Grip wrote:
After the trip, he told us "Those weren't real rapids,
there were too many rocks in there." LMAO!!!

Yup, classic comment. Personally I enjoy rocks -- they are
so much safer than down trees.
---

Review of MTI PalmOS Drysuit

I bought a blue Palm Sidewinder drysuit at the end of last season
when it became available with integral socks instead of ankle gaskets.
Regular price is only $379 at a nearby store.
http://www.theboatpeople.com/atr_riv....html#Drysuits

The reason I got it instead of another Goretex Kokatat is that my
relief zipper leaks, Kokatat says that's impossible, even though
I can see water seeping thru the zipper when I take it off. They
refuse to replace it, but it's an old drysuit, so I can't complain.
I saw no reason to pay $150 for another relief zipper option that
might not work. The Palm Sidewinder's entry zipper is positioned
so it can double as a relief zipper (for men).

I don't feel Palm's XP100 tri-laminate fabric breathes as well as
Goretex. That's really the only downside. A friend told me I'd
have to take off my PFD to use the relief zipper, but that's untrue,
all I have to do is unzip my PDF, then partly undo the entry zipper.

The head gasket feels a bit tight. When putting it on, I find it
easiest to first lower the protective collar, then the latex gasket
(reversing this procedure when taking it off).

I can stand in water for many minutes without getting my inner socks
or drysuit liner legs wet, as I could in my Kokatat. But with the
Sidewinder, I can stand in water deeper than my relief zipper!

Question about NRS Wetsuits

The $85 NRS Essentials has what I need (armored knees, full zipper,
ankle zippers) and I could live with 2.5mm neoprene because I use
a wetsuit only in warm weather, but would the lack of glued seams
be a problem, letting too much water thru? Maybe I should get the
$110 NRS Farmer John, though I don't need armored seat. For me,
the shins always wear out before the seat. The Camano of Austria
wetsuit has shin armor, but is no longer imported into the US.

Question about NRS Wetsuits

The $85 NRS Essentials has what I need (armored knees, full zipper,
ankle zippers) and I could live with 2.5mm neoprene because I use
a wetsuit only in warm weather, but would the lack of glued seams
be a problem, letting too much water thru? Maybe I should get the
$110 NRS Farmer John, though I don't need armored seat. For me,
the shins always wear out before the seat. The Camano of Austria
wetsuit has shin armor, but is no longer imported into the US.

NRS HydroSkin is the best I have used. I use it under my dry suit and
under a paddle jacket. I haven't used a piece of polypro in years.

JAM

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product_l...=nrs_hydroskin

I had my entry zipper start leaking on my Kokatat Gortex suit. It was one
of the very first ones as it was nylon not metal. Talking to them on the
phone they stated that they never had made a gortex with nylon zipper and
zippers don't leak.....eventually they agreed to look at it, so sent it in.
Then I got a phone call saying that I couldn't have it back as the suit had
royally failed the pressure test required by gortex, leg seams also had pin
holes, and the zipper did leak. Abrasion I guess as I paddle WW OC1, & 2.
They did give me about 70% credit (if memory serves me) towards a new one.
I was happy with that, got built in booties, LOVE THEM, but the new one
doesn't fit as well and the material is a much lighter weight. Hope it
lasts as long. Original had about 100 user days
So, if you still have your old suit, push Kokatat as they treated me ok (3
yrs ago) after admitting that yes I did have a leaky zipper........

Carol

"Bill Tuthill" wrote in message ...
Grip wrote:
After the trip, he told us "Those weren't real rapids,
there were too many rocks in there." LMAO!!!

Yup, classic comment. Personally I enjoy rocks -- they are
so much safer than down trees.
---

Review of MTI PalmOS Drysuit

I bought a blue Palm Sidewinder drysuit at the end of last season
when it became available with integral socks instead of ankle gaskets.
Regular price is only $379 at a nearby store.
http://www.theboatpeople.com/atr_riv....html#Drysuits

The reason I got it instead of another Goretex Kokatat is that my
relief zipper leaks, Kokatat says that's impossible, even though
I can see water seeping thru the zipper when I take it off. They
refuse to replace it, but it's an old drysuit, so I can't complain.
I saw no reason to pay $150 for another relief zipper option that
might not work. The Palm Sidewinder's entry zipper is positioned
so it can double as a relief zipper (for men).

I don't feel Palm's XP100 tri-laminate fabric breathes as well as
Goretex. That's really the only downside. A friend told me I'd
have to take off my PFD to use the relief zipper, but that's untrue,
all I have to do is unzip my PDF, then partly undo the entry zipper.

The head gasket feels a bit tight. When putting it on, I find it
easiest to first lower the protective collar, then the latex gasket
(reversing this procedure when taking it off).

I can stand in water for many minutes without getting my inner socks
or drysuit liner legs wet, as I could in my Kokatat. But with the
Sidewinder, I can stand in water deeper than my relief zipper!

Question about NRS Wetsuits

The $85 NRS Essentials has what I need (armored knees, full zipper,
ankle zippers) and I could live with 2.5mm neoprene because I use
a wetsuit only in warm weather, but would the lack of glued seams
be a problem, letting too much water thru? Maybe I should get the
$110 NRS Farmer John, though I don't need armored seat. For me,
the shins always wear out before the seat. The Camano of Austria
wetsuit has shin armor, but is no longer imported into the US.

Carol Krueger wrote:
I had my entry zipper start leaking on my Kokatat Gortex suit...
So, if you still have your old suit, push Kokatat as they treated me ok
(3 yrs ago) after admitting that yes I did have a leaky zipper........

