The Dry suit vs. wet suit argument

It does kinda feel like winter again today…

I’ve alternated between FJ wetsuit and (semi) drysuit, and for me, the drysuit wins hands down. It seems to me that if it works for Mr. X on his 120nm journey, it’s safe enough for any day of fishing.

This past Christmas, I bought myself a real drysuit (i.e., latex neck gasket), and planned to use it during the winter, but never got the chance. So in the future, I’m hoping to get in on the semi-drysuit vs drysuit argument too!

Hi Marc, actually I didn’t wear dry suit properly in kayak, when I wear semi dry suit, I feel not that comfortable because it’s too tight on my wrist, the blood cannot return to my heart very well from palm, this caused my palm swollen after half hour wear it. So, I tuck my hands into my sleeves at the most of time. My plan is, if I feel dangerous, I will wear properly quickly by extend my hands out of my sleeves.

For full dry suit, I tried one time, besides the wrist too tight problem, it’s too tight on my neck too, even I trimmed but still feel too tight, I feel my head swollen, so usually I wear semi but not full dry suit

I guess this is just my problem, I am too sensitive on it.

Hi Marc, actually I didn’t wear dry suit properly in kayak, when I wear semi dry suit, I feel not that comfortable because it’s too tight on my wrist, the blood cannot return to my heart very well from palm, this caused my palm swollen after half hour wear it. So, I tuck my hands into my sleeves at the most of time. My plan is, if I feel dangerous, I will wear properly quickly by extend my hands out of my sleeves.

For full dry suit, I tried one time, besides the wrist too tight problem, it’s too tight on my neck too, even I trimmed but still feel too tight, I feel my head swollen, so usually I wear semi but not full dry suit

I guess this is just my problem, I am too sensitive on it.

I'm surprised that you can't get a good fit on the wrist gaskets that allows for continuous use. I've never had any trouble with that aspect. I had thought that latex was going to be a problem for me, as latex rubber gloves severely irritate my hands. But, I've had no trouble at all with latex wrist gaskets, either allergy-wise or tightness-wise. I can see that a latex neck gasket could be much more of a challenge to tolerate, and I have not experimented with that yet, so we'll see...

It does kinda feel like winter again today…

I’ve alternated between FJ wetsuit and (semi) drysuit, and for me, the drysuit wins hands down. It seems to me that if it works for Mr. X on his 120nm journey, it’s safe enough for any day of fishing.

This past Christmas, I bought myself a real drysuit (i.e., latex neck gasket), and planned to use it during the winter, but never got the chance. So in the future, I’m hoping to get in on the semi-drysuit vs drysuit argument too!

Hi Marc, actually I didn’t wear dry suit properly in kayak, when I wear semi dry suit, I feel not that comfortable because it’s too tight on my wrist, the blood cannot return to my heart very well from palm, this caused my palm swollen after half hour wear it. So, I tuck my hands into my sleeves at the most of time. My plan is, if I feel dangerous, I will wear properly quickly by extend my hands out of my sleeves.

For full dry suit, I tried one time, besides the wrist too tight problem, it’s too tight on my neck too, even I trimmed but still feel too tight, I feel my head swollen, so usually I wear semi but not full dry suit

I guess this is just my problem, I am too sensitive on it.

Have you trimmed your wrist gaskets?  That's a huge game changer to start.  Once they are trimmed, make sure they are sealing on your wrist bones and not the meaty portion between your wrist bones and your hand.  That will prevent circulation issues.

Before trimming the wrist gaskets on my first suit, I stretched out the gaskets by shoving some thing wide in them, think I used a small toy football.  That helped a bit actually, but then I trimmed it and all was better.  The neck seals that are latex are too constricting for me too, but I like the neoprene ones. Still, takes some getting used to.

Tedski - thanks for sharing. It’s reassuring to know the wetsuit holds up!
I love my semi drysuit and only on a few occasions felt overheated in it. Like Mr.X, I also tried the full drysuit but the neck gasket was too tight; my face was getting red and veins popping up. My wife definitely paid attention Eddie😬😬 so I returned the suit and kept the semi dry one.

Tedski - thanks for sharing. It’s reassuring to know the wetsuit holds up!

I think he's saying that drysuits hold up...

