I want to stay warm and dry

So I have a great kayak and I use it a ton in the summer.  But in the winter, it dosn't get out much and only once ever in the ocean.  You see, I hate to be cold....  hypothermia kind of cold.

I see all the pictures of you guys out, mid-winter or off-shore messing with sealions.  I know there's all kinds of hi tech gear out there, but what works?

Are you in wet suits, full dry suits, waders....?  Or is it a mixed bag of what works for you?

This is a great forum.  Thanks all for all the tips.

Michael

I'd say its a mixed bag between wet suit (3 mil) farmer john, waders, and paddle pants (like kokatat tempest). There are pros and cons to all of them (I'll let others chime in here) but the biggest issue being safety waders/pants vs. wetsuit.

Are you in wet suits, full dry suits, waders....?  Or is it a mixed bag of what works for you?

We wear all of the above if you are worried about hypothermia I don't think you can beat a wetsuit while dry pants waders ect can be much more comfy if you have a garment failure water is going to get inside. A wetsuit with mysteroso shirt a lite fleece hoody covered by a splash or dry top and some good booties is very warm even in fog, wind and rain(good Hat). If you get too cold in that some guys wear splash pants over the wetsuit.

I use a wetsuit. 3mil and when on thebay in the middle of winter i put on a layer next to the skin. Lots of upper layers. Keeping your core warm is the must. Also keeping my feet warm. Usually I will wear a pair if wool socks under my wetsuit booties. Does your ass get wet in your kayak? If it does I would suggest light waders. I am going to get some as soon as I have another 200 bucks laying arould. I think that would be better in winter. Confused now? Me too.

I use a wetsuit. 3mil and when on thebay in the middle of winter i put on a layer next to the skin. Lots of upper layers. Keeping your core warm is the must. Also keeping my feet warm. Usually I will wear a pair if wool socks under my wetsuit booties. Does your ass get wet in your kayak? If it does I would suggest light waders. I am going to get some as soon as I have another 200 bucks laying arould. I think that would be better in winter. Confused now? Me too.

It never get simpler....I have done all three. I started with waders. They work great but are a PITA do piss in and they can be really warm (and I have breathable ones). I then did the wetsuit thing. Safe but uncomfortable. Wet ass all day and just tiring being kinda wet all day. I just got the kokatat tempest pants. Best of both worlds. Dry and warm (assuming you have a nice base layer, mine is a wicking 1st layer and cheap fleece sweatpants with some ski socks) and I don't over heat. I know they may not be the safest but I am willing to take the risk. If I am paddling along I prob. would choose the wetsuit and just deal with the discomfort factor.

Ditto, same story here and I just picked up the Tempest pants at Aquan and love em!  BUT for them to work you have to have a good top and seal the two together properly.  And I don't expect them to hold up like a wetsuit will.

I think everyone would agree that a farmer jon wetsuit is the most foolproof, toughest option for the least amount of money.

I've always done wetsuit pants combined with mysterioso top (layered with a rashguard and synthetic t-shirt) with a good paddlle jacket over it all and wetsuit boots on my feet.
This year I decided to add to this since I was often getting chilled OTW, and the chill reduces muscle strength & makes me vulnerable to seasickness. SO, I've added mysterioso pants and socks to the mix & it is working very well.
My take now is to go with a base under layer, and then get a wetsuit a little larger to accomodate it. Don't neglect your feet, as the NRS hydroskin or Mysterioso socks are a great help to cold toes.
I also always bring a warm knit cap for the cold mornings, then switch to a wide brimmed hat if the sun is out.

My order of importance,

Safety, dress for the worst, say 2 hr in the ocean,
Budget,
Total Comfort, bladder comfort,
Ease of dressing,

I go solo more often than not so I gotta dress for trouble without help coming and I've been diving for years so a wetsuit is comfortable for me,

So I ended up with a 5mil farmerjohn (with relief zipper) , NRS Hydroskin long sleeve shirt, 5 ml booties, then if it gets windy/cold I put on paddle pants and windbreaker, still cold, then a cheap fleece under the windbreaker.