I did send in this drysuit twice, complaining of leaky relief zipper
both times, plus other problems. The first time they patched the area
around the zipper, the second time they told me YKK zippers don't leak.
You are right, Kokatat customer service is excellent. That drysuit is
over 10 years old and I've used it every winter since new. (The latex
booties did need replacing every year until Kokatat finally started
offering Goretex socks.) Unfortunately even if I could afford $850
for a new drysuit, a Kokatat suit without a relief zipper sounds bad.
(If your name is Carol, you perhaps have different needs. ;-)

I don't think the Palm Sidewinder zipper is totally waterproof either.
The metal zippers are supposedly more so, but perhaps fail with age.

Johnny Thunder "Johnny wrote:

NRS HydroSkin is the best I have used. I use it under my dry suit and
under a paddle jacket. I haven't used a piece of polypro in years.

I don't understand why you would pay $177 for Hydroskin pants and top
to wear under your drysuit, when a woolen union suit costs under $30.
Nor do I understand why people pay $137 for a Hydroskin Farmer John
when a neoprene Farmer John costs only $85 and is warmer. Personally
I find neoprene wetsuits perfectly comfortable.

Bill Tuthill wrote:

Carol Krueger wrote:
I had my entry zipper start leaking on my Kokatat Gortex suit...
So, if you still have your old suit, push Kokatat as they treated me ok
(3 yrs ago) after admitting that yes I did have a leaky zipper........

I did send in this drysuit twice, complaining of leaky relief zipper
both times, plus other problems. The first time they patched the area
around the zipper, the second time they told me YKK zippers don't leak.
You are right, Kokatat customer service is excellent. That drysuit is
over 10 years old and I've used it every winter since new. (The latex
booties did need replacing every year until Kokatat finally started
offering Goretex socks.) Unfortunately even if I could afford $850
for a new drysuit, a Kokatat suit without a relief zipper sounds bad.
(If your name is Carol, you perhaps have different needs. ;-)

I don't think the Palm Sidewinder zipper is totally waterproof either.
The metal zippers are supposedly more so, but perhaps fail with age.

Johnny Thunder "Johnny wrote:

NRS HydroSkin is the best I have used. I use it under my dry suit and
under a paddle jacket. I haven't used a piece of polypro in years.

I don't understand why you would pay $177 for Hydroskin pants and top
to wear under your drysuit, when a woolen union suit costs under $30.
Nor do I understand why people pay $137 for a Hydroskin Farmer John
when a neoprene Farmer John costs only $85 and is warmer. Personally
I find neoprene wetsuits perfectly comfortable.

I have found the HydroSkin to be warmer and more comfortable than wool,
polypro or any wet suit.

JAM

Johnny Thunder "Johnny wrote:

I have found the HydroSkin to be warmer and more comfortable than wool,
polypro or any wet suit.

Interesting. Would you sit around the campfire in your HydroSkin,
as I do in my fleece drysuit liner, on self-supported overnight trips?

I thought HydroSkin was a substitute for neoprene wetsuits, not wool
and polyester fleece.

How long does it take to dry HydroSkin? Does the garment breathe
so you can dry it by sitting around a campfire?

Hydroskin is suitable for those days when it's a little too warm for a full
3mm wetsuit, but you still desire a fairly warm windproof garment. I
playboat year-round in PA and until Jan-Feb wear hydroskin shorts and a dry
top. I agree the fuzzy bunny suit is the ticket for sitting around
campfires. Nice and toasty.
"Bill Tuthill" wrote in message ...
Johnny Thunder "Johnny wrote:

I have found the HydroSkin to be warmer and more comfortable than wool,
polypro or any wet suit.

Interesting. Would you sit around the campfire in your HydroSkin,
as I do in my fleece drysuit liner, on self-supported overnight trips?

I thought HydroSkin was a substitute for neoprene wetsuits, not wool
and polyester fleece.

How long does it take to dry HydroSkin? Does the garment breathe
so you can dry it by sitting around a campfire?

I like having glued seams. When I am out fooling around I can wade in pretty
deep with just a bit of seepage around the ankles (straps pulled around neo
socks). Much warmer than the open flow of leaky seams, and I would never go
without the sealed seams.

The drysuit is great for cool water, but if you have a wetsuit it might as well
be one that is comfortable. $25 extra works out to only a few cents per wearing.

GaryJ

Bill Tuthill wrote:
The $85 NRS Essentials has what I need (armored knees, full zipper,
ankle zippers) and I could live with 2.5mm neoprene because I use
a wetsuit only in warm weather, but would the lack of glued seams
be a problem, letting too much water thru? Maybe I should get the
$110 NRS Farmer John, though I don't need armored seat. For me,
the shins always wear out before the seat. The Camano of Austria
wetsuit has shin armor, but is no longer imported into the US.



--
Archive for the alternate timeline: France Stays in the War
http://users.domaindlx.com/fantasque/index.htm

GaryJ wrote:

I like having glued seams. When I am out fooling around I can
wade in pretty deep with just a bit of seepage around the ankles
(straps pulled around neo socks). Much warmer than the open flow
of leaky seams, and I would never go without the sealed seams.
The drysuit is great for cool water, but if you have a wetsuit
it might as well be one that is comfortable. $25 extra works out
to only a few cents per wearing.

Thanks, that is just what I needed to know.

BTW, Sierra Trading Post still imports Camaro of Austria wetsuits,
but not a Farmer John style.

Bill Tuthill wrote:

Johnny Thunder "Johnny wrote:

I have found the HydroSkin to be warmer and more comfortable than wool,
polypro or any wet suit.

Interesting. Would you sit around the campfire in your HydroSkin,
as I do in my fleece drysuit liner, on self-supported overnight trips?

No


I thought HydroSkin was a substitute for neoprene wetsuits, not wool
and polyester fleece.

Think Again


How long does it take to dry HydroSkin? Does the garment breathe
so you can dry it by sitting around a campfire?

Don't know

JAM