Does anyone kiting in cold places use dry suits? How do they go and what do you use?

Or

How do you counter windchill/evaporation making your wetsuit cold when its about 5-10 degrees and 30 knots

Check out the 'Lucifer' Drysuit from NPX (Cabrinha) They look cool and there's a heap of info on there and vid's of everyone wearing them etc.

http://www.npxwetsuits.com/index.php

I used the Ocean Rodeo Pyro Pro when kiting in the UK. Very good!
http://www.oceanrodeo.com/kiting/pyro_pro

You are more likely to get too hot rather than too cold. Need to be careful not to put too many layers on as they retain warmth very well. In very cold weather I would have a light cotton shirt and cotton sweatpants on. Kept me 100% dry. The other guys would be freezing getting out of their wet gear (and getting into wet gear would be worse).

I don't use it anymore living here - so if anyone is interested it's a Medium Tall size.

The kiting specific drysuits look awesome. They are like 1 piece snowboard boiler suits with rubber seals on the neck, wrists and ankles. This gives for lots of freedom of movement. Guys who use them swear by them.

The main problem I have in cold weather is with cold hands. Wearing gloves weakens my grip on the bar. Its not slippery, my hands just feel weaker and its more of an effort. I have the Mystic gloves which are supposed to be the shiznit, but they certainly don't feel like it!

just remember you can't pi55 in it to warm up like in a wetsuit

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stamp said...

just remember you can't pi55 in it to warm up like in a wetsuit

well you can but it would be messy... not to mention the urine steam that would ensue.

the whole idea is to stop the windchill.I kitesurfed in Norway it was spring time so around -5 degrees last year with a mate but we had no dry suit so to stop us freezing up we wore regular 5mm wetsuits and bootys and gloves and hud.across that then i wore a nornal waterproof jacket some rubber gloves over my wetsuit gloves and taprd all the joints on my wetsuit was still nippy on the face but had great day kiting down a massive fjord.

As I live in the Uk and kite all year I use a Ocean rodeo drysuit in winter, great build quality, Ive had mine 5 years now and use it from nov-april. Ive had the seals replaced but thats due to salt water. I wear a t-shirt and a one peice babygrow thing under it. Ive been out (this january) in -4 and was lovely and warm inside. BUT beware when you stop kiting you still get cold after a while cos you sweat in them then the sweat goes cold when you stop. Wash it every time in fresh water and it will last years. Does not restrict movement and when you have finished slip it off and just put you clothes back on. I dont even take a towel with me when I use it. Ocean Rodeo are made for kiting and have extra thick areas on your bum and knees. Zips a bugger to do up on your own sometimes, just put candle wax on it regularly.

Ps as mentioned dont piddle in it, yes its warm but smelly when you take it off. Ive nearly forgot a few times.

Some great stuff here guys. Keep it coming. As irish kiter says:

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irish kiter said...

the whole idea is to stop the windchill.I kitesurfed in Norway it was spring time so around -5 degrees last year with a mate but we had no dry suit so to stop us freezing up we wore regular 5mm wetsuits and bootys and gloves and hud.across that then i wore a nornal waterproof jacket some rubber gloves over my wetsuit gloves and taprd all the joints on my wetsuit was still nippy on the face but had great day kiting down a massive fjord.

I am interested if anyone else uses windproof gear over their wetsuits? I have specifically been looking at kayaking cags with the velcro waist (so it doesn't ride up) and wondered how they worked compared to your mates just wearing wetties.
Am thinking that a thin smoothskin pullover wettie top would do the same trick if they're available anywhere.

But then, seeing as your wearing half a drysuit you might as well go the whole way and get a proper one... any ones to avoid?

Plus, hands up who still pee's in their seam sealed wetties?!! (doesn't urine wreck the sealant on seams?)

Some wetsuits have a rubberised coating to stop windchill. We used to use these for hectic cold (-12 overnight and 5 degree daytime) with really cold water temps. It definitely helps a lot.

Anyone got any prices on the lucifer and ocean rodeo dry suits and who sells them in australia.

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Saffer said...

Some wetsuits have a rubberised coating to stop windchill. We used to use these for hectic cold (-12 overnight and 5 degree daytime) with really cold water temps. It definitely helps a lot.

