Wet suit VS Splash Vs Dry top

[@Simon_W74]

I currently have a Semi Dry Cag and semi Dry Trousers. I will in time invest in a Dry Suit. At the minute I am diverting funds to getting camping gear once again as my Club does several trips a year where they camp. I was on the North Norfolk Coast today in one of the inlets and it was nice and sunny so most of us had paddling short and a short sleeve base layer type top. There was one chap int Semi Dry Top and another is a Spray top, both got very hot and sweaty, (I did have them with me just incase they were needed), as did we all on the way back to the Quayside as we were slogging it out with a Spring Tide and a fast Current, plus wash from the many boats and Tour Boats that do seal trips. I used to paddle out in a wetsuit as I had nothing else and we we were paddling the sea temp in usually around 15 degrees in the Summer in Scotland, which is a good bit colder than it is back here in Norfolk, England. Highlight of the day was paddling on the Road at High Tide.

[@AdventureOtaku]

That’s a good selection of gear. I would like to try some of the Reed stuff. Maybe next time I am in the UK.

[@Simon_W74]

@@AdventureOtaku I must admit that I am impressed with their pricing, as I was aware of them, but hadn't looked at their website until reading your reply, as I just thought that they would be really expensive as there are a British company and things made at home tend to carry extra costs due to labour costs, which is perfectly understandable. Some of the items are made to measure, which is brilliant as there is no such thing as the average size and shape. I would end up with a Dry suit that has more room than I need is some places and not enough in others with a lot of the main brands. The trouble with being tall and not the usual shape for my size as most don't think I weight what I do. I will be bookmarking their website for future use. Thank you.

[@AdventureOtaku]

@DiggerBuckett so yeah, my dry suit would fit someone 6 inches taller than me. It’s never been an issue but…yeah. I happen to be in Paris at the moment I am going to see if I can find ay of their products here. Great recommendation and an excuse to go to an outdoor shop!

[@Simon_W74]

@@AdventureOtaku I have a 5mm Wetsuit that is like that as it was the only one I could fit into with my chest and shoulders. I must be made for someone that is 6'7" at least. It wouldn't use it even on my sit on top as it is pretty heavy until your in the water with it, and I only wear it in Scotland on the West Coast.

[@onemondaynight]

This was exactly what was on my mind as this is the first season I intend to keep paddling through fall and winter! Thanks! Yours have become my go-to instructional videos!

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thank you! AND YES! Unless you live in the far north there is no reason to stop paddling…. Like if the water freezes…its time to stop.

[@gsopaddler]

I've paddled in all combinations of paddle clothing... Started in a surfing wetsuit with rain gear over it. It was functional, but sitting against a zipper all day is not fun. I've done the splash top/pant combo fine for calm days, as a drip barrier and wind break, worthless if you end up in the water. I've used semi dry, what you're calling a paddling top. Which is much better for rough conditions, but if you spend any time in the water, it's still fairly worthless. Done the dry top/dry pant combo, much better for immersion, a bit cheaper than a suit, easier to use the bathroom. But I'm with you, I'll go shorts and base layers, right to the drysuit. Then I adjust the layers in the drysuit to suit the outside temps. I've even worn shorts and a t-shirt under my drysuit if the water was cold and air temps really warm. Great topic! See you soon.

[@AdventureOtaku]

the big question is, at lookout will we be in shorts....or drysuits.... I feel like it could go either way.

[@gsopaddler]

Agreed, I'll be ready for either but hoping for shorts.

[@Boilermaker92]

Looking forward to a basement tour video when it’s all done! I’ll bet the 17 and inches measurement to fit the Delta as the “closer” to buy the house.

[@AdventureOtaku]

I have a lot of work to do and you will have a long wait.

[@hrmacdonald4471]

Great info...thanks.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@Wings_of_foam]

I bought a pair of NRS freefall dry pants and an Orion jacket. I'm very happy with that combo. When it gets colder I use 2-3 layers on the inside. When i roll my tunnel into my pants I'm nearly waterproof.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Great combination.

[@tomfink5009]

For cold water kayaking (60s F and lower) drysuit is the best option. As far as gloves go, I have a very nice pair of pogies that I never use. Not useful if you have to swim or remove your hands for anything, and of course they don't work with greenland paddles.

[@AdventureOtaku]

totally agree with the drysuit comment. Totally disagree with the pogies comment. the whole point is that you can take your hand out, do what you need, and put them back in. Never tried them with a Greenland paddle, so that could be true.

[@patrickh621]

To alleviate the heat problem of a dry suit or dry jacket, I tend to bring a few litres of coolant to splash over arms and body. I found Dihydrogen-Monoxide to work well; cheap, albeit a bit heavy.

[@AdventureOtaku]

Um hmmm… or you could just roll your kayak… All the dihydrogen monoxide you could want, is right below the kayak. Or you could use dehydrated dihydrogen monoxide… and rehydrate it before use so you don’t have to worry about the weight.

