itiming wrote:
Our most common kayak destination is Lake Superior with an annual average temp of 40 degrees F. In summer the near shore bays can reach into the 70+ degrees F.
We moved in the opposite direction your are taking. We used farmer john 3 mil neoprene for quite a while. We now use gore-tex paddling drysuits and are very pleased. Specifically the Kokatat Surge Paddling Suit from Kayak Academy, with a long-john style polar-tech insulation suit. It uses neoprene (for comfort) at the neck opening instead of latex. This downgrades its immersion protection to less than a full dry-suit, but increases wearability.
For us, the suit is a critical piece of safety gear. The pfd is fine, but cold water also requires the immersion protection. The gore-tex breathes enough to still be useable in warm weather--and is still needed in warm air weather, as our water temps will be too cold for immersion w/o protection.
You can obtain the same safety with neoprene and at less cost.
Seems an individual preference.
What air temperature do you find the dry suits are comfortable in?
Have you ever capsized or tested the effectiveness in any other manner?