Wet suits

I want to do some winter kayaking and was wondering what type of wet suit I would need to do this. does anyone have any suggestions?

says...

Unless you're planning to do some Winter paddling in tropical waters, I would recommend a drysuit. That and lots of cold-water safety training.

Greg's advice is exactly correct. Unless you are doing an activity that exposes the suit to considerable and repetative abrasion (like wind surfing, for example) a one-piece dry suit worn over expedition weight poly long underwear and a full body fleece or fuzzy rubber layer is the only acceptable way to deal with repeated immersion in 0 degree water. The biggest problem with wet suits is that if they are thick enough to handle play boating in 0 degree water, they are too stiff to paddle comfortably. In fact, the last time I missed my roll was the last time I ran a rapids wearing a big old ONeill neoprene steamer that was intended for windsurfing the Maine coast in the windy spring. Its stiffness interfered with my set up.

The other huge advantage of a dry suit is that it can work in a very wide temperature range by varying what goes under it. My wife uses a two piece version from Kolykat with a complicated multilayer waist overlap that is almost as good as a one piece and is made with Goretex so she can wear just the top over a light poly t-shirt in weather that is really pretty warm.

Tommy T.

Spot on. Here in Newfoundland we are paddling in waters that are sub zero (ocean) . We wear dry suits with heavy polypro (HH is my favourite). It is not long johns and a light shirt it is a sweater on top and another thick sweater like pair of pants. I have been covered in ice and as of yet have never gotten cold or wet.

A dry suit is the way to go.

I used to do allot of cold weather scuba diving with a 1/4 neoprene suit, But did not think that it would be good for kayaking because of the restrictive nature of the suit. I was thinking of a dry suit as some of you suggested. I did a search for the Kolykat but found nothing maybe it is spelled wrong IM not sure . Any suggestions as to a good dry suit that would not restrict movement?

Well, that's my fault. It is 'Kokatat.'

Tommy T.

Thanks The site looks great. I ordered a catalog from them. It looks like they have what i need

Kokatat and Stohlquist are the two primary companies making dry suits:
www.kokatat.com www.stohlquist.com

You can also check out Mountain Equipment Co-op for their dry suit since you are in the Ottawa area (I think). White's also makes one.

If the suit doesn't have attached booties, you can always buy separate latex booties and glue them to the latex gaskets

I bought the Kokatat dry suit. I now feel more comfortable in the water. Thanks for the info