Hi, I am absolute beginer so sorry if that question will seem stupid. I recently moved from another country where I was trying to learn a bit about windsurfing and kitesurfing. There was really cold water and I had very cheap simple wetsuit which was always stopping me from learning better(I am those type of person who always feels cold). So now I moved here and water here is also not the hottest one. Could you guys advice what would help me from being cold wet or dry suit because I always thought that whatever wetsuit is it will make me cold anyway however recently I read on this forum that there is some modern wetsuits which could be even used in winter....Is it true? I was also thinking and actually trying dry suit in kayaking and I felt a little bit chill in it too. So would you advice me? Although another question which bothers me - what is better to learn in bc conditions - windsurfing or kitesurfing? I read its not much of shallow water for kitesurfing noob... Thanks, Sofi
Hi Sofi, welcome to BC. I live in Kelowna but cold weather kiting is the same pretty much everywhere. I have used both wet and dry suits in the middle of the winter. Here is my 2 cents:
Drysuit - less mobility than wet suit, some people find the gaskets too restrictive, but it's nice getting changed and not having to deal with bone chilling wind on naked skin...
Wetsuit - greater mobility. ( I take a thermos full of hot water and dump it into my suit after the session, makes for a nice stream bath before stripping down.
Other than my hands I have never been too cold on the water, in fact there are times when I get too hot. My low limit is 4deg.
I hope that helps a little. I'm sure others will have more opinions for you.
A decade ago drysuits were popular but they are rare now. A good wetsuit is less expensive and more comfortable to wear and keeps you warm.
A drysuit is nicer to put on and take off but you never have the right amount of warmth. I you are comfortable when above the water, you will find it cold when you are in the water. Drysuit zippers can fail and the latex gaskets often degrade and both can be a problem to replace. I always felt like I was wearing a snowsuit when in a drysuit.
Virtually everyone around here wears wetsuits these days including in the cold winter months. (My Oneill psychofreak 4/3 works fine in January and also at Squamish in the summer.)
cglazier wrote:A decade ago drysuits were popular but they are rare now.
Chris - gotta disagree with many of your points.
Drysuits have improved immensely in the past 10 years. A decade ago, they were made from a very stiff and non-breathable urethane-coated nylon and had heavy, stiff, and easily-damaged brass dry zippers. If you perspired while wearing the suit, that moisture would condense on the inside the suit and make your inner thermal ( fleece ) layer damp and soggy.
Drysuits today are made from a breathable composite of soft & flexible nylon on the outside ( except at high-wear areas where most drysuits have heavier nylon for scuff protection, such as at the knees and seat ) a breathable and thin membrane ( i.e. GoreTex and others), and a very thin fabric inner layer to protect the membrane. And they do breathe, if you are warm and perspiring that water vapour will go out through the suit, keeping you dry inside the suit. The softer, more flexible fabric also makes them very comfortable to wear, with better mobility IMO than a thick wetsuit.
Modern drysuits now have plastic dry zippers which are much lighter, far more flexible, and very durable. Replacing neck, wrist, and ankle gaskets isn't difficult, either DIY if you are handy, or have them replaced at Comox Kite Repair, who stock a wide selection of Seamtite seals and TiZip dry zippers.
Here on northern Vancouver Island where we get lots of fall, winter and spring kiting, and drysuits are very common, more than half the kiters out at our local spot in the winter are in drysuits, most in suits made by Ocean Rodeo, but also in NPX and other brands.
With a modern drysuit, you can wear sufficient inner layers to keep you warm when in the water. If you're riding hard and getting hot, cool off with either a quick dip, or remove your hat ( or hood, some drysuits come with a hood ) until you cool down.
I do agree with Chris that wetsuits work well and can be made even warmer with an under-layer of polyester or polypro ( fabrics that still provide warm when wet ) or a light windbreaking top on the outside to reduce the windchill on your core ( light kayaking drytops work really well for this ). The key to a warm wetsuit is a tight fit, if the suit doesn't conform to all your body's curves, anywhere the suit pulls away from your skin forming an air pocket will fill with water when in, then usually drain when up and out. A suit that flushes a lot of water with an in-out cycle will not keep you warm.
Now off to the shops - go and try on some of both !
We are in China Creek in Port Alberni the water isnt too cold but I still wear a dry suit. Staying dry keeps the chill from creeping in. Ocean Rodeo makes a great flexible suit. I can do tricks no problem.