why three numbers for one suit?
My gear
1. drysuit: breathable and with booties prefered.
2. neoprene or poly hood/balaclava
3. nrs surf mitts (gloves and pogies don’t cut it for me)
4. winter weight bike tights on bottom, a couple layers of poly on top
with the above i can paddle in snowmelt water with below freezing air temps comfortably. i’ve paddled a low 30’s water temp creek directly into lake superior, beached the boat on shore, and floated on my back long enough to finish a couple beers with my friends, gently bobbing in slushy waves.
the seventh post down
gives more information:
“by cold im saying hi 30s to low, mid 40s typical winter day in south indiana with water in the hi 30s most likely. im out for 2 to 6 hrs at a time”
while i agree
that im not planing on getting soaked i dont roll my rec boat… but being new to the canoe i have to plan on possibly falling in and want to make it home to paddle another day … im not going to be hard core i dont care if the ice is thick paddler but i want to paddle my lakes and slow rivers much later in the seasons i guess id probably paddle the yak skirted with a dry top… and keep a change of clothes in case the woops happened… someone once told me to burn a small candle in a coffee can between your legs while kayaking and you would stay warm as toast…
sleeves,legs,core?
Not positive, but I think that’s how it works. I love stepping out of my dry suit looking like I’m ready for church, while my wet-suited buds are hiding under towels and behind cars trying to change;-).
that way
you can have your kayak, and heat it too
drysuits for us
We got drysuits this summer for this winters paddling. I just like the idea of finishing a trip & being basically dry (not worried about sweating). We have FJ wetsuits as well, but Dh went in 45 degree water last winter and decided he wanted more protection.
If anyone’s interested…REI Outlet has a couple of drysuits for around $300.
Sorry…I’m always huntin’ fer bargains!
kari
NRS surf mitts
I did not see surf mitts. I saw toaster mitts.
Sale
NRS is having a sale on dry suits right now. I’m not sure when it ends. I live in Minnesota and in the winter the dry suit is the only wat to go.
my bad
yup, they’re the toaster mitts.
a 3/2 suit
means 3 mm in the body core, where less flex is needed, and 2 mm in the legs.
Since kayakers generally don’t use a wetsuit with arms, that being too restrictive for the constant arm/shoulder motion, the body core/leg thicknesses are of most use to us.
Hydroskin
I have arthrytis and find my wetsuit to be almost impossible to take off on “bad days”. Hydroskin, especially in two-piece setups is much easier.
Thanks!
Just ordered a whitewater dry suit from REI-Outlet. Less than $350 shipped. The wife let me do it, so it must be be a good deal 
both
– Last Updated: Oct-26-07 10:13 PM EST –
just kind of medium cool-- 65-55a full length farmer john wetsuit with a paddling jacket---weather gets real cool 30--40 degrees or less an NRS drysuit with long underwear and polar fleece
dry suit
I wear Hot chilly long underwear,rain pants and a fleece vest or pull over then I jump into dry suit
Use a skull cap on cold and windy days I hate the for head brain freeze. Other wise I use a Fleece hat and neoprene gloves.
For the feet neoprene socks and booties
Barry
Photo?
Wanna see what I’m missing out on! I’m sure it’s special. 
As a Led Zep song kinda goes…
“I come from the land of the ice and snow, where the midnight sun and the COLD winds blow…”
Drysuit, preferably Gore-Tex. Hands, Head, Feet, etc., as mentioned above by others. It’s the WATER temp and not the AIR temp that makes the formerly invincible and arrogant paddler suddenly realize his extremities are too heavy to self-rescue his/her now brain damaged butt. I may go cheap on a boat from time to time, but I would never, ever go cheap when it comes to potentially hypothermic paddling conditions.
PS - If they really, really love you at Christmas/Channukah/Kwanza/Festivus – Then absolutely urge them to spring for that Kokatat/NRS suit and polar fleece. Or just have 'em cough up a plane ticket to the Bahamas.
Size
I believe that when you purchase a drysuit you have to take in account how much you will wear under it. Thus, the size you choose will have to be increased for the extra clothes you wear under it in winter. Unless I am mistaken, you have to try it on before ordering to determine the correct size. If any one has any tips on this, please share. If I missed this discussion in the thread, my regrets. If you had a wish list what would be your top 3 drysuits?