If it doesn’t have booties don’t bother
There is nothing worse than cold wet feet. I have an NRS Extreme Drysuit that has served me well. I use it a lot, and I am tough on zippers, but I keep going back. For a couple of hundred buck more than the O’Neill, you can get an NRS Extreme with a latex neck gasket and booties.
http://www.nrs.com/product/22512/nrs-extreme-relief-drysuit-closeout
Clarification
You referred to a neoprene neck gasket but I think you meant latex? Hopefully you didn’t get a semi-drysuit then trim the neoprene neck gasket. Anywho, as to the original poster’s question; drysuit, no brainer. 45 degree water is cold and when you end up in it you’ll be oh so glad you have on a drysuit. I second the Kayak Academy recommendation. I just bought a brand new Hydrus front entry with relief zipper and booties from them for $500. Most people want $400 to $500 for their USED suits and this one is brand spanking new with Kokatat’s robust lifetime warranty. Plus, the folks at KA are a super class act. You’ll find their stuff on ebay and paddling gear swaps such as the one on Boatertalk as well as their web site.
disagree on the neck gasket
That’s one feature the user has to determine for himself, the personal variability is too great to draw broad conclusions.
Which is exactly what I said - reread
"…That is something you need to find out by getting wet. Some people do find a semi-dry neck gasket works decently for them if they get back in the boat quickly enough, then there are chicken necks like me who really need a full latex gasket to achieve the same effect."
That’s what she said, at least
in my interpretation of her comments.
JINX!
dry suit w/ built in socks
In temps below 55, a dry suit feels so much better. You won’t regret that.
The O’Neil doesn’t have built in booties, but instead latex seals at the ankles. Booties are a lot easier and two less latex gasket to break (most common problem with dry suits is broken latex gaskets).
Neoprene can be fine if the neck seals nicely. I have one with neoprene neck and it is a lot more comfortable than my latex. Only a little wetter when rolling. Neoprene neck ones are often called Paddling Suits - check Kokatat for what they have. I don’t think they are much more than the O’Neil.
Different subject - with the Trak, make sure you always have float bags. I had one. Early in my ownership, I went to practice rescues. The boat nearly sank on me, as it doesn’t have any built in flotation. Your clothing options are meant to give you time to get back in to the boat - what you’d need to be wearing if your boat sank and you were swimming to sore is much different…
At Montrose beach
Hi RobbW,
I’m right off Montrose Beach in Chicago. Just got my Trak this summer. Looking to go out to the Kankakee too.
thanks
Thanks for the point blank answer about the dry suit. There are so many pros and cons to each it seems without actually using either.
I was just watching the DamNation documentary on netflix and saw pretty much everyone around 15 minutes let was wearing a kokatat dry suit. That just made me think its probably the route to go as well.
What water temps would you stop using a dry suit, given the air temps was warmish (70+)?
So you think getting a dry suit first would be best then fill in where you need later for more comfort.
As far as shortening my season I haven’t went out once the water dipped below 62°F due to the possibility of taking a dip. Lake MI can get pretty gnarly at times without a warning once you get a hundred yards off the shore. Check out these images and video of halloween on the lake. http://brianyork.net/high-winds-and-big-waves-on-lake-michigan/
Thanks
Thanks for the insight into the drytop/pants combo still letting water in (or at least potentially). I wasn’t sure about that or if it would be comfortable given you would have two seals at your waist as opposed to none with the suit.
Kokatat is definitely the way to go it seems. (literally just saw the Oneil suit) The internet is very loud and expressive about not going with anyone else. This is what happens when you make a good product and stand behind it and don’t worry about cost so much like corporate america tends to get overly concerned about hitting specific price points for goods.
Good catch on the spray skirt tunnel
Good catch on the spray skirt tunnel. I guess thats why a lot of the reviews were toward jet skis and not kayaking. Does the waist attachment from using both the top and bottom every become bothersome or restrictive?
Thanks
Thanks for the feedback. I have a slightly smaller neck so probably sticking with the latex is best.
As far as the pool. I have gotten wet (never by accident though) and am perfectly fine with self rescue don’t feel the need to practice that. It was in warmer water. I also have lived around boats and water my whole life. First time owning a sea kayak myself and having one on lake michigan. I’m not wanting clothing to hope it will be useful rather to be safe and smart. Safe and smart now has been not going out for the past month or so. However when May comes around I’d like to be able to get back out and not have to wait till the water became ideal as thats only about a 3 month window here in chicago.
Usually it’s OK
I don’t feel restricted by the connection. The only time that it bothers me is when I really have to pee. Then it can be bothersome to separate them in a hurry. If the dry pants had a relief zipper it wouldn’t be a problem at all though.
pretty quick / Wool vs Capilene/Syntheti
Pretty quick 1-2 minutes seated and ready to go at most. Something I did pretty naturally the first time some how.
I fluctuate between 135 and 160 lbs, less in the summer and 5’10". Less than 8% body fat. I’d be pretty cold if I were that woman. I don’t like may apartment temp colder than 70 in tshirt and jeans. … probably answered my own question there haha dry suit and all the wool thermal underneath.
That brings me to another question. I prefer wool over something like patagonia capilene. Would wool be fine under a dry suit?
Bootie shoes?
The booties seems weird from a never using them standpoint although yes cold feet is the worst. What kind of shoes do you wear with them when paddling?
no, it really is not
A find a neo neck gasket will keep me dry in a swim. not “if I get back into my boat fast enough”.
You can thank guideboatguy for obsessing on what each of us meant. But I stand by my opinion on neo neck gaskets - for some they will keep you dry in a swim. But they won’t work for everyone.
no, sorry, see above
I don’t need a qualifier such as “if I get into the boat fast enough”.
Float bags
Wouldn’t go out without the float bags! I also use the sea sock which I find to be key as well. It also has a great side effect of keeping the inside of the skin real nice and clean if you happen to be around sand / dirt / muddy water.
Regular paddling shoes
Or something like the Chota mukluks. Just buy them a bit larger than you would get for warmer weather paddling without a suit with booties.
You bet.