Freestyle Dry suit vs wet suit

[sportfish258]

I realize this has been covered , but the search did not reveal much . Let me also state that I don't want to hear from tough guys . I'm fully aware there are some that can take the cold and ride frozen lakes wearing only leopard print speedo's ...... you guys please refrain from posting .... and please NO pics.


I HATE BEING COLD ! it's not that I can't handle it .... it's just that I choose not to . Cold to me is generally anything below 45 degrees . My dry suit ( barefoot international ) needs new gaskets so I'm thinking about trying something new . i really want to hear from guys that have had both . I understand that the Rip curl f bomb and others like that are fantastic . Others really like their upper end dry suits .

What I'm looking for in this order:


WARMTH : I'm not worried about getting to hot . I've never heard of someone getting heat stroke in 40 degree water so to hot is out of the question and just plain silly IMO .

Flexibility : Don't want to use all my energy just trying to move .

Easy to enter and exit : Don't want to have to hire someone at the ramp to help me get in and out ( rear entry dry suits )

Durable : Not going to log the north slope in it , but want it to last .


Ok Class ...... once again ...... ONLY those that have used both . I realize you may have known or heard of a guy in the greater Niagara area who had an uncle whose brothers second cousin by marriage said ...... Thanks for sharing , but I'm really looking for first hand knowledge .

 

[Matt_E]

I've used three different approaches in cold water, in this order:

1. Double up two standard wetsuits. It's just barely okay for warmth and severely restricts mobility.

2. Drysuit (with booties). Awesome for keeping you warm and for the most part, dry. You get to choose how warm it keeps you by choosing the clothes you wear in it. The suit itself doesn't keep you warm, only dry. I have used the old Slippery drysuit and a newer OS Systems suit. Both were very good and easy to don & doff by yourself. You definitely have to be careful in how you treat the suit if you want it to last.
Mobility is so-so. Certainly better than two wet suits, but it can still get awkward trying to swim in it.

3. Good quality cold water surf wetsuit. My favorite so far (Ripcurl F-Bomb, 4/3). It keeps you very warm and the core area stays fairly dry, too. Mobility is excellent. The one thing I don't like about it is putting it on. It can be difficult to squeeze in it.

 

[snowxr]

When it gets really cold here I wear my wetsuit inside my Yamaha drysuit. It's pretty thin, and doesn't restrict movement at all. The top and bottom halves meet with a couple bands of rubbery material that get folded/rolled together to create a seal.

 

[sportfish258]

Says the man with 23,735 posts ..... What about the heaver 5/4 as far as flexibility ....... did I mention I hate being cold , in fact I just won't stand for it . I think we are going to break 23,736 tonight .

 

[Sospikey]

I pretty much agree with Matt. The dry suits I've used will keep you dry, are more sensitive to abuse but pretty easy to don. I use a NPX Assassin 5/3 when it's really cold (as in ice). The trick is (for me at least) is to keep hands and feet warm. I use Seasoft Stealth shoes and 3mm neoprene surfer gloves. By using a combined neoprene hood and vest you could make your semidry pretty close to dry.
There are semidrys with zipper cross you chest ( Ripcurls) which could help with the somewhat hard(er) task to get in the suit.
The trick to getting a semidry to work well (as for any neoprene suit) is to spend the time to get the best possible size for you, spend the money to get the most stretchy materials. A suit with thicker material will most likely feel less flexible, but a "cheap" 5/4 will most definitely limit your movements.

 

[Mark44]

I have used dry and wet, dry suits work great with wool socks and proper warm clothing. I have had OS systems and the Watcon dry suits, the Watcon suit worked the best for me and well worth the money.

 

[BruceSki]

When it gets really cold here I wear my wetsuit inside my Yamaha drysuit. It's pretty thin, and doesn't restrict movement at all. The top and bottom halves meet with a couple bands of rubbery material that get folded/rolled together to create a seal.

I run the same thing with a 4/3 under it. Works well and I think I only paid 70 bucks for the dry from a user on here. It is ripped at the wrist seal right now though. I need to get it fixed

 

[john zigler]

i have both. wet suits are good for warmer wearther / water, and a dry suit is just that. it keeps you dry, so you can wear warm clothes under it. i wear wool socks in mine to keep my feet warm.

i can set you up with a great dry suit, with booties, if you decide you need one.

zig

 

[WFO Speedracer]

urr: I am just saying

 

[SuperJETT]

The best part about a drysuit is when you aren't in the water, you warm up pretty quickly because you're not evaporating the water in/on the wetsuit.

hint hint: http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/94257-Slippery-Sub-zero-drysuit

 

[Roo]

i have both. wet suits are good for warmer wearther / water, and a dry suit is just that. it keeps you dry, so you can wear warm clothes under it. i wear wool socks in mine to keep my feet warm.

i can set you up with a great dry suit, with booties, if you decide you need one.

zig

i am interested, but the listing you have on watcon.com for the drysuit absolutely... BLOWS.

i would NEVER buy something based off that listing alone.

you want to push product, have a look at our website: http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/StoreFront.bok

video reviews and many details pictures for ALL apparel related items.


how do they run for sizing? bigger / smaller than marked?

any more pictures?

booties included but are they sealed / attached to the suit?

