford a higher price suit I'd say that's good. 10 to 15 dollars for each time out at$150.00 dollars for the suit. It may save your life. Fair deal I think.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

for sure!

[@hunterwhitekayak]

Oh wow, yea I’ve got about 60-75 water days in mine and it’s no longer waterproof at the feet or wrists BUT well enough for the moment. I would say at least three-four seasons worth of use!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Hunter!

[@DanRansom]

You have the same drysuit as this video? 60 days would certainly be acceptable for me! Thanks for the beta.

[@hunterwhitekayak]

@@DanRansom swam in mine today🤦🏽‍♂️ the feet definitely are no longer waterproof but they weren’t soaked either. I even ran another lap!

[@DanRansom]

@@hunterwhitekayak Haha, nice. Thanks for the update, appreciate it! I feel like feet are the first to go always anyways, and not too hard to patch up... hopefully!

[@CarlMarvin]

@@DanRansom Did you end up getting one? I'd be curious on your take as an experienced textile guru...

[@ReelTimeCapt]

@riverking - thank you for the review. I bought mine after your original review and I think I paid a little over 200 with shipping. I am a kayak angler on the coast of Virginia and mostly fish into the late fall and early spring. Mine fits a little large, but by the time I put my base layers on I think it will be comfortable. I broke mine in in my swimming pool and learned how to make sure I can swim in it. This means getting all the air out of it and burping it before I get in my kayak. It doesn’t leak at all and I think will serve a purpose very well.

[@ReelTimeCapt]

I am a retired US, Coast Guard, captain, and used to run charters here off the coast. I’ve paid 200 for a good set of offshore bibs. I wish I found these years ago I would’ve just want those. Thanks again and take care. Let me know your thoughts man. Thanks for everything. Oh PS - is it OK to use divers grease on the zippers also with dry suit in general like this one what do you recommend on the head and wrist gaskets? Thanks again.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on RTC! They suggest not using anything on the zipper teeth these days (the newer zippers dont need anything and anything added will only serve to collect grit etc that will likely degrade the zipper). On the gaskets, I use 303 at the beginning and again at the end of drysuit season.

[@Gilloup]

I have already posted comments on your video made at time of your suit purchase. My same alibaba was bought say at the beginning of 2023. Overall it cost me 260 euros, so it's more than 150 180 or 200 bucks. I immediatly tested the sealing as you did, hanging around for a couple of minutes in water (salted). Result: no leak at all. A month later I used it for the real first time during one or two hours practicing wing foil on a fresh water lake in air at 3.5 celsius degrees. I spent a fair amount of time walking in the water up to the belly because the wind refused and the beach was very small. At or around the fly zipper there has been a slight leak all along the zone, not concentrated on a specific spot. Did it come from a seam around the fly or from the zip itself, I couldn't tell. The leak was spread perfectly horizontally on a 30 40 cm length so I discard the assumption of a slighly reopened zip due to my activity in water as well as on board. There may be a manufacturing defect at the surrounding seams ? Apart from that, I really appreciated the easy dressing and undressing, no help needed, and the flex of the textile, I was very comfortable at winging, legs and arms, and felt only freshness but wasn't cold despite the 3.5 degrees (I wore only a polar on the trunk). I like its color, clear yellow above so one can see you in case of casualty, and light grey below. I am not going to use it often, only on this urban lake during the winter where there is seldom good wind. If Pete could focus and test specifically the fly zipper, or the main zipper because both are of exactly same type, and share his findings, I would be grateful to him because I am not at all used to dry suits, that's my first one.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Gillou! Great review!

[@Gilloup]

@@RiverKingsKayak ​ @River Kings My pleasure Pete. Some news after using it at wingfoiling several times this winter on a urban lake near Paris since my previous testimony. I have to warn that the suit has been leaking much more than during its first time at 3.5 degrees (celsius). I often walk in the water along the beach and I often fall from the board, so the suit is rather exposed to some water pressure (no more than 1 meter though). This causes me to wear a 5 mm wetsuit under the alibaba dry suit. I am never cold but never wet either. How wet ? After 3 hours flying, falling and pushing, 2 medium glasses of water at each foot. I recall that the original textile shoes have been replaced by a known specialist with dry neoprene shoes (125 euros) and they keep in all infiltrated water. I had nearly covered all the lower seams of the suit (inside and outside) with aquasure (32 euros already), so I don't think the leaks come from them. I suspect that the alibaba dry suit received a factory spray that nearly prevented water to flow in the first time I used it during 2 hours, but that this spray has quickly disappeared. Just an assumption, will keep gluing the remaining seams and observing. Overall the suit protects me from severe cold and wind chill effect, but causes me to wear a wetsuit under. Mind the fact that if the shoes had remained the original textile, I would have had terribly cold feet. I put the modified neoprene shoes into summer textile shoes with 1/2cm soles to protect them when walking along the bank.