Is that the smoothskin/single lined wetsuits? Have found Neil Pryde, Gul, and Mystic offer smoothskins, the only 2 drawbacks i can see from lots of reading up on them is 1. single lined wetsuits are more fragile than the average wettie and get trashed easily; 2. there are no shops to try them on here in Tassie. Proper fit is so cruicially important with a wetsuit.

Do you know if there is anywhere that does the rubberised smoothskin wettie in a 0.5mm top like all the titanium sharkskins/radiators/hotskins/etc.
That would be perfect to pull over the top of your wettie to keep the water off/evaporation cooling that windchill creates.

Ocean Rodeo have their 'surf'dry suit out now aswell, its alot less bulky and looks almost like a normal wettie.

Reports say its awesome........people surfing with snow on beach and ice floating buy with no probs!

A sure way to get uncrowded waves, my mate moved to scotland and gets stand up barrels all winter with two mates out on various different peaks!

I am unfamiliar with dry suits. Are they only for use in really cold places where a wet suit is not sufficient?. What temp does the water/air need to be before you would think about wearing one?

im not sure how cold it gets in oz but here in ireland im sure it gets colder.drysuits are really a brilliant kiting accesory but not vital as any 5mm wetsuit will keep you warm once you get movin around in the water.altough I have seen when i used a 5mm in middle of winter my hands completly freezing up talk about sore.Its very easy to move around in a drysuit and i would never use anything else in winter now. my advice if you can afford buy one

They also have a pee zip on their dry suit.

Hi

I bought an Ocean Rodeo Pyro. They are fantastic. I use it a lot during winter, really flexible and warm, great for those cold rainy days.

I looked around a fair bit on whether to go dry suit or thik wetsuit. Very gald I went the pyro. I got it from kitesurfdirect.com.au, who have a great range of the Ocean Rodeo suits

Drysuits are great.
I have the Gul Astro kitespecific drysuit http://www.pbkiteboarding.com/gear/gul/drysuits/astro/gul_astro_drysuit_info.html

i bought it from the UK for Aus$550 including shipping because of the weak uk pound.
www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=28_97_99&products_id=2031
The VAT comes off the price at the checkout.
It also comes with a polarfleece underlayer, which is very comfy

Its great. You can use a drysuit in a very wide range of weather, because it really depends on how much you put on underneath as to how warm you stay, so you can easily regulate your warmth for the conditions.

At the end of the day, your dry :)
have fun everyone

You need to eat more pies JK and get a bit of meat on them bones!

I'm surprised how far this has got without one single reference to cement, what's going on, who's been eating serious pills?

The best thing I use is a 5-4-3 wetty without the lining on the outside. It wont hold water and windchill is vastly less than one of those wettys with the fabric on the outside. Then there's 4mm boots and a mega hoodie you stole of a SWAT team guy.

But then again I wouldn't mind trying a dry suit during those July antarcitc Sou-Wester sessions.

To the guys that wear them.. how often do they leak? Can you duck under waves, take a hell spanking and still stay dry, or does water seep in?

Ocean Rodeo have a surf version with low air content specifically for surfing where you need to dive under waves.

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KiteDevil said...

You need to eat more pies JK and get a bit of meat on them bones!

I'm surprised how far this has got without one single reference to cement, what's going on, who's been eating serious pills?

But then again I wouldn't mind trying a dry suit during those July antarcitc Sou-Wester sessions.

Hey Sam...so when IS pie night? After all that bravado I can't believe you are thinking of turning to the dark side haha!!

Any feedback from girls out there kiting in drysuits! Thought I might trade in the 5mm dive wetsuit 'power ranger' look this winter for something abit more comfortable.

Any feedback on the Mystic range of drysuits? Good question Sam on the surf/heavy landing scenario.

Does an underfleece come with most new drysuits? What are people using now when its cold? I can see an advantage to having a couple layers like snowboarders do.

The 4/3 ebomb radiator hood gloves boots combo only just cut it last winter, seeing as i'm wearing it now at the end of summer things aren't looking good.

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KiteDevil said...

You need to eat more pies JK and get a bit of meat on them bones!

I'm surprised how far this has got without one single reference to cement, what's going on, who's been eating serious pills?

