What’s the difference?
The gaskets
– Last Updated: Apr-27-07 1:45 PM EST –
Dry=latex neck gasket
Semi-dry = neoprene neck gasket
amount of water YOU are willing to deal
with…
semi dry will probably get water internally via neck gaskets and arm gaskets and maybe also around the bottom…since no parts are too tight on you these are usually more comfortable…you can tighten the arms/neck with straps…
retail is usually 150$ or less depending on lots…
dry…designed to get no water through the arms/neck…usually the waist is tighter/more impervious to water working through your layers…
if you are allergic to latex look out…most dry tops are made with latex gaskets…there are some dry stops/suits out there now with heavy duty neoprene gaskets that do the same function as a latex one but are more comfortable…
retail usually above 150$ or so…depending on make/intended usage/materials etc…
If you take a swim
One is intended to keep you dry and the other to keep you only partially dry or resist water for a very short time, probably less than the length of the swim. The terms associated with kayak clothing are one of the few bright spots of clarity in the language - they tend to mean pretty much exactly what they describe.