wet suit or Dry suit

I opt for the wetsuit. I wear water proof bibs and jacket over it in the salt or rain. I like the idea of added flotation as well. I paid for the custom built Harvey 3mil farmer john with relief zipper.

I've never worn a dry suit, but from what I understand, they are not meant for long periods of emersion (at least for the fishing versions.) And I would be pissed the second I realized that I accidentally put a hook through a $450 multicolored trash bag 

Plus I get to use my wetsuit for sniping pickers out of the creek.

Its not a garbage bag and it's immersion.

Whtever you use it might be good to see if you can swim gracefully in it, I was always awkward swimming in a drysuit even w fins

Watching a guy's yak sink and then watching him struggle to keep his face above water made me take these things a bit more seriously

I started diving with wetsuits and eventually spent the 200% extra for a drysuit and it was worth it when spending hours in water that was 48 degrees or less. But was more difficult to use and maneuver in while in the water and much more difficult to swim in for any distance at all.

If I was on the east coast in frigid waters a dry suit would be the best option as it is difficult to operate a kayak with a 7mm wetsuit (been there and done that). For sea touring a dry suit also makes a lot of sense as one can be rolled and still a long way from a place to haul out and get warm and dry.

For fish kayaking on the left coast a 3mm wetsuit is enough to keep ones mental faculties while immersed in the water and to be able to get back onto the kayak if flipped. If I was separated from the boat while in the surf I would have a much easier time getting to the kayak in a wetsuit as there is uniform buoyancy and no air pockets as with a dry suit.

Lastly I find a dry suit too hot for use fishing on a kayak. I get hot even with a farmer john wetsuit with a loose necked top during the cool overcast days much less bright sunny hot ones.

I opt for the wetsuit. I wear water proof bibs and jacket over it in the salt or rain. I like the idea of added flotation as well. I paid for the custom built Harvey 3mil farmer john with relief zipper.

I've never worn a dry suit, but from what I understand, they are not meant for long periods of emersion (at least for the fishing versions.) And I would be pissed the second I realized that I accidentally put a hook through a $450 multicolored trash bag 

Plus I get to use my wetsuit for sniping pickers out of the creek.

Sorry about the typo. Sometimes it comes out phonetically when going fast.


Its not a garbage bag and it's immersion.

The suit is for safety right? In a bad situation like whitecaps, a gale and you are separated from your boat, the wetsuit will save your bacon. If you have a drysuit on and take in water, you are going to be miserable and probably hypothermic when help arrives ( unless you have a wetsuit under your drysuit )

And a good jacket and bibs will keep you bone dry and break the wind across your knees. Get hot; shed the jacket. Roll down the top, roll up the legs and dip your feet. None of this affects your safety adversely. Get hot in a drysuit, what are you going to do, have a pile of laundry on the back of your boat?

As far as pricing goes, don't skimp for cheaper. A good fj with relief zipper, good booties, quality bibs and a storm jacket will cost quite a bit more than a kokatat suit, but (I think anyways) that the cost is worth it if nice weather turns crappy quick.

Do your homework and make the decision based on safety.

Plus if a shark bites your ass, wetsuits help keep you together!

I've used both wet suit and dry suit. I scuba dive, too, and used both wet suit and dry suit. I've also done whitewater rescue trainings using a semi-dry suit and a dry suit. I don't exactly like having a wet but, either.

 From personal experience, either the semi dry suit or dry suit will always be safer if you fall in the water and get separated from your boat. Of course, you have to be wearing a proper PfD, too. I understand that dry suits cost more but how much do you value your life?

Overall, the dry suit pays for itself. If we lived in warmer waters, wet suit would be fine. That's my $.03.

Wet suites are so uncomfortable and it rubs the skin and chaffs. The dry suite will  give your protection and allows you to pee.  That is a major consideration for yakers over 60.   I have been in my kayak for 8 to 10 hours and I honestly don't think I could do that in a wet suit. 

SO I use a 3mm farmer John. I flipped my yak in the Albion Open and my trip was over. had I had a dry suit I could have continued to fish, well if I had another fishing pole that is. If I had the money I would for sure get a dry suit.

I pee out of my wetsuit all the time, no problem. Relief zipper and nice soft interior too. I do use the golden rainbow technique which you old guys may have a problem with.

 

Wet suites are so uncomfortable and it rubs the skin and chaffs. The dry suite will  give your protection and allows you to pee.  That is a major consideration for yakers over 60.   I have been in my kayak for 8 to 10 hours and I honestly don't think I could do that in a wet suit. 

SO I use a 3mm farmer John. I flipped my yak in the Albion Open and my trip was over. had I had a dry suit I could have continued to fish, well if I had another fishing pole that is. If I had the money I would for sure get a dry suit.

No matter what you wear you should be able to climb back in your kayak in 30 seconds or less. That will help keep the coldness down. Once back in your boat, just start paddling till you get warm, and don't stop till you are. You will warm up from the energy you are using.

Rayon and I take that remark as a challenge to give you a golden shower Rob!

I did not say shower!

When I decided last year that I wanted to fish in the ocean I bought a 7mm full wetsuit in case of accidental immersion.  I chose a wetsuit primarily because it was much less expensive than a drysuit.  However I appreciated its insulating ability when I spent about 30 minutes in San Pablo Bay because I couldn't right my SOT which had filled with water due to leaking hatches.   After reading many positive things about drysuits I bought one several months ago.  I found that I overheated easily in it and that the rubber gaskets were very uncomfortable (especially the one around my neck!) even after trying to stretch them.  Also, if I had been wearing a drysuit I would have probably become hypothermic after 30 minutes in the ocean unless I had been wearing a lot of warm insulating clothing under it, which would have made it even hotter on top of the kayak.  Since then I have worn my wetsuit about 20 times on ocean paddles and I haven't worn my drysuit at all. 

I've been diving for along time. The thickness of the suit was measured in fraction of inches back when I started. I always had a 3/8ths suit or a 7mm. If you don't think you'll get cold it a wetsuit you are crazy. Or just really not that experienced with the product.

It's like Ford, Chevy and Dodge.  You like what you like and one may be better for one thing than another but all have multi uses. 

I have two semi dry wetsuits.  In between a plain wetsuit and a dry suit and have been pretty good so far.  Only time I got cold was when I was 30' underwater but warmed up as soon as I got back up.  I originally did not think this would work for kayak fishing but I am getting more used to the idea because I can just jump in the water to cool off. 

Thanks all for your input and personal experiences on why you think one is better than another.  I do like the idea of a relief zipper but once I got past the idea of peeing inside my suit things got better on longer trips. 

I tried to wear a turtle neck once back in the 80s or whenever that was supposed to be in style and just hatted the feeling on my neck so not sure how a gasket will feel.  I also over heat real quick so still on the fence about an immersion suit.  I do think there are situations one would be a better option so looking at expanding my options just so I can pick my clothing based on water loc and weather.