C-Forum

as a 1st winter season paddler i need advise on getting some winter gear together. i got a limited budget, the cheaper the better.
i was lookin at the nrs grizzly wet suit. but what do i need to wear with it and such? splash jacket? jock strap? bubba teeth? etc.

help me.... i don't wanna let the cold stop me from enjoying the water.
thanks,
brandon

alot of people peicework their way into winter gear, only to buy a drysuit in the end. you could easily spend more on wetsuit peices, drytop, rodeo pants or whatever all combined than on a used drysuit. do the right thing, keep the boys warm and happy. buy a used drysuit from a buddy or the kiddypool. in the end you'll be glad you did.

if you can afford it, i'd try to scrape together the money for a used dry suit. with a couple layers of polypro underneath i am comfortable on many days when will tend to say, "you're going paddling today? are you nuts?." you can't beat it with a stick. knowing i'll be warm and dry (hades, i' m usually sweatin') makes me much more likely to get out boating, regardless of the weather. for me, it aint just a comfort thing, its a safety thing. letting your core body temp drop is a real good way to start doing real stupid things.

if you're patient, there are good deals on used dry suits out there--boatertalk worked well for me.

Have to second that. Get a drysuit and you're set.

yeah... i knew it would come to this.....
i'll probally look better in a dry suit anyway.
haha thanks

Look up Bill & Paul's Sport Haus in Grand Rapids MI on the web. They have a brand new Kokatat Meridian (size: Large) in Tropos material. It's a 2008 model and you can get it for $500 (probably less if you know how to bargain). Hard to beat that, if the size is right for you (check Kokatat's website).

I talked to them less than a week ago. They WANT to sell it. It's the only one they have in stock. I almost bought it, but decided to spend more and got a Gore Tex model from NOC last week when they had a 25% off sale.

I spent March and April last year paddling in a layer of under armour, an IR onesie, a splash jacket and pants. In the deathyak (ducky), on anything that the GDI paddled. I have to agree with the rest about the dry suit. I wouldn't trade mine for nothing...except maybe a nicer one.

I spent more for my dry suit than I did for most of the boats I own and I'm glad I did. Bite the bullet. Unlike most threads, here most everyone agrees.

REI ... had a sale on a palm suit for $299

brandon, check your pm

definitely worth getting one with relief zipper & booties. i wouldn't have it any other way

A drysuit is the way forwards, even in my old, very broken* IR DoubleD; I'm substantially warmer than in seperates, even my good not-leaky seperates.

A relief zip is essential, booties are nice, but more of a personal preference thing, and with an ankle seal and warm wetsuit boots, you've instantly halved the likelyhood of the suit starting to leak.


*I have to wear wetsuit leggings underneath if I'm in an OC1 or expect to be wading, bad times.

If you want a cheaper/ more flexible version of the drysuit, do it this way; Get a good dry top, then a pair of dry pants from NRS or similar vendor. You can layer under it with fleece or fuzzy rubber depending on how cold it is, and how much you expect to swim. If you expect to be out in sub freezing temps and water with ice floating in it, you'd probably be better off in the best drysuit you can find,
advantages; no need for relief zipper, much cheaper, you don't have to wear the whole thing as a unit
disadvantages; this set up can leak at the waist if not put on carefully, i.e.,(not 100% water tight). Can't get integrated booties. more items to remember.

Dry top and bibs are better than dry top and dry pants. Dry suit is the best.

and booties as part as the drysuite are worth getting the dry suite. I have bothe dry suite w/ booties and a drytop/pants system w/ wetsuite pants. When the weather is in between the desciding factor is weather I want dry feet or not. If yourfooties/booties and drysuite later with. Id make shore the drysuite includes your feet.



thats my pittily two scents