Gearing up for the winter

[Suz]

This morning I answered a question of a friend who wanted to know what I wear under my dry suit... After the necessary silliness back and forth, I got serious and offered up the following information but extended it to offer info on my favorite pogies, gloves and stuff.

Here is what I wrote:

You vary the weight of your long underwear based on temps and wear nothing that interferes with going to the bathroom.

Do you ski? I find that I tend to dress the same way but for skiing, I dress slightly warmer as it isn't as active and you have all that down time on the chair lift.

I tend to wear heavy weight long undies on the bottom and lighter on the top. BUT, I have seen that others will put on a really heavy zip up fleece type jacket on top over the long underwear top. The most I have ever worn is a thin capilene on top and then a heavier expedition weight one. Some people buy the one piece liners from Kokatat - in the $100 range but the individual pieces are too. A quality top and bottom will run you about $50 each. My very favorite long undies are Patagonia's, you can buy them directly from Patagonia - their expedition weight are just gorgeous and plush and they last forever without piling. I have some that I have had for over 10 years skiing. I think that it is more practical to wear separates rather than a onesie as you can wear the separates doing just about anything. Patagonia's long undies: [http://www.patagonia.com/za/PDC/Pgonia/store/shop.jsp?cgrfnbr=366040&merchant_rn=7385]

You should start looking at gloves, pogies and hoods. I usually have two pairs of gloves with me but traditionally only wear one. I like to have a dry back up in my hatch. My favorite is to wear a thin pair of neoprene gloves from NRS and then one pogie that I share between the two hands. These are my very favorite pogies: [http://www.bombergear.com/5070.html] I didn't think I would be able to wear them as I get claustrophobic and I was afraid of being trapped on the paddle but I find they are perfectly wonderful. Mine developed a small fray on the back of the hand after a couple of months of use - bomber gear sent me a new pair right away w/o waiting for me to send them back for their review - they did this w/o charging me for the replacement pair AND send me a return slip. MMmmm, I am thinking now that maybe it was NRS that did all that on behalf of Bomber Gear.

I tend not to wear a hat unless it is really cold - like windy and below 20. I ALWAYS have it handy to put it on - I keep a wind stop fleece hat (has a gore tex layer inside) it is always shoved inside my pfd down my chest (yes, it makes me look like Mae West but is always there if I get cold. I also like a wind stop "neck up" which I made. I tend to put a hat on when we stop paddling. I also always have my ras dex handy to put on - in the winter I keep it in my day hatch.

So, after I sent that off, I started looking at Patagonia's website and found that they have a specials section with LOTS of long undies on sale! They say they are all first quality and they have some that are $30. The downside is that the tops wouldn't match the bottoms but who cares about that?? [http://www.patagonia.com/store/specials/]

If anyone has any cold weather favorites that they use or things that they do, post them here so we can all get ready for the cool weather.

Suzanne

[djlewis]

> I tend to wear ... lighter on the top. BUT, I have seen that others

> will put on a really heavy zip up fleece type jacket on top over the

> long underwear top. The most I have ever worn is a thin capilene on

> top and then a heavier expedition weight one.

I wear a light or medium fleece ~vest~ over one or two polypro layers, at least one of which has long sleeves (so my arms don't directly contact the inside of the dry suit). I feel the vest gives me insulation in the "core" but does not interfere arm freedom the way a full fleece jacket might, especially under a dry suit.

For even more insulation, I add a heavier polypro or medium poly/wool long underwear top. (I'm not convinced that an extra layer of pure polypro/capilene adds any insulation, the way a wool or fleece layer does.)

--David.

[rick stoehrer]

when david says he is wearing 2 tops and a fleece, that's exactly what you want to do.

layer your polypro. the first layer will wick away moisture from your skin (okay, perspiration) and stay "dry" as the next layer does the same till the moisture is up against the membrane of the drysuit. what you'll find is that the layer closest to you is liable to be dryer than the layer closest to the dry suit. this is because even though goretex (or whatever brand name breathable fabric of choice in your dry suit) says it breathes....yeah, better than nylon but that's no where near as much breathability as the poly and so the outside layer of poly breathes it right out to a less breathable membrane and as a result just gets wet as the goretex (or whatever) can't keep up with the osmosis (is that right, the transfer of water across a membrane, osmosis, yeah?)

if you were to wear only a single layer beneath the dry suit, the "wetness" wouldn't really have anywhere to go and while the poly would keep you warm enough, it's liable to cling to you more and it can get a little cooler and distracting as you feel it in your suit.

a really light layer and then layer the poly weights according to temp (water/air) and not just the air temp over that and you will be snug as the proverbial bug.

make sense?

[Walter]

I agree with the layering.

I use Pantgonia long johns (also used for sking, they have lasted longer than I care to tell you(:-))) and then add fleece top and pants as needed and carry a wind breaking breathable jacket.

Those interested in a great price on fleece tops and bottoms try Wal Mart(sorry Liz) $15.50 each, for both that's $31.00(:-)). You can also try them on to get the correct fit.

I also use a nylon with fleece backed vest(it is thin) for really cold days.

All the above is under a BREATHABLE PALM DRY SUIT.

Those interested in a great price and great service on a breathable dry suit call(800-286-0083) and see Doug Gray(owner)at Billington Sea Kayak(http://www.billingtonseakayak.com/).

Palm dry suit was $395 w/ no feet, with breathable material feet it is another $100. That's a total of $500. By the way I take an XXL(there was no extra charge for the larger size).

The advantage of buying at a store is that you can try it on. No return or restocking charges if it does not fit. Also, they are located on the Billington Sea. You can walk right into the water to make sure there are no leaks before you take it home or you can demo your next kayak(GREAT SALES going on, web site http://www.billingtonseakayak.com/)and try the suit out doing wet exits and/or rolling.He has a great line of kayaks.

He also carries the more expensive KOKATAT.(KOKATAT wanted $1200 for the same suit. OUCH!)

Make sure you tell Doug that you are a member of NSPN.

Keep a paddle in the water. Stay warm and comfortable by layering under a breathable dry suit in cold conditions(:-)).

Walter

Impex Serenity

Sunburst / Ivory

[bethany]

Don't forget them piggly wigglies. Test our your layers before leaving the house because you need warm feet inside of whatever drysuit footies you have, and then all this needs to fit into your paddling footwear -- if you're attempting to use paddling footwear you bought on the small size for a close neoprene fit for example, or too narrow shoes, etc. and you cram all this in there, you will be at risk as your feet will end up COLD.

Speaking of cold digits, does anyone else in the club have Raynaud's?

--b