wetsuit or drysuit.... which one to buy

[rickharp]

central florida, water is going to be cold or get cold. wife enjoys getting out there. need to get her something. questions: what one is easier to get in adn out of.

which one will make her feel the most comfortable, figuring you are onlyin the water for a minute.

which one is easiest to share if you had someone on the boat about the same size.

thanks

[DanielC]

RE: wetsuit or drysuit.... which one to buy

Where in Florida is the water cold? You actually have cold blooded animals that live in your water year around. Here in Oregon, the water gets cold, but not like Wisconsin, where the water gets hard. (frozen)
I use a loose fitting OS Systems drysuit. When it really is cold, I can put layers on underneath it, and tolerate cold water. When it get warmer, fewer layers, still comfortable. Wet suits work by trapping a layer of water next to your body, and warming it up. Problem is, every time up get out of the water, warn water drains out, and the next time you get in the water, or fall, cold water comes back in.

[clubmyke]

we use a oneil boost...awesome drysuit... has suspenders, neoprene neck, and quick turnaround for service when you need it..

here is a tip so a smaller person can use the suit and not get wet (i wear a large)... have the smaller neck size wear a 2/1 top and roll the neck of the drysuit inside one time...

works really well(i'm 185 lbs & my neck size is 16" and another female crew member(about 110 lbs & small frame, wears mine)..

[todda]

Of the females I have been around, I haven't yet seen one that can be "too warm, or too dry"...I would go with a drysuit. Personally, I think the "bag" style suits are the most effective, but act a bit like skiing with a parachute on. Closed cell neoprene drysuits are better fitting, but mine leaks a bit around the cuffs.

Todd

[jhiestand]

In direct response to your questions, in my experience a wetsuit is easier to get into than a drysuit. You have to be pretty careful with the latex seals at the wrists and especially the ankles of a drysuit. Depending on the drysuit, also the neck seal. You can't zip drysuits up yourself, either. A wetsuit can stretch all over the place and seems a little easier to put on. A few of the gals that ride in my boat kind of like the feeling of a wetsuit in that it makes them feel "armored" and less susceptible to being injured during a fall.

Wetsuit can easily be shared and you don't have to worry about friends jamming their feet through the latex seals, but then again, it's kind of the pits putting on a wet wetsuit. A drysuit on the other hand will be accomodating to way more body types/sizes and will keep her much warmer.

I stopped wearing a full body wetsuit the first time I tried a drysuit and have never gone back. Even though they LOOK awkward and baggy & ill-fitting, nothing could be further from the truth.

[rickharp]

great help.
i wonder, is the only difference in a skiing dry suit and a barefoot drysuit is the velcroe straps at the hands and ankles.

also, do you were like a bathing suit and a t-shirt under a drysuit, or like sweat pants.

[MNSuperAir]

Not sure but I always thought the barefoot suits had extra padding for the crash that happens at the end of every run.

[brodie]

Only diff. b/w a barefoot and regular is the added cinches around your limbs, due to more force from water. I wear sweats and a t- shirt or sweat shirt depending on the temp. However I ski in much colder water and air temps than you would ever incur in FL. The neoprene or Hybrids are much more comfortable than the bag style, and have much less drag. I have both, and the bag style never gets used anymore.

[baine157]

you live in Florida so it cannot be THAT cold. go to your local surf shop and ask them. If you don't have a local surf shop well IMHO XCEL wet suits are amazing. I own a 2 mm Spring suit and that keeps me plenty warm up until it gets down right nasty outside. for a general comparison of weather we ride on the San Bernard about 25 minutes from the gulf.

[redelf75]

Here in the northeast we everybody has their own, of both. But I suspect, a full length wetsuit is all you need. YOu can get 2/3 for $100 or the top of the line, "superstreatch" ones for $300. Each manufacture has a different name, hyperstretch, superflex.... I think the O'neil is called the Guru (not sure). But after the first run, the wetsuit is wet and offering a wet wetsuit to someone on a cool morning is like eating a soggy bagel.

If you go with the drysuit, consider the Andrenaline Extreme with the cinch straps and reinforced seat. Eventhough she may not hydrofoil, the straps help keep water out in in hard falls.
http://www.adrenalinewatersports.com...ID=17&pg=0

[ag4ever]

I am told the best wetsuits are made by henderson. They specialize in making wetsuits for divers, so they are built to higher standards than those made for other watersports. they also carry a hefty price tag. The fit on them is outstanding, and you can get them in many thicknesses and styles.

Now for wheter you want a drysuite or wetsuit, you really want both. I have a dry suit for when the air temps are in the 40's to 50's. For warmer air temps, I use the wetsuit. Notice I reference air temps. When you are in the water with either one, you will be cold, but when out that is when you will notice how cold you are if you are still wet.

[Hollywood]

Re: wetsuit or drysuit.... which one to buy

central florida

wetsuit. come on you gotta be kidding me, nobody in FL needs a drysuit.

what one is easier to get in adn out of.

wetsuit by far. no risk involved.

which one will make her feel the most comfortable, figuring you are onlyin the water for a minute.

wetsuit. not sure a drysuit is worth it for 1/2 quick runs

which one is easiest to share if you had someone on the boat about the same size.

wetsuit. someone blows a seal on the drysuit day is over for everyone

[backfoot100]

I live in central FL and moved here from WI three years ago where I skied in 36 degree water when the air temp was 38. That was freakin' cold! The lakes here last week were 61 degrees. Now you might think I'm a wussy boy, but that's cold too. I would dare anyone from the north to come down here and ski a set in that temp water without a wetsuit and be anywhere near comfortable. The water temps here will get down into the very low 50's in Jan. and Feb. The good news is that I have yet to wear a drysuit since I've been here. My barefoot suit with a heater shirt or a full length wetsuit are more than sufficient to ski as long as you wait until late morning or early afternoon when the air temp rises a bit. An early morning run when the air temp could be in the upper 40's and lower 50's is still more comfy with a drysuit.

[Hollywood]

backfoot100, was down in TX barefooting in 5X water (maybe colder, don't know) with only barefoot suit and heater shirt. Water was quite numbing and you didn't want to be floating for any longer than you absolutely had to. Skiing mostly in WI/IL it was quite shocking how cold it actually gets down there.

[MARK-S]

Barts has Medium Oneil fluids for $268. They only have a few med left. You cant go wrong with the suit or price.