Dry suit dressing

I picked up a used Kokatat dry suit in my preparations for trying out ocean fishing in general this season, salmon in particular.   What do you guys typically wear under your dry suits fishing the along the marin coast?   Seems like the problem has got to be being warm enough in the foggy wet cold mornings without absolutely melting by the time the sun is baking you by mid day.   I'm thinking light wool socks, full capilene tops and bottoms, perhaps a very light fleece top?

I picked up a used Kokatat dry suit in my preparations for trying out ocean fishing in general this season, salmon in particular.   What do you guys typically wear under your dry suits fishing the along the marin coast?   Seems like the problem has got to be being warm enough in the foggy wet cold mornings without absolutely melting by the time the sun is baking you by mid day.   I'm thinking light wool socks, full capilene tops and bottoms, perhaps a very light fleece top?

I dont have drysuit but I usually use some compression pants, active apparell top and liquid logic. 

Polartec top, bottom, and socks work for me

For cold days, I wear a synthetic base layer under polar technology fleece tops and bottoms in "expedition weight."  Sierra Trading Post has inexpensive tops and bottoms for under $20 each. Went this route for the Kayak Safety class where we spent quite a bit of time in the water. No problems at all and no rush to exit the water.

On warmer days, I wear synthetics under SmartWool tops and bottoms. The wool is much thinner and provides a minimal layer of insulation... very minimal.  I should probably use a thin layer of fleece instead but for the times I've practiced self-rescue, it's been ok. Definitely still feel the cold and wouldn't be good for an extended immersion, but for me, it's insulation enough to not feel the initial "cold shock" that causes water gulping and once I'm back on the kayak, I don't feel the continued chill of being hypothermic.

I use wool socks always. Wool just feels better on my feet while inside the drysuit. Synthetic socks feel too wet for me.

If I feel too hot, I dunk my feet and hands.

Smartwool from feet to top

do you paddle or pedal? if the upper part is getting workout a single smartwool top (maybe a 2nd on REAL cold days. Bottoms smartwool and if really cold fleece bottoms. legs can be cooled pretty simply. good warm sock always

Pedaling here.  Will try my full Patagonia capalene plus light fleece w wool socks and see how it goes.  Seems like ditching a top later will be almost impossible on the water?Thanks guys. 

This is semi-irrelevant but one of the things I like about wetsuits is you can dawn or shed layers, depends on whether you tend to overheat or get chilled. Getting the balance right is harder w a drysuit.

I used to work SF bay in a drysuit and at 3 a.m. in the dead of winter w snowmelt coming into the bay the undersuit that came w my DUI drysuit would cook you alive especially working. I ended up using a much thinner set of underwear and initial shock after hitting the water was gone as soon as I got busy.

Trolling salmon on the Marin coast is most of what I do and you can be cooking one minute and an hour later dealing w wind chill. Usually not that bad but you never know there.

Long sleeve Patagonia capilene is my base layer, and also carry a light windbreaker for when the wind picks up which is norm there. When you're working out and heat up you mostly need wind protection which your drysuit should be good for.

I seldom have to pull out my windbreaker, though this year will bag it up and keep it more handy as when the wind hits there the conditions can make it dicey getting stuff out of stow. Can speak from experience that cold and dehydrated is a bad combo

When it's hot I either peel the capilene or wet it down, not an option w a drysuit. I know a lot of people swear by the new drysuits, I'm an overheater so not a good setup for me. Even diving where there was snow in the water I did better in a good wetsuit

Plus getting old and funky the pee zip on a wetsuit is mandatory

Hope that's helpful

blue-

I don't think you can compare a diving drysuit to today's modern breathable fabrics.

-Allen

I should try one of those out, diving gear is way better than what it used to be

There are a few other factors though, like being in the water was always easier in a wetsuit, not sure if the new drysuits are different that way

Not that I'm planning on having to swim in, on the other hand it's a real possibility as the situation w that guy in Marin pointed out. If I did end up in that kind of situation the typical distance could be 8 or 10 miles, want to be able to swim gracefully

I spent enough time in drysuit to know what a pain in the ass that would be. I end up in the water enough that it does make a difference

Also, I dont know if the drysuits have pee zips, can't live without mine

I'm not hyping wetsuits, just trying to help the guy get an idea what he might use trolling the Marin coast on any given day

If my current wetsuit wears out I might give drysuits a look

- Paul

Fishing Drysuits are the way to go..  Breathable and have relief zippers.

Pedaling here.  Seems like ditching a top later will be almost impossible on the water?Thanks guys.

I dress under the dry suite for emersion.  If I want to layer for cold mornings or wind I wear a light jacket OVER the dry suite.  It works and it's easy to take off later.

I use the Kokatat polar fleece uni suit.  Under the Swift Entry Tropos 3 Dry suit.  Never been cold, but if it was really cold I would put on some UA base 3 over the uni.

I use the Kokatat polar fleece uni suit.  Under the Swift Entry Tropos 3 Dry suit.  Never been cold, but if it was really cold I would put on some UA base 3 over the uni.

I agree with this. If its hot I just use a light wool base layer. When its cold the Kokatat outercore stuff is tough to beat. It's meant to work with the suit to wick moisture and breath with your body.

I like to wear a long-sleeve rashguard because when I wear short sleeves, my arms get chaffed inside the suit and it's annoying. My favorite is a NRS brand top like this: http://www.rei.com/product/868616/nrs-h2core-silkweight-long-sleeve-shirt-mens