So now you’re assuming…
...that Inukshuk would never use his dry suit (if he buys one) in the winter or in cold enough water to need it? Again, you're changing the situation and exaggerating in order to try to justify your argument. Try addressing the original question instead.
Nylon Dog Leash…
I bought one of the Canadian military drysuits from E-bay last year. The neck zipper goes around the back of my neck, what I use is a
2-foot long nylon dog leash clipped to the pull so I can work the zipper by myself. When on the water I keep the leash in the front hatch.
David in Niles
Assumption!!!
The original quetion:
I’m planning on paddling until the end of october or before the air temperature drops to 0°C (32°F).<
Now, who’s assunming that he definitely WILL?
ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE WETSUIT
If we put aside the danger of hypothermia, will a wetsuit protect you effectively against a cold shock if you capsize ?
Related Experience, Maybe…
Last year, at a winter surf session, I got sucked out of boat and trashed a number of times by the waves. I had a full drysuit and a fuzzy rubber hood and 3 mm neo hood over that for my head.
In retrospect, I know I was relatively calm and trying to stay relaxed and to work with the waves to get to shore. I also remember that I was breathing very fast and felt I couldn't get enough air. More than I should for the relative effort I was putting out. I had a definitive "ice cream headache." Under my drysuit, I was totally dry and warm with insulation. It was just my face, neck and head that were getting repeated hits with 33 degree water. I have no doubt that I would have had a much tougher time in a wetsuit. I just bought a 5 mm hood with neck gaunlet and a cinch gasket around the face to get more protection for the head this year. Whenever I paddle in the winter, one of the first thing I do is to splash some cold water on my face to acclimate. Supposedly, this helps minimize cold shock.
sing
It depends on the type, fit & thickness
A loose fitting, 3mm farmer John, as is commonly worn for paddling, is next to useless as protection against cold shock if worn alone. Water simply infiltrates to too much of the body too quickly. I’ve found much the same thing with a well fitted 3mm full wetsuit in 40 degree water. A well fitted, full wetsuit of adequate thickness for the water temp should provide cold shock protection. I’ve never experienced it with my dive suit, but it fits so well that it lets in almost no water.
As Sing pointed out, head and neck protection are critical. I had a nasty episode with gasp reflex in 50-ish degree water when wearing a drytop and fleece and simply submerging my head during a sculling demonstration. I posted it here and you should be able to find it by searching on “gasp reflex”.