 

[Roo]

The best part about a drysuit is when you aren't in the water, you warm up pretty quickly because you're not evaporating the water in/on the wetsuit.

hint hint: http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/94257-Slippery-Sub-zero-drysuit

appealing for sure... any pics of the leaky / troubled area?

 

[steve-uk]

i have used both

first things first ... when you wear a dry suit .. try to remember not to pee!

Wet suits, if used correctly, as in first thing you do is pull the neck open so water gets in, whuch then warms you, will work great

once the temperature drops, or im going for a short ride i wear my dry suit, i like to wear track pants and a long sleeved top underneath

you do need to maintain dry suits and the joints will leak

i have had many dry suits and heres my preferences

Make sure the have rubber seals, no neoprene.... reason is neoprene seals makes them very similar to wet suits and WILL let the water in when you fall!

Make sure then have built in socks, this way you can wear your own socks underneath too... for me when my feet or hands get cold im done

i prefer a front zip, just for ease of getting in and out, but a rear zip, horizontal across the shoulders seems to give the best seal

on the zips... make sure its metal, plastic fail and leak... also treat the zips with soap so they continune to be easy to open and close

you can buy a cheap dry suit, they wont work well

Oh and dont forget with a dry suit, when you get in the water, open the neck seal and dip down in the water so the air comes out... other wise first time you come up you will look like and oversized bouy in the middle of the lake....

my current dry suit was a mid range priced one and works great, only complaint i have is i didnt get one with socks aside from that it works great

the biggest draw back of a dry suit is that you will loose flexibility, just because of the nature of a dry suit you will have more layers of clothes on

 

[Mark44]

i am interested, but the listing you have on watcon.com for the drysuit absolutely... BLOWS.

i would NEVER buy something based off that listing alone.

you want to push product, have a look at our website: http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/StoreFront.bok

video reviews and many details pictures for ALL apparel related items.


how do they run for sizing? bigger / smaller than marked?

any more pictures?

booties included but are they sealed / attached to the suit?

Back when we purchased ours off Randy at Watcon we called him and he fitted us. When we received them the fit and function was dead on.

 

[Matt_E]

Says the man with 23,735 posts ..... What about the heaver 5/4 as far as flexibility ....... did I mention I hate being cold , in fact I just won't stand for it . I think we are going to break 23,736 tonight .

Sorry, did not break 23,736 last night.
Thicker wetsuits will have less mobility, but some of that is mitigated by higher quality suits. My Ripcurl 4/3 is just as flexible as my Matrix 3/2, but much warmer.
I've used it in water temps in the mid 30's with air in the mid 20's. I wear neoprene socks, shoes, the suit, and a tour coat over it. No gloves though.
I like a wetsuit better than a drysuit, but not by much.

 

[baxt3r]

A little off topic, but if you have trouble getting a wetsuit off, try something like Body Glide or TriSlide. If triathletes use it to strip down in a hurry, I'm sure it will be good enough for the wetsuit crowd.

http://store.insideoutsports.com/browse.cfm/4,2314.html

 

[snowxr]

A little off topic, but if you have trouble getting a wetsuit off, try something like Body Glide or TriSlide. If triathletes use it to strip down in a hurry, I'm sure it will be good enough for the wetsuit crowd.

http://store.insideoutsports.com/browse.cfm/4,2314.html

Kevin, I found the perfect lube to help you in and out of your drysuit AND there's a bonus feature - it makes you warm.
http://www.astroglide.com/product-astroglide-warming.html

It's just for warming up cold p:censored:ssys - when the temps drop below 45 degrees, lol.

 

[john zigler]

i am interested, but the listing you have on watcon.com for the drysuit absolutely... BLOWS.

i would NEVER buy something based off that listing alone.

you want to push product, have a look at our website: http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/StoreFront.bok

video reviews and many details pictures for ALL apparel related items.


how do they run for sizing? bigger / smaller than marked?

any more pictures?

booties included but are they sealed / attached to the suit?

thank you for the critisism ( really).

i have recently just aquired watcon ( from randy) and have all kinds of things i need / want to do to the site. your points are valid.

this is a great suit, front zip ( metal) with attached booties. if any one ios interested in ordering, PLEASE call, and i will help with fitting.

zig

 

[RedTurboMr2]

i just finished riding with a 4:3mm wetsuit "JetPilot Chamber", the weather was 35, not sure about the water, but i'm guessing around 40. My body was real warm, but wow, was my face ever frozen once i fell in
Hands were frozen, my gloves ain't made for cold "jetpilot gloves", I also don't have any socks, just the lil sock that's built in the Jetpilot reflex shoes. So i'm sure once i have good gloves, scuba socks and something over my head, i'll be warm. I bet i can go in 30 degree water with this suit, my legs, chest and arms were very warm.

 

[SuperJETT]

Being able to ride in the conditions is one thing, being stranded in the water is another. You have to be able to stay warm if you're entirely submerged and a 4/3 will not handle 40F water, no way.