The danger of Waders

Since waders don't have relief zippers, but dry suits do, coupled with my love of coffee and a weak bladder, waders will not do for me.  Waders would guarantee wet feet for me.

My waders have relief zipper........

I have followed the wader discussion over the years. I have never worn waders and I never will. When shit goes bad in the ocean, it gets worse quick. You could easily be in the water for a lengthy period. Im not that huge of a fan of drysuits either. They are just one hole away from becoming a liability in the ocean. I wear a 3mm farmer John with a hydro skin shirt. On top of that I have a kokatat dry top and dry pants without the sewn in booties. On my feet I wear good neoprene booties with rubber treads for walking on slippery rocks. IMO, neoprene rules.

I have followed the wader discussion over the years. I have never worn waders and I never will. When shit goes bad in the ocean, it gets worse quick. You could easily be in the water for a lengthy period. Im not that huge of a fan of drysuits either. They are just one hole away from becoming a liability in the ocean. I wear a 3mm farmer John with a hydro skin shirt. On top of that I have a kokatat dry top and dry pants without the sewn in booties. On my feet I wear good neoprene booties with rubber treads for walking on slippery rocks. IMO, neoprene rules.

I will agree with you 100% on this. I had to rescue a fellow kayaker once when he flipped and had waders on. Thank god, the wader only partially got water in it; still the water made it impossible for him to re-enter the kayak without help. It took my full effort to assist him to safety, but he made it back alive.

Those who have not been in this particular situation do not fully understand how dangerous waders are on a Kayak. There are enough cheap alternatives to make kayaking safe and affordable. Learn from the lessons of others. Just DON'T DO IT! --TLA

... Im not that huge of a fan of drysuits either. They are just one hole away from becoming a liability in the ocean. I wear a 3mm farmer John with a hydro skin shirt. On top of that I have a kokatat dry top and dry pants without the sewn in booties. On my feet I wear good neoprene booties with rubber treads for walking on slippery rocks. IMO, neoprene rules.

I'm trying hard to like neoprene while waiting for my replacement drysuit to arrive in July. But, I never feel like I'm actually "dressed for immersion" when wearing the FJ wetsuit. Yes, it helps with the splashing, but if I actually go for a swim, water flows thru it like a sieve, so I don't get the insulation effect that a "real" wetsuit provides. What am I doing wrong?

... Im not that huge of a fan of drysuits either. They are just one hole away from becoming a liability in the ocean. I wear a 3mm farmer John with a hydro skin shirt. On top of that I have a kokatat dry top and dry pants without the sewn in booties. On my feet I wear good neoprene booties with rubber treads for walking on slippery rocks. IMO, neoprene rules.

I'm trying hard to like neoprene while waiting for my replacement drysuit to arrive in July. But, I never feel like I'm actually "dressed for immersion" when wearing the FJ wetsuit. Yes, it helps with the splashing, but if I actually go for a swim, water flows thru it like a sieve, so I don't get the insulation effect that a "real" wetsuit provides. What am I doing wrong?

Your wetsuit isn't the correct fit for you.

-Allen

... Im not that huge of a fan of drysuits either. They are just one hole away from becoming a liability in the ocean. I wear a 3mm farmer John with a hydro skin shirt. On top of that I have a kokatat dry top and dry pants without the sewn in booties. On my feet I wear good neoprene booties with rubber treads for walking on slippery rocks. IMO, neoprene rules.

I'm trying hard to like neoprene while waiting for my replacement drysuit to arrive in July. But, I never feel like I'm actually "dressed for immersion" when wearing the FJ wetsuit. Yes, it helps with the splashing, but if I actually go for a swim, water flows thru it like a sieve, so I don't get the insulation effect that a "real" wetsuit provides. What am I doing wrong?

Your wetsuit isn't the correct fit for you.

-Allen

I’ve thought of that but there is no way it could be tight enough to keep water from circulating through the chest area. Maybe I need to gain weight and start doing bench presses, but I don’t see any FJ working like a real wetsuit for me...

NWM:  Maybe get a 2mm(I think) cardigan style (vertical zipper in front) tight wetsuit top from O'Neill's to wear over the FJ and a fleece rashguard, then cover that with a Goretex splash jacket.  I went to this after a dunking at the launching dock on a cold day and realizing I didn't have enough upper body insulation to stay warm even out of the water.  It allows free arm movement unlike the full surfing wetsuit I have tried.  It might be too much on a really warm day, but I'm hoping I'd be able to unzip on the yak and then rezip if I fall in.

