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Wet Suites
- Thread starter desmond
- Start date
grumpyolman
New member
It'a not rocket science. The thicker the wet suit the warmer, but also the bulkier to move around in. Fit is important as you are trapping a layer of water, very thin, between your skin and the inner side of the suit. You body warms the water and the thermal properties of the neoprene prevent a lot of the warmth from leaving. The more water that seeps through the suit becaue of poor fit, the colder it will be. Go to a dive shop and look at some and then try them on. Often dive shops will have used suits and you can get them reasonably priced. Try out Hyperflex material or some of it's clones. It's easy to put on and take off and that end up being a real issue. If it's a PIA to put on you won't use the suit much.
Option two is get one of the dry suits made for Kayaking or jet skiing. They won't work for diving at all, but for wading they'd do the job. I live in a cold climate with cold weather. I tried layering Smart Wool undies with Polar Fleece beneath the dry suit and still got cold. Had to buy $300 worth of high tech underwear to wear beneath the dry suit and over the clothing. I got TOL and there's stuff that will work for a lot less money. Dry suits must be tested and guaranteed by the shop selling them. Specially used. The zippers or seals can leak and sometimes there's tears in the seams not visible but you can tell when the cold water comes in. A good fitting dry suit for jet skiing has to be comfortable enough to move around in and so shouldn't be bad for wading. Diving dry suits are generally bulky and not really comfortable just wading. However, it's really nice getting out of the water, unzipping your dry suit and being dry and warm. Don't have to have your bathing suit on so if you are in a public area no need to gross out the folks around while you get out of the wet swim suit.
Most of the time I prefer and use chest high neoprene waders. I don't really need to go deeper than waist deep. If I do I dive it. There you have both warm and dry, unless you flood them. Oh! By the way before people start screaming about how dangerous chest high waders are because they might fill with water, don't believe it. Research it on-line and it's something Myth Busters should televise. Besides, we've been talking about all water waders wearing an inflatable PFD. That being the case the wader fill myth is a non issue if you have a PFD. jim
Option two is get one of the dry suits made for Kayaking or jet skiing. They won't work for diving at all, but for wading they'd do the job. I live in a cold climate with cold weather. I tried layering Smart Wool undies with Polar Fleece beneath the dry suit and still got cold. Had to buy $300 worth of high tech underwear to wear beneath the dry suit and over the clothing. I got TOL and there's stuff that will work for a lot less money. Dry suits must be tested and guaranteed by the shop selling them. Specially used. The zippers or seals can leak and sometimes there's tears in the seams not visible but you can tell when the cold water comes in. A good fitting dry suit for jet skiing has to be comfortable enough to move around in and so shouldn't be bad for wading. Diving dry suits are generally bulky and not really comfortable just wading. However, it's really nice getting out of the water, unzipping your dry suit and being dry and warm. Don't have to have your bathing suit on so if you are in a public area no need to gross out the folks around while you get out of the wet swim suit.
Most of the time I prefer and use chest high neoprene waders. I don't really need to go deeper than waist deep. If I do I dive it. There you have both warm and dry, unless you flood them. Oh! By the way before people start screaming about how dangerous chest high waders are because they might fill with water, don't believe it. Research it on-line and it's something Myth Busters should televise. Besides, we've been talking about all water waders wearing an inflatable PFD. That being the case the wader fill myth is a non issue if you have a PFD. jim
Sven
Well-known member
I/4" neo wetsuit will allow you to hunt about 1 hour in 50 degree water in Buffalo before the water inside gets cold.
You might buy a few minutes wearing a set of thermal underwear underneath the wetsuit. That's how we did it while drift diving
the Niagara River in Oct-Nov. Hypothermia sets in fairly quickly at that temp....
If you want to stay warm and dry, buy a neo wetsuit designed for sailboarders, they do not let water in. But, if the wind is blowing and your not
moving you also get cold fast and or you'll sweat inside. Some guys wear the wetsuit top with thermals under and then hunt in a pair of
neo chest waders. No need to wear a PFD, neoprene suits float, you bob up to the surface.
Ever wonder why divers wear a wetsuit and a diving weight belt?
Neoprene floats, wear a 1/4" thick suit and there's no way you will sink, even trying to snorkle down 6' is a struggle. When you give up
back to the surface you go.
So you'll have to decide whether you want to get wet or stay dry.
Take a trip to Dip and Dive on Niagara Falls Blvd, just south of Sheridan Dr. See what they have to offer these days.
You might buy a few minutes wearing a set of thermal underwear underneath the wetsuit. That's how we did it while drift diving
the Niagara River in Oct-Nov. Hypothermia sets in fairly quickly at that temp....
If you want to stay warm and dry, buy a neo wetsuit designed for sailboarders, they do not let water in. But, if the wind is blowing and your not
moving you also get cold fast and or you'll sweat inside. Some guys wear the wetsuit top with thermals under and then hunt in a pair of
neo chest waders. No need to wear a PFD, neoprene suits float, you bob up to the surface.
Ever wonder why divers wear a wetsuit and a diving weight belt?
Neoprene floats, wear a 1/4" thick suit and there's no way you will sink, even trying to snorkle down 6' is a struggle. When you give up
back to the surface you go.
So you'll have to decide whether you want to get wet or stay dry.
Take a trip to Dip and Dive on Niagara Falls Blvd, just south of Sheridan Dr. See what they have to offer these days.
OldBeechnut
Well-known member
I agree with Grumpyoldman....on all.........Drysuit will extent the season farther into the fall months then you could with a wetsuit, then you can get out way before anyone else with a drysuit in the early spring, only thing,.becareful on getting a drysuit for jetski's/Kayaking where there is padding on the shins to knees..I got a nice drysuit with the shin pads, after about 3 hours in the water the pad area takes on water, not the padding, the area the pad is contained, called Moby, said that suit was not made for constant submersion, I bought the suit used ..leason learned....No better way to stay warm, is to be dry. Waders, and a PFD......or Drysuit with a PFD on the outside.
Frank in NH
Active member
A 7MM wetsuit with attached hood will keep you toasty warm and mine has water dams built into arms and legs. To hot for summer use, i use a 3/2 one piece if it gets to warm just let some fresh water in.