Dry Suit Advice Needed

[Oldmanrider]

Just bought a 2014 G21 and am looking to purchase a dry suite for my wife and me to extend the season wakeboarding and wake surfing. Been looking at the O'Neil Boost, O'Neil Neo, and Kokatat. I see a lot of good recommendations on the Boost but seems very baggie i.e. a lot of drag. The O'Neil Neo looks interesting but thinking that although the wetsuit like bottom may be nice it also be nice to be able to get into and out of with warm inner lining underneath. Also the stiff zipper on the back concerns me. The Kokatat seems like it is loose but not as baggy as the Boost. I also like the zipper setup on the front. In all I am completely unsure which direction to go so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

[bturner]

I'm sure everyone will have their own opinion but for me I found the bag suits were the way to go. The last one I bought (and still own) was a O'neil Boost. Before that I had one that was similar to the fluid they now sell. Again for me, the bag suit allowed the freedom of movement while doing things like wakeboarding and surfing I was looking for. I will say deep water starts on slalom were very difficult for me with the bag suit.

As the years have passed this is no longer a problem for me though. These days I'll watch the kids in that cold water and just wait it out. If I need more than a 2mm long sleeve top to get in the water, I'm good being the driver for the day.....

[GMLIII]

I agree with bturner the bag suits are the way to go. Although Eagle does not make dry suits any longer, I have an Eagle bag design dry suit which I have been using for many years. I wear a long sleeve nylon shirt under it along with running shorts.

[SilentSeven]

What water and air temps are you working with?

Been using a drysuit for - ouch - over 30 years. Bag suit is the way to go IMO. Here's some benefits 1) you can tailor your layers depending on how warm you need to be. 2) easy off and on (relatively) 3) when you pull it off, you still have warm layers on 4) easy to maintain...replacing a seal is not difficult 5) small to pack...easy toss in.

I've found the cuffs really don't add any value...just one more thing to deal with and they don't keep you any dryer (unless maybe you are barefooting). Also, avoid the latex footies...they just a PITA all the way around.

Friends have had the semi-dry's or tight fit lower suits and they are always the cold ones in the boat. We'll ski all winter and the water temps will dip into the low 40's and we've been out when the air temps have been as cold as 28F. We just toss on long underwear and then layer on the performance fleece and we're good to go.

I've personally never had any drag issues with bag suit. You look like the Michelin man when you first put them on but once you get in the water and burp the suit, they are super form fitting.

I've used both StayDry and OS Systems and both worked great. My current OS Systems has lasted over 20 years and is still going strong...replaced the seals once or twice but no other repairs. Prolly one of the better investments I ever made...paid me back many times over.

Here's the OS Systems model I have- LINK - $450. Nice thing about OS is that they sell seals and repair their suits if you ever have a problem.

Wiley's Skis in Seattle is selling StayDrys for $350...a great deal..but horrible product picture - LINK. Don't hesitate to buy from Wileys. Seattle institution....2nd gen family owned around since the 70s. Super good people...bought both of my suits there.

Hope this helps!

[brit_hunsicker]

To follow up silentseven...I have a staydry and it’s a great suit. It’s about 4 years old. Left it in the garage on a clothes hangar last year as I forgot about it and the seals were shot when I grabbed it several months ago. I sent it to OS Systems as I saw they advertise repairs on their website. They called once it arrived and said they were shipping it back to me as they don’t repair any suits but their own...would have been nice to know that before I sent it in. Anyways, I told them to send me the correct replacements seals and they did. $130 for ankles, wrists and neck. I replaced the seals myself over a week just working on it for an hour or two each night. OS is definitely the leader in latex seals. Very nice. Used it the day after Christmas with no leaks. Just ordered some UV Tech which is what OS recommends for seal protection and longevity. Hope to get many years of use out of these seals.


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