Wetsuit vs Drysuit in winter?

hiker1 · Since 01 Jul 2007 125 Posts Portland Stoked

Without mentioning brands - as I know brand wars are against forum rules - I'm just asking your opinion in general about kiting using a wetsuit vs drysuit in the winter.

From many years windsurfing the Gorge in the fall/early spring, I never wore a drysuit or even gloves. Usually I'm very comfortable in a 5/4 wetsuit with a fleece layer underneath + hood through November. Starting again in late March, the river typically is in the mid 40's, and I was just about too cold. I've also noticed that approaching age 50, I'm not as chill tolerant as I used to be.

My 5/4 is thrashed so now I'm pondering is it worth kicking in the extra $$$ for a good drysuit? Twice as expensive and I'd have to credit card it - way overspent building a quiver already. But life's short and I'm newly addicted to kiting, so don't want to slow down as temps drop. Considering my kite skill level, it would not be safe (yet) to kite Dec/Jan/Feb - but I will get better and of course there is the coast. At the very least, I want to kite early spring and late fall comfortably warm.

For those of you who have kited with drysuits, is the added $$$ worth the ease, warmth, and convenience of not having to peel off (and dry out) soggy neoprene? How is the flexibility? Any down side to drysuits?

Thanks in advance for your kite wisdom! Very Happy

p.s. Time/$$$ restricts wintering in Baja - still have teenagers!

Sol-flyer · Wed Oct 08, 08 9:20 am

I prefer a wetsuit for a few factors,....

Floatation
Floatation
Floatation

ya cant be a ninja in a drysuit Wink

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

I got my first drysuit last year and don't look back on it one bit even though I didn't used it as much as expected. Still have to get the layering figured out though - Normally felt totally comfortable riding, but a bit cold in the water. Otherwise, they offer awesome wind chill protection while in the nukin' easterlies, and changing out of in 30-40 degree air isn't a biggie when you're dry! Thumb's Up

By the way, mine's an OR Pyro Surf. Wanted a tighter fitting suit, but it is a little more of a pain in the ass than others to get on.

P.S. - Sol, you can get even more floatation from a drysuit... Wink

hiker1 · Since 01 Jul 2007 125 Posts Portland Stoked

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Haven't tried a drysuit, but the main danger is blowing a gasket in the cold water. This is mainly a concern in the surf, which is why most coasties still rock the wetsuits (plus it's not as cold). You don't wanna get tumbled in the waves and have your drysuit fill with water. Not sure how well the surf specific drysuits handled this problem. Otherwise people seem to enjoy them. Just watch out for little holes and cuts since they have much more significant implications than a little tear in a wetsuit.

Nak · Wed Oct 08, 08 9:44 am

At the coast, I think conventional wisdom would dictate a wetsuit, or one of the OR surf drysuits. (Looks and swims like a wetsuit...)

In the river, I really prefer a drysuit when it starts getting cold. You can get decent ones fairly reasonable, the really good ones get pretty spendy. Gore-tex is probably the biggest feature that separates the two. Without Gore-tex, the suit is like wrapping yourself in saran wrap, you're going to sweat and your clothes will eventually become wet with the sweat. The OR Pyro Pro has a few Gore-tex panels and the guys I've talked too really like them. Medium high priced drysuit. I'm not sure about the warranty. The Kokatat suit is completely made with Gore-tex, and has a lifetime warranty against the Gore-tex leaking. I have one of these suits and I really, really like it. I stay warm and dry in some pretty miserable conditions, for extended periods of time. High priced suit.

A relief zipper (a way to take a piss without taking the suit off) makes a huge difference in your day. My old suit did not have one, so I never drank anything before going kiting. Being dehydrated while riding takes away a lot of the fun. Now, I don't worry about it. Seriously, it really makes a difference. Don't buy a suit without one, and plan to get one added. I tried with my old suit and found out it just won't work. The only exception is if the maker of the suit will add one for you. Oneil would not. Kokatat will for $140. (But only their suits.)