[@matthew3576]

@@Gilloup would you say the suit is suitable for someone who does not expect to ever be fully immersed, but just needs protection in case they fall overboard?

[@Gilloup]

@@matthew3576 Maybe a little more than falling overboard, walking 20 times 100 meters in the water up to belly and falling 40 times yields a glass of water in each sock at the end. I have had replaced the original socks with neoprene socks so that my feet are warm. I have just offered my wife a drysuit from brand Gul that cost me only 305 euros all in thanks to black friday and other rebates, so the price is just 45 euros more than the alibaba. It has tight latex socks whereas the alibaba has too wide textile socks. The purchase is done on a UK website and the UK firm offers warranty and easy possible back to seller. I will let you know within several weeks how this rather comparable suit fares.

[@jedigardener]

Well just taken the ‘plunge’ ordered the medium - 5’6” as suggested ! Was at RYA Dinghy show and cheapest U.K. was £379 this spex

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Richard! let me know how it goes!

[@러너1]

Thank you for your review. Drain the neck gasket I wonder how you repaired it.

[@Madocthevindicator]

I'm buying one for Oregon salt fishing in my kayak. If still available. For that price, I can always inflate it with helium and use it for a kids toy and buy a better one i guess. Good vid.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Steven!

[@ralphzaccaria7420]

Thanks for the one year review! It’s funny you posted it today. I am in the process of ordering one right now. Their web page is giving me a little trouble, hopefully it works out. I’ll be using it for kayak fishing just incase I take a dunk.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Ralph! Right on!

[@mountainsmoore3657]

I ran across a Kokotat SuperNova Semi Dry Suit on a Black Friday sale a couple of years ago...I can't even remember what i paid for it, but I am thinking that it was around $400. I wear an XL in shirts, but all that they had was XXL. I thought that might work, so I could wear it over other clothes...the only problem is that it is tall enough for a 7'12" dude! LOL! I mean, it fits in the arms and around the chest, but the legs are about 12 feet long! LOL! It will work just fine for me, as I don't plan on ever intentionally taking on any extreme whitewater. It is just really large!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Right on Brad!

[@BrianYoungPhoto]

Good enough for the girls I date. No one is getting hypothermia from couple drops. Good touring suit.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

he he he!

[@kayakcentaur]

You got any thoughts on comparing this to a new kokatat? I hear lots of quality complaints about the last 2-3 years of suits.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I made mention of the comparison to my IR Devil's Club suit. I would never take the Alibaba over the IR. The difference in overall build and quality is quite substantial. I have been nothing but totally happy with the IR and I heavily recommend. Hope that helps!

[@seeratlasdtyria4584]

I'm curious as to whether anyone uses neoprene anymore. Half a century ago, I was in the military and used a farmer john wetsuit with 'superman' height boots gloves and a bib. To tell you the truth, we used to dive off Alaska and other points of the Pac Northwest, and frequently below ice covered water. Some of the other guys used dry suits of various designs, but I never felt the need to switch, even after dives close to 250-270 ft down or deeper (rebreathers) for an hour or a half or a bit more (I dove with dual 72ft steel tanks, told you I was old :) In any event, I'd guess that neoprene suits are available that would be suitable for surf or river whitewater conditions for less than the $1500.00 you quote for a top rank dry suit. What kind of conditions are you paddling ?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Good question! When I started boating (about 20 years ago), I also used various recipes of neoprene clothing as it was far more affordable. However, once I went the way of drysuit, I never considered anything else. The level of comfort, dryness, mobility and general suitability for paddling makes the drysuit far superior. Every now and then, you will see someone utilizing the neoprene for budgetary reasons, but it is rare. Drysuit all the way! But, yes, it will work.

[@ChandlerShepherd]

Pete, would you recommend this for someone doing a grand trip for two weeks and then (likely) never paddling again?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Good question. No. For me, going into such a remote and harsh location would mandate the best, most trustworthy equipment available. I do think it would make it through, but I would not go that route.

[@ChandlerShepherd]

@@RiverKingsKayak I agree with ya. Just wanted your take. Got a November trip coming up and these are cheaper than renting. Plus some American brands won’t fit some plus size friends for less than $2k. Figured this would be better than nothing, but like you say harsh environment and no way to easily fix it so if there is some kinda catastrophic failure they’re gonna be screwed.

[@nottymyname7192]

Thanks for this review. Would you say that this is better than a well known name brand 2 piece system (dry top and dry pants)? I have never swam in my 2 piece setup (YET...it's coming), I would expect some water to get in but hope that I would still stay warm enough to be o.k. on those upper 30's to middle 40's days in the southeast. Maybe I am wrong about that though.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Hey NM! That is a tough one for me as I have never used the two part system for any brand. I would tend to stick with the name brand as long as your gear is still functioning properly.

