"Michael Daly" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
On 1-Feb-2004, "Robert11" wrote:

I'm confused on this point, as I guess I keep getting back to a skin
divers
neoprene, which is of course totally porous, and relies on body heat to
warm
the thin water layer that ends up
next to the skin.

Neoprene is not porous. It is a closed cell foam and is waterproof. If
you
want it to be porous, you poke holes in it. I've seen neoprene socks like
that _once_.

Neoprene is neither closed cell or open cell by default. Neoprene is an
elastomeric compound used to make the material that products are made from.
Wether the material is open cell or closed cell depends on the manufacturing
process and the blowing agent used to create the cellular structure.


c. The Chota boot descr. says: "The lower boot is constructed with
3mm
waterproof closed cell neoprene, lined with fleece for added comfort and
warmth"

Is this a wet or dry boot ?

Neither. It is waterproof, but if the water goes over the top of the
boot,
some will get in. How much depends on how you've put it on. There is a
band of bare neoprene around the top and a strap that you can tighten.
If you tighten it against bare skin or a smooth fabric, it will only let
a trickle of water in. Otherwise, you could get a flood.

You do not want to paddle all day with wet feet, IMNSHO.

Mike