The most common damage, by a landslide, was people blowing out a gasket while donning or doffing the suit. 

I've had this problem--tore both of my wrist gaskets last year. Is there a good way to lube the gaskets, or some other approach that will mitigate this problem?

Have you trimmed your wrist gaskets?  That's a huge game changer to start.  Once they are trimmed, make sure they are sealing on your wrist bones and not the meaty portion between your wrist bones and your hand.  That will prevent circulation issues.

I trimmed, maybe not enough, just worry if cut too much will cause leaking, I will try to re-trim it to see what different. Thank your input tedski

The most common damage, by a landslide, was people blowing out a gasket while donning or doffing the suit. 

I've had this problem--tore both of my wrist gaskets last year. Is there a good way to lube the gaskets, or some other approach that will mitigate this problem?

We used 303 protectant and would apply it after every 48- or 72-hour shift as part of normal maintenance.

Have you trimmed your wrist gaskets?  That's a huge game changer to start.  Once they are trimmed, make sure they are sealing on your wrist bones and not the meaty portion between your wrist bones and your hand.  That will prevent circulation issues.

I trimmed, maybe not enough, just worry if cut too much will cause leaking, I will try to re-trim it to see what different. Thank your input tedski

Yeah, it's a delicate balance, but you're on the right track.  Our normal procedure was to start with small gatorade bottles to stretch a new seal.  Then we'd sit around the lounge wearing the new suit to see how they felt.  Trim as necessary, restretch and sit for a while to see how they go.  There is a point where both a neck seal and a wrist seal are comfortable and present a good seal that stands up to full range of motion.

For saltwater and cold weather trips, Half of my fishing buddies were FJ wetsuits and the other half wear Kokatat semi angler drysuits.  Those who wear drysuits use to wear FJ wetsuits. After they switched to drysuits they never wore their FJ wetsuits ever again. I own the Goretex angler drysuit and love it. 

The most common damage, by a landslide, was people blowing out a gasket while donning or doffing the suit. 

I've had this problem--tore both of my wrist gaskets last year. Is there a good way to lube the gaskets, or some other approach that will mitigate this problem?

To get into my freedive suit which basically sticks to your skin, I used hair conditioner diluted with water, trial and error on the ratio, I think I ended up with about 1/3 cond / 2/3 water. I especially used to dump some on my head and rub it around to get thru the neck, wipe off excess with a towel, also washes off pretty easy but does leave that conditioner feel behind for awhile. Probably work on hands and wrist seals too.

Keep in mind that the purpose of either a semidry, dry, or wetsuit is to keep you from going into shock. If you do not regularly swim bare in the ocean, or do those plunge workouts you will most likely go into shock.

You just need to be able to gather your thoughts and get your transponder, gps radio, and phone and get a distress signal out. If you do not have a means for calling for help you will die regardless of what you are wearing.

I wear a semi drysuit and have taken 2 surf zone classes. Both days were spent being bashed by wave’s relentlessly. My kayak would need to be drained of several gallons of water every session. But my semi drysuit only had a table spoon amount of water at the end of each day.

I dress in layers for the predicted outside temperature, not for being in the water.

Enjoyed reading what others use. I use the same kotakat dry pants and use a lava core scuba undersuit underneath. when the weather in not really cold, that work fine. I have installed a pee valve so if I am out for the whole day I open the valve and pee, no need to remove dry pants. If the weather is colder I use wet suit vest or upper body over the lava core and also wear a heating vest in case of prolonged immersion in cold water. It is designed for scuba and can stay on for four hours and is very good at keeping me warm, luckily I have never needed to use this function. I like this combination as it gives me great survivability and the ability to cool off in warmer weather and the ability to pee without taking off pant and such.

One issue with a dry suit is that you have to remember to fully close the lower zipper after relieving yourself. And if you have a zipper open for venting, it's also not gonna keep you dry if you go over. I've suffered swimming in a not fully zipped dry suit in the dark in December in Horseshoe Bay. It wasn't dry at all and a cold drive home.  I can unzip the wetsuit a bit if hot and figure I'm still mostly good if I go over. Considering my most difficult balancing moments in swell or wind waves are when kneeling forward over the Hobie drive urinal hole, with the dog in back moving side to side, I'm sticking with a wetsuit.