[@nottymyname7192]

@@RiverKingsKayak Thanks for the information and this informative review! I believe this suit does have a place for the correct application and expectation.

[@haolblacksmith5554]

Appreciate the review

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Haol!

[@davidchappelle6480]

I ordered one of them suits. ordered a size up an it was too short.. tried to send it back for a large.. It was gonna cost $200.oo Frickin Bucks !!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

thats crazy! Mine was waaaay too big...

[@bobmarlowe3390]

I think you need some more boats in your shop.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

LOL!

[@hntrains2]

25:02: No moisture around the sleeve area, perhaps, because your hands were not in the water?! Overall, not bad for three minutes in the water - where you got wet, there probably were holes in the suit, which you should be able to patch, easily. P.S. 21:50: Did not expect a shrine of dead animals there!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I actually did hold them under for most of the time. But when filming, I kept them out so hold the camera and the digits were cold. So, yes, slightly less immersion time, but they were down quite a while.

[@hntrains2]

@@RiverKingsKayak, thank you! I reckon, then, this suit is great for anyone on a budget; or the infrequent users (it is not worth paying a grand when you get on the water once a year). Or - especially so - those rowing, not paddling (one is less likely to capsize when on a raft than when on a kayak).

[@jessicachristian7002]

Did you swim in the suit? I feel like everyone gets a different amount of life from their suit depending on how much they beater in it. :)

[@havinablast]

I got mine a month before Pete did, I have 37 trips in it since I got it, haven't pressure tested mine but mine definitely weeps, seeps, leaks, and sweats

[@RiverKingsKayak]

for sure!

[@IE_Tiger]

Did someone go back and time the Cheoah swim to see if it was more or less than 3 minutes? Haha! thanks for the quality content, Pete.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I think it was def shorter than 3 minutes...but it sure felt longer!

[@davethornton9556]

Could you do your water test in warm or very warm water for a better test ? Warm water or hot tub water would be thinner.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

interesting...but I would never be wearing it unless it is cold out...

[@haroldjennings5771]

Hello Pete from Spartanburg SC!! Your yellow yak you Kayak camp with…….make and model?? Length? Thank you!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

That is my beloved Prijon Yukon Expedition...14.5 feet.

[@jasonjohnson3164]

Don't forget links Pete!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I just added!

[@jasonjohnson3164]

@@RiverKingsKayak so if I'm wearing size XL normally in clothing and outerwear, what should I go with if I get one of these suits?

[@Hunt-Fish-Trap59]

Would you recommend this suit if you only kayak fish and want a suit that would give you enough time to get out of the water if you went in?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

for sure! better than nothing and just might save your life!

[@johnhurd6026]

If I did get a Alibaba drysuit what are the chances of it not coming in am looking at it more my set up works which is Nrs drytop and Nrs semi dry pants so am just in thought process

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Not totally sure...I only know of one that didnt come for a buyer and they got a full refund.

[@SethDunbar123]

@johnhurd6026 did you order the top and bottom separates? Curious if that’s an option for cold water kayak fishing

[@ninenine8546]

@@SethDunbar123 I paddle with separates. I'm not a fisherman but I can't see any reason it wouldn't work. I'm very happy with my setup.. NRS

[@travisstowell7800]

I just wanna go deer huntin w ya. 😉. Some nice studs on that wall !!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Thanks Travis!

[@canoesino9290]

Yaaay!

[@jolesen001]

Waterproofing the zipper; are you lubing/greasing it regularly?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Hey jolesen001, the newer style zippers are a little different. They only require/reccomend lubing in the docking (seating) area, not on the teeth.

[@jolesen001]

@@RiverKingsKayak Live and learn, that is news to me! Thanks for the awesome videos, really enjoy them. Especially the expedition/camping tours!

[@Habitant13]

can you tell us which size did you get ? and how is the fit ?

[@jairusstoudenmire3917]

He says near the end that it's a Large. I believe Pete wears a medium typically. His initial video of the suit he talked more about the sizing /fit.

[@RiverKingsKayak]

I am between an large and a medium. I wear the half size from Immersion Research and it is perfect. I ordered this suit in a large but it is enormous...like an XXL on a normal suit.

[@ropits360]

I bought an M of this aliexpress model. I am 5'8" and weight 160lbs and fits perfectly, you can weight more than that and will still fit but if you are around 6' or more you need and L or more

[@arcana1973]

No love for sit on top kayaks?

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Nothing but love!! I just dont have any SOTs

[@DejanSmaic]

Forgot to do the fart test

[@RiverKingsKayak]

LOL!