Chest zipper is long enough?
something else must be a whopper. (John Holmes died about 20 years ago)I have two drysuits, a Kokatat and a “B” pod and I sure couldn’t use the chest zipper for “relief”. I sent my "B pod in and had a relief zipper installed. Best money I ever spent.
I have never had to go while in my boat
but my dry suit has a front zipper and when out of the boat I do not need relief zipper. I would get booties and not worry about the zipper. I would also only buy a front zipper dry suit but that is just me.
That’s funny!
Actually, men with short torso’s for the size drysuit they have, have an easier time using the front entry zipper for relief… Problem is that you still need to take off your life jacket and your skirt so that you can use that means of relief.
Suz
For a while, Stohlquist was advertising
the chest zip was long enough to make a pee zip not necessary. But then the lifejacket and spraydeck get in the way of the fishing tackle, so off they come. Another buddy bought bibs without a pee zip. After 3 hours in the boat he was desperate. Absolutely desperate. We landed and kit was flying. Life jacket, spray deck, drytop (which had to be unrolled as it was a Kokatat), then the bibs headed south. All this stuff was lying on the kelp, just so he could take a pee.
Dogmaticus
NRS
NRS had a model at about half price so I bought it. They run large. Very large. No need for a relief zipper. There’s plenty of room to unzip and bring the pee cup INTO the suit.
haven’t found a pee zip
neccesary. Aaron and I have 3 full seasons on our drysuits. I pee before putting it on, and I think in 3 years(100 2-7 hour paddles) I’ve had to “pop the top” maybe 3 times; no big deal, good to take a break anyways, stretch, get some air.
Woyd(s) o’ advise…
Fer all ye dudes wit relief zippers - be very, very careful dat yer "man skeg" (or rudder, watever ye prefer) be fully retracted an' stowed before yer zip back up. Gadzooks, dem big waterproof zippers kin do a partial Lenora Babbitt on yer.... duck tape ta de rescue.
FE
IMO, a relief zip is mandatory, as are…
…booties, either Gore-Tex or latex. I’ve owned suits with and without them and I would not be without either one again. The other feature I like is a double tunnel, which is really just a flap that goes over the spray skirt tunnel.
- relief and booties
Think of it this way, catergogregory99, without the releif zipper, you’ll be stretching the neck gasket on and off repeatedly, ruining the neck gasket to take a whizz.
The booties are, in a word, mandatory.
guess my prostates
still in good shape! Plus i sweat a bit with my paddling/poling style, which must provide bladder relief. never needed a pee zip, and find after awhile, the suit goes on and off real easy.
Try this…
http://www.bodyboatblade.com/else-clearance.php5
Full lifetime warranty on these even if used. For a very reasonable fee, they can be sent in to Kokatat, tested for leaks and necessary repairs made.
relief zip + feet
my first dry suit had no pee zipper
I sold it at the end of the season and got one with. Totally worth the extra $
warranty
I have a 2nd hand Kokatat suit, and I thought the warranty was not transferable. I’d be happy if I were wrong though. Does anyone know if the lifetime warranty even applies to used suits?
It has nothing to do with prostate…
…and everything to do with staying properly hydrated. If you’re drinking enough to avoid dehydration, you’ll need to pee several times during the day.
not getting into
a pissing contest with you, but I don't paddle all day. I stay hydrated and generally paddle/pole 2-5 hours. 3 disrobings in 140 runs, none really neccesary. At $35 per disrobing, I don't have the need for a zip. Know your habits and buy accordingly. Next suit won't have a zip either, just something else to get messed up imho.
Do you recommend…
…attaching a sort line to the skeg in case it gets stuck?
agree with Kudzu
nrs runs really big. easy to get a bottle in to do your business.
pay now or later …hmmm. lift skirt up, reach and pull zipper up. Insert bottle. done.
saved a few bucks.
Paul
having said that, a relief zipper would be much easier. Just don’t think you should limit your paddling years saving up for the extra feature if you can’t afford it.
And I see…
…that spending the money now gives me more time on the water.
Exactly
what i would recommend. I am very partial to Kokatat because of quality and their great reputation for warranty issues and repair. Also made in the USA!!!