[@wisenber]

I have a love-hate relationship with my drysuits. Anything above 55 F air temperatures has me having to restrict my activity to keep from overheating. From the teens to the high 40's, they're great for me. I've never liked neoprene gear. I discovered Sharkskins and Reed's Chillcheaters many years ago. I've found them to be a great compromise between drysuit and wetsuit for the times that a drysuit is just too hot to wear but immersion protection is still needed. They aren't as restrictive as a wetsuit while blocking wind and rain like a drysuit. I spent 45 minutes hanging onto a flooded sailboat in 40 degree water and 60 degree air without getting hypothermic. I won't say I remained warm, but a drysuit won't protect you indefinitely either.

[@AdventureOtaku]

What products are you using from reed? They make everything from dry suits to wet suits to storm cags to jackets?

[@wisenber]

@@AdventureOtaku Virtually all of their products are made from Aquatherm or Aquathem Fleece. I have a long sleeved Aquatherm Fleece long sleeve top with zippered neck, a pair of the pre-bent trousers, gauntlet glove, knee high socks and one of their expedition drysuits. That's gear I've picked up over about a decade and a half. The bad part about Reed is that $50 shipping from the UK and having to remind them we have no VAT in the US. I have a Sharkskin hood and a pair of their "titanium" shorts. The Sharkskin hood is par with the one Kokotat intermittently has available. The hood is loose enough not to compress your head or limit your hearing like some of the others, but will keep you from freezing in a cold water roll. All choices are compromises, but Sharkskin/Aquatherm options allow for venting while still offering enough immersion protection for a 30 minute 40ish degree water exposure. Unlike a drysuit, you can layer over them rather than in them, allowing for easier layer adjustment over the course of a day. Both dry much faster than a westuit and don't stink like a wetsuit.

[@maze400]

125 degrees.. I've heard this before but always forgot the number.... What are your thoughts on a Tuiliq ?

[@AdventureOtaku]

That’s the Greenland name for a storm cag? Right? Kokatat makes one…. I don’t think I have ever used one. I would imagine its great for people who have a solid roll, but if you swim… you are still dressing for immersion. Re the 125 thing…I don’t remember if I mentioned this in the video but I generally ignore it. REI used it when I worked for them. If the water makes me go “oh that’s cold” I put on the dry suit.

[@kevincasey2947]

I free dive spear fish out of my kayak and I wear a farmer john neoprene wetsuit to paddle in just for that. I plan those trips for the shortest distance as possible and generally don the neoprene top just before diving so I try not to paddle in a neoprene top. The farmer john neoprene really rubber bands my torso forward paddle stroke movement and I find it exhausting to work against that resistance. It forces me to arm paddle and I hate that for any distance. The underarm cut of the farmer john is a serious sweaty welt inducing PETA problem for me anyway, even though I have a low cut for the arm hole and I always clean it well. I realize spearfishing isn't what a lot of people do so I don't mention that too much but when people ask me about neoprene as a paddling option I generally only mention the natural rubber band resistance being exhausting for forward paddle stroke ease & efficiency and the cut and hygiene of the fabric in the armpit issues. Thats just me.

[@AdventureOtaku]

yeah, great examples of why I don't use wetsuits. but a lot of people do. But thanks for pointing out your experience as I have only used them a couple of times.

[@can5projects563]

Question about kayak weight does it make a difference in the water or is the only difference lifting the kayak to the roof racks

[@AdventureOtaku]

It does make a difference but less than you would think. A heavier boat is slower to accelerate, but because it has momentum is a little easier to keep at speed…. But the difference is pretty minor. But I will say the first ten minutes on day one of a multi day trip, when the boat is super loaded, the boat seems so heavy. But you actually get used to it pretty quickly.

[@can5projects563]

@@AdventureOtaku Thanks for your reply

[@AdventureOtaku]

@can5projects563 of course! I work really hard to respond to all the comments. Sometimes it takes me a while.

[@pootinplays]

I found this info very useful. However just a bit of constructive criticism the sound levels are all over the place. The music is like twice as loud as you talking and its quite jarring

[@AdventureOtaku]

Thanks, it's a pretty old video, and I am pretty sure it was made when I was just using the GoPro built in mics. I now use a lav mike. sorry.

[@n-da-bunka2650]

Liked the video but a paddling jacket without wrist closures is NOT a "paddling" jacket. It's a rain coat.

[@AdventureOtaku]

It is in fact a rain coat. But it breathes WAY better. Ya know all I can do is teach based off my experience and I would rather have a trickle of water run down my sleeve than be dripping wet with sweat

[@diego2112gaming]

So this gives me an excuse to buy more gear. Wetsuit, drysuit, paddling jacket and pants, because MOAR OPTIONS. (I like gear)

[@AdventureOtaku]

yeah, just don’t forget that analysis paralysis is real… if you spend more time trying to figure out what gear to use than paddling there might be a problem.

[@diego2112gaming]

@@AdventureOtaku oh nah, I'm an electrician and a former studio guitarist. I like having a specific piece of gear for a specific job if I can. Universal gear is nice if I can't, but having one tool to do one job very well instead of a jack of all trades generally results in better safety (in electrical) and better sound (in music). But yes, analysis paralysis is very real, end of the day you're right--get on the water with what you've got (in my case it'll be a wetsuit to start and build from there--I'm a surfer first so).