anyone here wear a baggy type drysuit, such as kokatat, with attached socks ? is it harder to get boots on ? since I would think you would wear regular socks underneath...you could gt away with thinner boots. example: 3mm instead off 5mm? do you have to up a size ?
I am thinking of in the off season adding to my suit.. but would like to hear from those that have used them .
With the modern wetsuits (built-in hoody and tight fitting super stretch neoprene) you might want to consider that instead. There is very little water that gets in and it works all throughout the winter for me.
Select to expand quoteskyking1231 said..
anyone here wear a baggy type drysuit, such as kokatat, with attached socks ? is it harder to get boots on ? since I would think you would wear regular socks underneath...you could gt away with thinner boots. example: 3mm instead off 5mm? do you have to up a size ?
I am thinking of in the off season adding to my suit.. but would like to hear from those that have used them .
I second using a modern wet suit. I have been using a O'Neil Psycho 5.5 with hood for the last two "winters" (I am in California), and it works splendid. Incredibly comfortable, feels like a second skin. I can go out our lowest, 6-8C, without any trouble. It is VERY warm.
I owned two dry suits, first back in the 80s, used mostly for sailing, and then around 2010, an Ocean Rodeo. I gave up on both because of the maintenance of the gaskets. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but in both cases the latex disintegrated at short random intervals, forcing convoluted, or expensive, replacements. Patagonia has a dry suit with neoprene guskets, but otherwise I would stay away.
For windsurfing in any sort of waves I prefer a wetsuit. But for flat water and winging I like the drysuit with attached socks.
I am out down below 0c in a particularly cold bit of ocean (surface temps down to 1-2c at times after it rains).
That's dedication to the sport, I'm whining like a plane full of pomes on a sub 10?C day
That above comment is funny because in 10 degrees most pommes are still wearing a shorty.
Poms or pommies...pommes is a kind of fruit, or maybe French for apple? Pomes...dunno
Select to expand quoteelmo said..
That's dedication to the sport, I'm whining like a plane full of pomes on a sub 10?C day
10?!? I'm in head to toe neoprene when it gets below 22!
It is all about mindset and correct clothing. ;)
The picture I posted above was taken last Saturday in Sweden. We had about -4?C in the morning but later in the day it was about +1?C in the sun and perfectly alright for sailing. :)
I have a C-skins 6:5 and I don't need anything extra under that.
I have a Kokatat with the built-in foot "socks." I like it. I wear wool socks inside. No problem getting into winter booties as well.
What you don't want to do is walk around without some kind of booties since you could put a hole in those "socks."
Its all about compromise.
Todays hooded wetsuits works well in wintertime but when your body temperature starts dropping usually because of windchill you wont get it up again. (or at least I wont)
Baggy "breathable " drysuits works perfectly well and let you keep on as long as you want. No windchill factor. Latex or Goretex like socks works ok but prefer the Goretex ones with wool socks underneath if comfort is a priority. They tend not to last to long though before getting a leakage usually through a seam and not perfect for swimming across the English channel.
My Personal favourite is the neoprene drysuits like Ion Fuse and the Mystic Vulcanic. The Vulcanic is my number one. Fits as wetsuit , Easy to get in/out with a front zip and just put under what you need in wool . Perfect for challenging a walruss in a swim contest in the ice. Lasts as long as you want them but needs replacing of latex seals every now and then.
Select to expand quotemusorianin said..
Poms or pommies...pommes is a kind of fruit, or maybe French for apple? Pomes...dunno
Really it is " POHME" Prisoner of His Majesties England, which in reality all Ozzies from the old days are......;)
Select to expand quoteBroken Fin said..
Its all about compromise.
Todays hooded wetsuits works well in wintertime but when your body temperature starts dropping usually because of windchill you wont get it up again. (or at least I wont)
Baggy "breathable " drysuits works perfectly well and let you keep on as long as you want. No windchill factor. Latex or Goretex like socks works ok but prefer the Goretex ones with wool socks underneath if comfort is a priority. They tend not to last to long though before getting a leakage usually through a seam and not perfect for swimming across the English channel.
My Personal favourite is the neoprene drysuits like Ion Fuse and the Mystic Vulcanic. The Vulcanic is my number one. Fits as wetsuit , Easy to get in/out with a front zip and just put under what you need in wool . Perfect for challenging a walruss in a swim contest in the ice. Lasts as long as you want them but needs replacing of latex seals every now and then.
Can you really swim in them? Do they significantly outlast a wetsuit?
Select to expand quoteGrantmac said..Broken Fin said..
Its all about compromise.
Todays hooded wetsuits works well in wintertime but when your body temperature starts dropping usually because of windchill you wont get it up again. (or at least I wont)
Baggy "breathable " drysuits works perfectly well and let you keep on as long as you want. No windchill factor. Latex or Goretex like socks works ok but prefer the Goretex ones with wool socks underneath if comfort is a priority. They tend not to last to long though before getting a leakage usually through a seam and not perfect for swimming across the English channel.
My Personal favourite is the neoprene drysuits like Ion Fuse and the Mystic Vulcanic. The Vulcanic is my number one. Fits as wetsuit , Easy to get in/out with a front zip and just put under what you need in wool . Perfect for challenging a walruss in a swim contest in the ice. Lasts as long as you want them but needs replacing of latex seals every now and then.
Can you really swim in them? Do they significantly outlast a wetsuit?