If warmer I use a nylon Tee instead of the Hydroskin shirt, and I have a 3 mil shorty I sometimes use again depending on safety/comfort considerations.

Of course with all that said I may be making adjustments soon,

Now as for budget, my stuff is pretty cheap, but a GoreTex Dry suit with relief zipper and the appropriate underwear might be nice.

Every time I post something here at the site, I remember why I fish.... Good people fish.

Any way, Thanks for the advise.  I read your posts, surfed around, and looks like about $300 should keep me cozy.  I'm going to go with thin wetsuit pants and paddle pants.  A little thicker wetsuit shorty top and ??? (depends on weather)

I guess I'll see you out in the white caps.

Again, thanks.
Mahalo & Aloha

Michael Petrus
I practice catch and eat

Farmer John 3mil wetsuit w/paddling pants and a paddling jacket. And of course a PFD. And neoprene booties.
This is the best way to stay warm and safe. I hardly ever get water inside the pants and essentially stay dry all day.

Well I was digging threw the on the water clothing threads, and this one is great for noobs like me with clothing questions..

Im on my second month of straight fishing on the weekends and Ive learned I now hate my full surf style wet suit! Well its great, its comfy, its warm... But I am fricken over pissing in my suit then being wet with piss the rest of the day, no relief zipper, first few times it was no big, but yesterday was the last straw, i was soaked, and it wasnt all water.... makes a nasty mess when you go to change and ya stink!

anyway, great info on this thread so im bringing it to the top! Gotta save for some new gear i guess, but anything is better then sitting in piss all day long!

anyway, great info on this thread so im bringing it to the top! Gotta save for some new gear i guess, but anything is better then sitting in piss all day long!

You could add a relief zipper to you current wetsuit. It takes some work but might be worth it if you can't afford to throw down cash for a new suit. See Dale's post on this thread: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,13251.msg125286.html#msg125286

really, ill check it, thanks!

Congratulations Porky---you're only the 2nd person to admit to peeing in their suit while fishing! It's called the Peter Heater. Best thing to do is paddle real hard to get to speed, then let er rip. This should help drain the peewater faster.
But what do I know? It's not like I'm some sort of expert wetsuit-peeing-while-fishing guy. Or AM I? Hahaha!
I actually wear paddling pants over my farmer john now. So when I want to pee, I just pull the pants down and unzip the front of my wetsuit far enough to whip it out. (Only have to unzip to my chest, fortunately.....hahahaha)
The ironic part is that I usually end up peeing into the footwell from my knees. So again, I'm sitting in peewater until splashing+paddling to get it out.

hmmm well whos the first person to admit it?

yeah man, i drink a coffee, gatorade and a med/to large bottle of water every single trip, i have to pee or it makes for a long trip.. Id say i go at least a few times....

the problem isn't the pee in the boat, as you said that portion washes out through the scupper holes, sorta like my puke did when I puked all over my self a few weeks back ( i was covered in pee that day too)

Its the fluids that never really leave the wet suit (and fill it up), and it can add up t a lot, so i feel wet all day and it just gets old ya know, iv'e done it for 8 straight weeks, but iv'e had enough. When i go to change, what didn't seep out of the wetsuit just drips all over the place ya know... and it can stink (Asparagus Pee). Like yesterday after MBK fishing i wanted to grab a bite to eat, but i was feeling nasty, kind of like Pig-pen from the Peanuts Gang, you know that stinky dirty kid... But im Pee Man.

With the relief zipped id stay MUCH dryer.... a little here and there is fine, but the pee being trapped in the suit with me for 5 or so hours SUX!!!!

I too would like to zip my relief zipper (down to my chest and take a some what normal piss.

ya know!

So far since ive been yak fishing I pee my self on a regular basis AND i have puked all over myself, Im just like my 6 month old daughter!

ah man! Just being honest!