The good dry-suits have other features that make them more suited to kiteboarding; I won't go into them here. Just make sure you're getting a suit for water sports, and not diving.

Features to avoid: I don't like the built in socks or gloves.

If your winter sessions are going to be one hour or less, you can get by with a cheap drysuit. The longer your session, the more comfortable you'll be with a better dry-suit.

Edited to add: Another important feature is some kind of protection for the seals. Like velcro cuffs to keep the water from directly impacting the seals. This is a biggie I think.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

I've actually never really worn any gloves, booties, or a hood, though I think you really need them once the water gets into the low 40s to 30s.

And I don't know about other suits for sure, but it seems like booties are a must... Every time I've been out, a little water seems to make it's way past my ankle seals, regardless of how high I push them up.

I've been out with Jeff a couple times in high 30 degree water where he's gotten too hot (which at least is easy to fix), but it is possible.

hiker1 · Since 01 Jul 2007 125 Posts Portland Stoked

Nak · Wed Oct 08, 08 10:01 am

Nak · Wed Oct 08, 08 10:02 am

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

I have kited in nasty cold weather in this http://oceanrodeo.com/kiting/pyro_pro You can get in and out with out help of others as the entry zipper is in the front. It is designed and built on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Canadians know how to stay warm in cold weather. I have kited in 28 degree weather with a mild snowfall in this suit for several hours at a time. Layers of fleece and long johns is all you need, water never gets in....At the end of the day you go back to your car, take off you suit and put your jacket, you are warm and good to go.

I bought the drysuit from Oneill with the tight rubber bottom half and baggy top half two years ago, that suit sucks and is in my opinion dangerous. Not even 10 rolls of duct tape work with this suit. A salesman from ASI told me it was the way to go, I found out later that the guy never kited and "was interested in learning someday". Not one seal in the suit will tolerate any kind of crash or simple wipeout...allowing cold water to rush in. Not only are you cold as fuck you have the weight of 22 gallons of water to deal with. I have come in early from many sessions due to the leakage from that piece of shit. I was going to sell this O'neill suit on Ebay but decided that I could not place another person in that kind of danger....Sorry about the F bomb....I guess I am still not over that piece of crap.

Bottom line purchase this high quality dry suit from Ocean Rodeo it is the ONLY way to go to keep toasty warm for multiple hour sessions, put it on your credit card like you said life is short.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4910 Posts Portland Unstrapped

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4910 Posts Portland Unstrapped

The hoodie also helps to keep the cold wind off your neck

Nak · Wed Oct 08, 08 10:19 am

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 537 Posts Oregon Addicted

Ripcurl is introducing a wetsuit with a battery powered heater that heats the back. seems like a nice compromise to get a bit more warmth out of a wetsuit but have the security vs a drysuit. not sure on price or availability.

vangondc · Wed Oct 08, 08 10:46 am

I have worked in a drysuit for for the better part of the last 15 years teaching river rescue, rafting and kayaking, I love them. Here are some thought I have:

-pee zip is worth every penny
-I wouldn't recomend it in the ocean (not sure why as I have had some giant trashings on rivers, maybe because if something does go wrong shore is much harder to get to)
-Gore tex is the best but very $$$ but your sweat doesn't build up on the inside of the suit.
-There is maintence, working in mine I had to replace my seals every year, these days every other.
-I wore mine all spring here in HR, starting last week in Feb., and friends on the beach were often amazed that I had warm hands when I was done, no gloves.
-I have never tore a seal in the water, but could happen, it always seams to happen when you are far from home and your wet suits not there.
-Duct Tape!!! It will fix a seal in a pinch. I have finshed a couple of very remote week long wilderness run in Canada on a broken seal and duct tape.
-Latex Booties: they are the best! Think about it, warm sock covered feet are way nicer than wet cold feet in a bootie, plus the regular seals likes to remove the hair of your leg and then it will proceed to tear in two. They are deviant little devils.
-lastly, They are good for many temps depending on what you wear. Thin polypro to winter type pile or thinsulate coats and pants. Yummmmmm Nice and warm.

Hope that helps.