I have a dry top right now but it’s not a great one. It doesn’t have rubber gaskets it just has Velcro that you tighten and doesn’t let much water through but does let some in. Any way I was wondering if I would be better off to buy a better jacket with gaskets or if I was better off getting a wetsuit? I am looking for one for the spring that is coming upon us quickly. I was personally leaning towards getting the nrs 3 mm wetsuit because I figured that would keep me warm and the dry top that I have now doesn’t let in a ton of water so it would work perfect. So am I going in the right direction or would I be better off buying a nice dry top? Thanks for your inputs

Nathan

I use a wetsuit for bodyboarding and windsurfing, and that's when it works well - when you're wet all the time and it can trap a layer of water between the suit and your skin. I will never, ever kayak with one. It doesn't give you the same freedom of movement and is very uncomfortable, for kayaking. For the other sports my suits are super comfy, but it just doesn't work well for kayaking.

If I was you, I'd get a proper dry top. WAY better...

a long john wetsuit combined with a dry top may be just fine (often is for me). a full wetsuit is not very pratical for paddling, as adrian stated. if it gets really cold, I prefer a full-on drysuit.

then again, if you have a bomb proof roll, a drytop combined with swim shorts may be enough even in cold water.

There are a few ways you can go about it. I would suggest a full drysuit it would be the best purchase you ever make, or you can do a component suit with a good quality drytop and a set of bibs. The full drysuit is the easiest to put on and take off and is the driest method, the component suit has the most versatility and can get you through a larger temperature range. You can wear the top by itself for warmer spring and fall runs and combine the two to get into the chilly days. But when it is all said and done you can invest just as much into a quality component set as you can into a moderately high-end suit. If you would like more info just send me a message, I sell this stuff everyday and use it just about as much. The trick is to get the best breathability and waterproofness for your dollar.

I've been using a drytop (an IR top with latex neck and wrists) with NRS shorts--it's been fine--I've been plenty warm, as I can also add some capilene leggings under the shorts on colder days. BUT, I haven't had to take a swim in said get-up and I've purposely avoided running things where that risk is potentially there. But, as Jeroen said, if your roll is bomb-proof, then a better drytop should keep you fairly well protected. Mine keeps the water out great! So, I guess my recommendation is to get a better drytop, rather than the semi-dry you seem to have. Of course, a full-on drysuit is always better, but who has the money to drop on one of those?? You could also try a better drytop with some paddling pants, rather than shorts as I've been doing. Good luck and enjoy your spring!

Whatever you do, dress for the water, not the air... Dry top/shorts combo, dry top/wetsuit 3/4 pants, dry top/dry pants or full on dry suit. Depends how cold the water is where you paddle...

Thanks for all the help. I would definitely like a dry suit but can’t afford it. That is why I was thinking about going for a long john wetsuit like Jeroen said but I might look into getting a dry jacket. Do you think that just a nice dry jacket would keep you warm enough I kayak the Truckee and American River mostly?

Nathan

Because i did not have the $800 - $1200 for a good drysuit, I went with a full wetsuit and semi drytop combo.The wetsuit is great quality (quiksilver) and only cost $130.00 and i got a semidrytop (latex gaskets on the wrists not the neck) for $100 like -new- . I think if you are starting out and dont live in a place that you need a drysuit year round, this approach is a good idea. Also having a wetsuit/. dry combo you can layer in different ways, especially inportant in spring boating, when temps vary so much from hour to hour. A good wetuist/ drytop combo should keep you warm even if you swim( and chances are you will if you are still learning!)

Just to let you know, I carry Palm Equipment Drysuits, and their entry level suit the Silver I sell for under 300 dollars. It has a lifetime warrantee againt deffects and craftsmanship. So, drysuits aren't as expensive as everyone says.

I would always say that it depends on both the water and air temperature of where you paddle and to some extent how much you swim whilst doing what you love and how much cash you have to spare.
I think the American is pretty warm in the summer but can be a bit cooler in the Spring? If you end up swimming a lot as a beginner then a dry top won't help that much keeping you warm all day.

Over the last 25 years I've tried just about everything and the only way you really stay warm and dry is watching kayaking videos at home. However as it sounds like you are starting out and don't have so much cash here is my advice:

If you already have a pretty good spray top then a longjohn wetsuit would keep you warmer and still allow you pretty good freedom of movement. NRS makes good stuff and I would go for the Ultra john wetsuit for 20 U$ extra as the plush neoprene is much nicer. For sure you want to try one on in a shop before you buy it, as a wetsuit that is not tight fitting will be only slightly warmer than a paper bag. The other plus for a wetsuit is that it does give you a bit of paddling if you take a swim on a rocky river. If you go to paddle on a warm river on a hot summers day then you don't have to wear it.

A quality wetsuit will last you for years and you don't have to repair it much. A drysuit is much better for colder rivers and colder air temps, however even the cheep Palm suit will have to have the seals replaced from time to time and on a dry suit that's 5 seals! You also have to be careful with storage and the zipper. If the rivers are not cold the whole year round it's not such a good choice unless you boat the winter through.

A quality dry top is worth the expense but will tend to leak a bit with time. It will also have to have the seals replaced from time to time, mostly the neck seal. As I boat on fairly cool rivers I will wear a pair of NRS Hydroskin pants with boarder shorts over the top and a fleece or two under the drytop most days. For rafting I generally wear a 3mm wetsuit and a normal cheep spray top with a fleece under it.

Hope this helps,

Neil Newton Taylor
www.swiftwaterrescue.at

It really depends on where you live and what the water temp is. I use all of the above. Spingsuit wetsuit (2/3 mil), fullsuit wetsuit (3/2), and a top-notch Kokatat Drysuit. If you can ever get by with a wetsuit -vs- a drysuit do it. They are MUCH easier to get on and off, I find they are better by far in terms of not restricting your movement--especially if you get a good one (the 3/2 mil wetsuits of today are VERY thin and light weight and they keep you very warm--trap a thin layer of water between the rubber and your body which is then warmed and acts like seal fat really), and they are easy to clean and maintain. They are definitely less of a hassle. No sweaty, drippy layered underclothes. Takes seconds to put a wetsuit on vs minutes to struggle with a drysuit. *Again--depends on how cold the water you would be dealing with in a swim or dealing with splash is as being cold with a 3/2 mil wetsuit is as uncomfortable as being bulked up with a drysuit) And wetsuits up to 5mil exist but then you start getting restrictive movement at that thickness.

I don't love dry suits. But I do appreciate that they let me kayak when things are too cold for a wetsuit. SO they are part of my kit bag. But a wetsuit lets you feel more like you aren't wearing so much gear and clothing. I kayak with one on whenever I can get away with it (until I can just go in shorts here in Florida--which is my FAVORITE way to go when I can).