Wet suit vs Dry Suit?

[canuck]

I am looking to extend my ride time. I live in Northern Ontario, Canada and once end of September hits air temperatures drop into the single Celsius digits and water temperatures are low 60s to high 50s. I could likely start riding in May, June where it is likely the same scenario.

Any recommendations on wet suit vs dry suit?
If wet suit, how many mm.

Cheers.

 

[Quinc]

Dry suit would be best and most comfortable. For a wetsuit I would go with farmer john style with 5/6mm bottoms and 3/4mm top. Also 3/4mm booties inside your shoes. And you can build a portable hot tub pretty cheap to get warmed up inbetween ride sessions.

 

[canuck]

Dry suit would be best and most comfortable. For a wetsuit I would go with farmer john style with 5/6mm bottoms and 3/4mm top. Also 3/4mm booties inside your shoes. And you can build a portable hot tub pretty cheap to get warmed up inbetween ride sessions.

Any dry suit brands you recommend? I used to scuba dive but I think they are likely a different makeup for ease of movement vs the Scuba ones.

 

[fastgtfairlane]

I have an oneill drysuit and love it. Takes some getting used to and very difficult to zip up by yourself. Also you have to dress for thr water temp. I have both a wet and dry suit. Milder Temps I'll wear the wetsuit, colder I'll put the dry on. And it's nice being dry underneath

 

[bird]

I ride year round if possible here in Wisconsin. I have a 5mm O'Neill Wet suit, 6mm Boots, 5mm Gauntlets and a 3mm headpiece. The only thing that ever gets cold is my throttle finger. I need to do the hot hands mod someday, then I would never get cold.

I got a Tour Coat, it's great for windy days and when you want pockets.

 

[canuck]

I have an oneill drysuit and love it. Takes some getting used to and very difficult to zip up by yourself. Also you have to dress for thr water temp. I have both a wet and dry suit. Milder Temps I'll wear the wetsuit, colder I'll put the dry on. And it's nice being dry underneath

What do you do for your head and feet if wearing a dry suit?

 

[fastgtfairlane]

Helmet, 3mm neoprene socks and normal riding shoes.

 

[fastgtfairlane]

I ride year round if possible here in Wisconsin. I have a 5mm O'Brien Wet suit, 6mm Boots, 5mm Gauntlets and a 3mm headpiece. The only thing that ever gets cold is my throttle finger. I need to do the hot hands mod someday, then I would never get cold.

I got a Tour Coat, it's great for windy days and when you want pockets.

Tour coats are sweet I'd like to have one. Work pretty well too

 

[canuck]

Helmet, 3mm neoprene socks and normal riding shoes.

Ok, next question, what helmet do you use. I see them all over with Freestyle riders but there is nothing local here, so any recommendations?

 

[TheBuzzard]

Dry suits suck. If you ride hard you sweat your ass off and end up being soaked anyway. I guess if you just putt around trying to keep warm a dry suit is best

 

[Quinc]

For a helmet check out the bell or troy lee full face mtb bike helmets. Almost no pads (wont hold water) and very light.

 

[Christian_83]

I ride in Denmark, north europe, where we used to ride in 0deg C water.
I used to have a drysuit, but like a wet suit. some water will come in if you ride freestyle - so i didnt find the dry suit to be ideal.
I switched to a GUL 6/5/4 winter wet suit (with integrated hood)This is sooo nice and warm, only thing it takes a bit more energy to move aroudn in, BC of the thick neoprene.
I now bougt a 5/4mm RIP curl wet suit with chest zip, this is better neoprene, more fleixble and really warm still.
My advice is go with a large brand winter wetsuit.
Rip curl, Billa Bong, quicksilver or any know surfbrand suit. These tend to use better neoprene and technology than jet pilot and yamaha crappy wet wuits.

 

[Christian_83]

For helment, i tried a few diff. Deffo find a MTB or downhill helmet.
I just got my 4 helent, a MET parachute. This is proberly the lighest both dry and wet. really nice.

 

[MADMAT]

IMO they are only good if your crew has them too!

 

[chelminski]

@Christian_83 If you’re wearing a hooded wetsuit, do you still use a helmet for freestyle? I assume the hood is about 3mm thick, so the helmet would need to be appropriately larger to fit.

 

[All]

Buy a Dry suit.

 

[chelminski]

Thanks for the advice, but that doesn’t solve my problem. What about head covering when we’d rather stay in a helmet? With no neoprene on the head, when icy water flows over, it’s not pleasant at all.

 

[All]

Thanks for the advice, but that doesn’t solve my problem. What about head covering when we’d rather stay in a helmet? With no neoprene on the head, when icy water flows over, it’s not pleasant at all.

Check out head hear for whitewater kayking, surfing and scuba diving. You want to contact a cold weather kayak shop, surf shop or a scuba shop. Maybe ice diving head gear.

Best season for whitewater kayaking here is March and April. Normally, I do not wear head gear cause my head is rarely in the water. If I do a wool winter ski cap and helmet does the trick.

 

[bird]

I wear a 3mm neoprene hood and a helmet when riding in cold months. I pulled the liner out of my GIRO mountain bike helmet to make more room.