I could not could really swim in my dry suits, even if I got rid of most of the extra air, they were too loose to go any distance. Not a major concern unless you get detached from your board. And if you do you can just relax, and float, all toasty, waiting for a rescue 
The body of the drysuit can last a really long time, but again traditional latex seals need changing every couple of years. That can be spendy. At $50 a pop for the ankles/wist and more for the head you are looking at $200/300. Or you can do it yourself, but it is a messy job with lots of glue and it is difficult to do it right. It was relatively easy with my venerable Helly Hansen, almost impossible without proper tools with the Ocean Rodeo.
They do cost almost twice as much as a 5-6 mm wetsuit, so I would stay away, unless you are really sailing a lot at around zero or below centigrades.
I used a Gul Darthmouth suit for a while. really ok!
www.gul.com/watersports-drysuits/gul/dartmouth-eclip-zip-drysuit-blk-or-red/421648
Bought it for ? 300. Took the matching fleece suit for under the suit. But this was very warm. Only for really cold days. Did not like it because i was sweating too much.
Officially for sailing on boats but good enough for windsurfing. Half price of windsurfing dry suits.
I usually put bare feet into the rubber socks or very thin socks to prevent movement with 5/6 mm boots. Used in 2 degrees of air with 5 degree water and was warm.
Main benefit: dress up with long thermal underwear at home. Step into the suit without freezing your butt off, after the session take off the suit and step into your trousers.
only your head was a bit wet. The suit is also very thin so large freedom of movement. A 5/6 mm neoprene feels much more restricting.
Select to expand quoteGrantmac said..Broken Fin said..
Its all about compromise.
Todays hooded wetsuits works well in wintertime but when your body temperature starts dropping usually because of windchill you wont get it up again. (or at least I wont)
Baggy "breathable " drysuits works perfectly well and let you keep on as long as you want. No windchill factor. Latex or Goretex like socks works ok but prefer the Goretex ones with wool socks underneath if comfort is a priority. They tend not to last to long though before getting a leakage usually through a seam and not perfect for swimming across the English channel.
My Personal favourite is the neoprene drysuits like Ion Fuse and the Mystic Vulcanic. The Vulcanic is my number one. Fits as wetsuit , Easy to get in/out with a front zip and just put under what you need in wool . Perfect for challenging a walruss in a swim contest in the ice. Lasts as long as you want them but needs replacing of latex seals every now and then.
Can you really swim in them? Do they significantly outlast a wetsuit?
The Mystic Vulcanic is very close to a wetuit in regards of swimming but the rest is a bit loose on the body. THe nice fit of the Muystic makes it very nice to wear and let you move way more freely then in the 6/5 hooded wetsuits which are quite restricting. The Latex seals though are expensive to replace in a shop. Both the Ion and the Mystic are made of high quality neoprene that lasts.
Select to expand quoteskyking1231 said..
anyone here wear a baggy type drysuit, such as kokatat, with attached socks ? is it harder to get boots on ? since I would think you would wear regular socks underneath...you could gt away with thinner boots. example: 3mm instead off 5mm? do you have to up a size ?
I am thinking of in the off season adding to my suit.. but would like to hear from those that have used them .
I've Kokatat Meridian for kayaking and have been using it for windsurfing as well. I've used thin merino skiing socks underneath with 5mm boots one size bigger than usual. It's very easy to get boots on as goretex socks are slippery material.
Pros
- Keeps you very warm even with fairly thin layer of wool clothing underneath in temperatures low as 2 degrees
- There is no pressure to forearms like with thick wet suits => arms tend to get less tired
Cons
- Foot connection to board is worse than with just plain neoprene boot. Two layers of socks (wool and the suit's) move around and feeling is less direct and bit more tiring for feet
- Costs ~1500?. Would not buy just for windsurfing.
Select to expand quoteWind Smurf said..musorianin said..
Poms or pommies...pommes is a kind of fruit, or maybe French for apple? Pomes...dunno
Really it is " POHME" Prisoner of His Majesties England, which in reality all Ozzies from the old days are......;)
These days (post Brexit) those of us stupid enough to still be here are the prisoners! 
Temperature wise, mid winter is fine with a 5/4, any colder, and a loose windproof top would stop the wind chill, so best of both, ie no seals to renew, but the warmth of a drysuit.
Select to expand quotejontyh said..Wind Smurf said..musorianin said..
Poms or pommies...pommes is a kind of fruit, or maybe French for apple? Pomes...dunno
Really it is " POHME" Prisoner of His Majesties England, which in reality all Ozzies from the old days are......;)
These days (post Brexit) those of us stupid enough to still be here are the prisoners!
Temperature wise, mid winter is fine with a 5/4, any colder, and a loose windproof top would stop the wind chill, so best of both, ie no seals to renew, but the warmth of a drysuit.
2nd the loose windproof top over wetsuit, makes a big difference with a wetsuit because it eliminates windchill. I found the windproof jacket allowed me to use my 1.5 mm top easily down to 65 F, and on days in mid 70s F will use windproof jacket over long sleeve shirt and breathable undershirt to prevent windchill in 15-30 knot winds, depending on cloud cover too.
Select to expand quoteWind Smurf said..musorianin said..
Poms or pommies...pommes is a kind of fruit, or maybe French for apple? Pomes...dunno
Really it is " POHME" Prisoner of His Majesties England, which in reality all Ozzies from the old days are......;)
Google says "... The best-documented of these is that "pommy" originated as a contraction of "pomegranate". According to this explanation, "pomegranate" was Australian rhyming slang for "immigrant" (like "Jimmy Grant")."
baggy drysuits in shore break/surf I wouldn't do.
I like my kokatat because of the flexibility or freedom of movement. I feel like I am wearing regular clothes (which basically I am). compared to wetsuit or old school drysuit. I can layer up for the conditions too.