I was waiting for it... what you really want to ask is are you going to do an impression of a chip packet going 'pop' after landing a double back to splat in a drysuit....
I am in training for pie night now, cross training on burgers too. Bring it.

I wear as an undergarment just ski inners. You can wear a t-shirt and tracksuit pants or anything. Or you can buy a proper inner suit which are very warm. The key benefit of them is you keep dry and they are so flexible. if they weren't so warm I'd wear mine from March. I'm from Victoria and I can't rave about them enough. They are greta for kitesurfing but have some issues with surfing, only duck diving as ther eis a bit of air in them. But not too much. But who wants to get in a cold wettie in winter

Hi all,
I use the 'Hot n Dry' brand (made in Aust) dry suit through the winter months. Have used it since 2002 and it's still going, but had to have the neck rubber replaced a few years ago. Only wish it had a pee zip, which can be ordered with one. (Should have got fitted when the neck was done)
I wear clothing underneath, how much depends on how warm you want to be.
I still get slightly damp from sweat and a bit of water getting in, but don't get cold, even on the worst icy southerly.
Might be a tad bulkier than a wetty, but you forget that when you are warm as
Also find hands a feet stay warm longer, because body core temp stays up.
The 'Hot n drys' are pretty thin so youv'e got to be a bit careful around rocks or anything else that could punture the suit material.

Never had problem with leakage with my Ocean Rodeo in the 5 years ive had it. Had massive wipeouts and not a drop inside. Check seals on neck and hands etc some are neoprene some are rubber. Ocean rodeo are rubber so get a good tight seal, but you have to put seals in the right place ie above knobbly bit on your wrists and ankles, where your arms and legs are round. If the seals are to tight at first put bottle or something in them for a few days to strech them. Ducking under waves should be no probs not as bigger inpact as a kite wipeout.

just answering a couple of questions from various posts..

With regards the undergarment, it should be something synthetic like polarfleece etc. Cotton / Wool etc, soak up any moisture from sweating and stop it escaping the drysuit....polarfleece wicks the moisture from the skin and allow it to escape the drysuit.....if it is breathable. A good drysuit should be breathable (essential) or else you will be wetter from sweat than anything elese.

With regards water coming in...Many of the newer drysuits have gone to "glideskin neoprene" seals on the wrists and neck for comfort. If you dont pull them on to your arm properly (so they are nice and tight), then a little water(like enough to make your cuff damp) may seep in if you duck dive or get wiped out. Definately not enough to worry about..you will still be toasty warm.

And i totally agree that some of the top wetsuits can be just as warm, but they are the same price or more, and if you want to have a break, you have to get out of and back into a wet wetsuit....Whenever you get in or out of the drysuit your...ummm Dry :)

Happy kiting

And when you wash your drysuit ie every time you use it in salt water, they dry in around an hour in the warm. so you can use it next day or same day after washing it and it will be dry.

So some guys in Vic are using drysuits? I had never considered it.

I need a new wettie for winter (used a 3/2 with fleecy long sleeved rashy for the past 2 winters). Got away with it but froze my nuts off. I found boots helped me to feel warmer (o'neil ninja??) but it's time to go back to something warmer.

Was going to get a 4/3 but the drysuit thing sounds interesting. Guys in Vic, when do you start pulling on the drysuit?

So has anyone with a drysuit had issues with sweat or condensation on the inside? How about where the harness sits?

Have noticed that the OR Pyro Pro has breathable panels and the OR Surf is just a big nylon suit (and not breathable?).

I have a Mystic dry suit and works super.. first time i used it witha cotton track suit under and got real hot n sweaty... not leaking just hot n wet. now i use i with my snowboarding wool underwear long johns and top and it works super. never leaks and with just that wool gear on keeps me warm any more and it's too hot...

water temp here was 4 deg, wind speed 24-28knts. got my suit from CHOICE before i left Oz in 2008 was no way i was going through another cold water session over here with out one...

but my kite buddy over here uses a normal wetty and a plastic pant- jacket rain protector to stop the wind chill...

suit cost $6?? from memory.

biggest tip wear wool under keeps you dry, warm and sweat free.

windy wave filled winter to you all... bring on summer for me... woo hoo
Posko