... Im not that huge of a fan of drysuits either. They are just one hole away from becoming a liability in the ocean. I wear a 3mm farmer John with a hydro skin shirt. On top of that I have a kokatat dry top and dry pants without the sewn in booties. On my feet I wear good neoprene booties with rubber treads for walking on slippery rocks. IMO, neoprene rules.

I'm trying hard to like neoprene while waiting for my replacement drysuit to arrive in July. But, I never feel like I'm actually "dressed for immersion" when wearing the FJ wetsuit. Yes, it helps with the splashing, but if I actually go for a swim, water flows thru it like a sieve, so I don't get the insulation effect that a "real" wetsuit provides. What am I doing wrong?

Your wetsuit isn't the correct fit for you.

-Allen

I’ve thought of that but there is no way it could be tight enough to keep water from circulating through the chest area. Maybe I need to gain weight and start doing bench presses, but I don’t see any FJ working like a real wetsuit for me...

Try a different size or a different brand.  Or, get it custom fitted.  I'll refrain from commenting on your chest.   

-Allen

NWM:  Maybe get a 2mm(I think) cardigan style (vertical zipper in front) tight wetsuit top from O'Neill's to wear over the FJ and a fleece rashguard, then cover that with a Goretex splash jacket.  I went to this after a dunking at the launching dock on a cold day and realizing I didn't have enough upper body insulation to stay warm even out of the water.  It allows free arm movement unlike the full surfing wetsuit I have tried.  It might be too much on a really warm day, but I'm hoping I'd be able to unzip on the yak and then rezip if I fall in.

I went this route for the same reason, back when Covid started. I got a front zip 2mm from NRS. I like layers so on the chilliest days I go with wicking layer, mysterioso top, 2mm, and spray jacket. If it looks rainy I've got splash pants to go over my wetsuit. Modern neoprene has a lot more stretch to it I find.

I'd use a drysuit but I've just had days of cold becoming bright sun and I prefer the adjustable layer method.my 2c

In the 70s I paid $2500 for a commercial dry suit and immediately regretted it, 1) was hot and sweaty and 2) long hours in the water you gotta pee. So went back to skin-skin neoprene suit custom fit at Stan’s dive shop in San Jose around $450 back in the 70s but worth every nickel

Those were the best but California outlawed the use of the glues so they couldn’t do it anymore. On cold winter days I was steaming when I peeled my wetsuit

Lately I’m spending 3-5 hours in the water 3x a week minimum, some days was 6-10 hours in a 4/3 O’Neil psycho tech, not bad but nothing like my old skin/skin neoprene. Not surfing, swimming in the surf zone with fins and a camera doing video

Anybody knows somebody who works with custom neoprene let me know. I may end up making my own if I can’t find somebody who does that kind of thing


Waders are for the suicidal. My friend watched his fishing partner get swept out at the mouth of one of the nor cal rivers and saw his head pop up a couple of times and disappear

I owned hip waders to look cool while I was fishing steelhead and salmon in nor cal rivers but switched to wearing neoprene FJs which gave me the option of floating downstream instead of tromping through the woods. Got a lot of wisecracks

Conditions are much more mild down South. 

My gortex wader's has a zipper for relief.  And when the surf is up, before trying to land I take them off.

In the 70s I paid $2500 for a commercial dry suit and immediately regretted it..:

I suspect that your 70s era dry suit had less in common with modern dry suit fabrics than my ‘73 Plymouth Duster had in common with my 2019 Subaru Crosstrek.

NWM:  Maybe get a 2mm(I think) cardigan style (vertical zipper in front) tight wetsuit top from O'Neill's to wear over the FJ and a fleece rashguard, then cover that with a Goretex splash jacket.  I went to this after a dunking at the launching dock on a cold day and realizing I didn't have enough upper body insulation to stay warm even out of the water.  It allows free arm movement unlike the full surfing wetsuit I have tried.  It might be too much on a really warm day, but I'm hoping I'd be able to unzip on the yak and then rezip if I fall in.

Thanks. That sounds like the way to go. And I’m sure I’ll have no trouble stripping on my kayak*.

I'll refrain from commenting on your chest.   

-Allen

I’ll have you know that my physique has been immortalized in song...

There was a guy rescued at HMB a while back who was in a screaming panic when he went in the water

Wasn’t he wearing waders?