Loxley
A Force-of-Nature **  
Member #: 1919 Posts 382
Registered: 26-5-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: all I need is everything...
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| posted on 10-1-2008 at 17:14 |
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Can anyone recommend a dry suit ?
My steamer is starting to see better days and I use a shorty most of the year anyway, so thought about investing in a dry suit.
Does anyone have any recommendations or makes/types to avoid ?
Will presume I need to budget about £220 to £250 is that reasonable ?
Thanks
Mark
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shem
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| posted on 10-1-2008 at 17:56 |
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From my own experience, stay away from Ocean Rodeo, I found that standard sailing dry suits work just as well if not better, are a lot
cheaper as well. As much as latex seals work well to begin with, neoprene has a far great life and less memory damage from stretching
on and off. Search around and 200 quid should get you a suit and wooly bear to go under. personally ill be sticking to me steamer.
Kite & SUP wales
Caravan decking wales
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mNeil
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| posted on 10-1-2008 at 19:47 |
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on my second typhoon Mark and they seem to be equal to the other far more expensive units. need to wear 2/3mm socks over the tops of
the ankle seals to stop water blasting up as per wet suits. i only wear a pair of wicking long john and long arm thermals and am
toasty...........mind you dont stay in the water for long as there is little thermal insulation from the suit when it touches .
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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Fat Shady
A Force-of-Nature * 
Member #: 1506 Posts 178
Registered: 6-10-2005 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 10-1-2008 at 20:31 |
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My Gul drysuit cost £200 and is still going strong two years later.
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danh
A Force-of-Nature * 
Member #: 1646 Posts 206
Registered: 30-12-2005 Member Is Offline Mood: Need new toys
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| posted on 11-1-2008 at 08:12 |
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I 2nd fat shady, my gul drysuit cost £200 and is quality.
why tip toe through life only to arrive safely at death?
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baileyman
Pro
Member #: 1933 Posts 114
Registered: 1-6-2006 Location: Leamington Spa Member Is Offline Mood: Reflective
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| posted on 11-1-2008 at 08:55 |
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Agree with Shem
Just bought a "Gul Enforcer - back zip" from Watersportswarehouse.co.uk £235 including a thermal suit. You'll need to call them
about this model as they only show the front zip version.
All breathable etc.
It's got neoprene neck and wrist seals and has latex ankle seals - but has a neoprene ankle cover that hooks over your foot - so put
your boots over the top and no water shoot up your leg.
Here's the link to the page :- http://www.watersportswarehouse.co.uk/shopscr1432.html />
Was hoping to use it this w/e but the winds buggred off!!
Rich
[Edited on 11-1-2008 by baileyman]
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Loxley
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 1919 Posts 382
Registered: 26-5-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: all I need is everything...
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| posted on 11-1-2008 at 11:37 |
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Hi Rich / Neil / Shem
thanks for the link.
why buy 'back-zip' rather than 'front-zip' ?
also, my size doesnt quite fit large or xlarge on that link.
i am over 6'3 so only just fitting in the body, but am 35/36 on the waist and only 41/42 on the chest so to get the length I will have
to go for a baggy arse and chest, will this have any effect on warmth factor or do I just wear a thicker fleece ?
as it is, I get hot very easily and I dont want to melt.
Mark
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Noo Noo
Hot shot 
Member #: 6532 Posts 71
Registered: 16-4-2007 Member Is Offline Mood: I like to be wet
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| posted on 11-1-2008 at 12:12 |
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Just a thought Mark and I've had no experience or even seen one. It'll break your budget too but Ocean Rodeo now do a proper surfing
Dry Suit. Dont even ask me what's different. Worth a few moments research I suppose..............
Like I said I've no idea how good it is or what ever.
me - I'm the one fumbling round in the back of a small car with the engine running trying to get changed without getting the car wet,
keeping doors closed and not blinding passers by.
The only kiter in the village
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mNeil
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| posted on 11-1-2008 at 12:51 |
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i remember Phill had one made especially large for himself; at the present cannot remember his use name but it might come to me;
you could try Nigel at typhoon 01642486104
he might have a suggestion and even get one made for you. good luck
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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Dandine
A Force-of-Nature * 
Member #: 2742 Posts 231
Registered: 29-10-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: Work is for losers
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| posted on 11-1-2008 at 14:49 |
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Well my Ocean Rodeo Pyro Pro is faultless. It costs more i know but has not let me down. But second what everyone else say's about the
gul's, they seem spot on.
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nick-r
A Force-of-Nature * 
Member #: 1260 Posts 257
Registered: 20-3-2005 Member Is Offline Mood: lazy
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| posted on 11-1-2008 at 18:29 |
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i'm not sure i'd reccomend one mark.....i used mine all last winter but could never work out if i was wet due to sweating or
leaking......i only ever got out of the water dry, once. on the other hand, almost everyone else seemed quite happy with their suit.
i'd go with a good wetsuit nextime.
http://www.rcad.co.uk/borthsurf.html
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Loxley
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 1919 Posts 382
Registered: 26-5-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: all I need is everything...
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| posted on 17-11-2008 at 13:49 |
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Well I posted this nearly a year ago and never got around to buying a dry suit but carried on with my wetsuit. But another years wear
has seen it getting a lot more 'tired' now and it will not do another winter season.
Have been looking into the dry suit option again... Anyone any ideas on this model for suitability ....
http://www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=28_97_99&products_id=1631
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mNeil
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| posted on 17-11-2008 at 18:35 |
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woww looks a great price. with latex socks fitted you will have to wear a form of boot underneath lest they get cut. my first suit had
socks and they are great once you find a suitable thin shoe/boot; my current suit just has ankle seals and i wear thin 2m sock over
them to stop the water shooting up the legs. having seen the Gul suits next time i will choose one of those. Nicks comment about being
wet; like Col he sweats too much, cut down on the layers underneath; i only wear a pair of wicking long jons and long sleeve top even
in winter and i'm toasty without sweating.
A KITE IS FOR LIFE!! THAT IS IF ITS A YARGA.
founder of storm'n Normans van club!
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col123
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| posted on 17-11-2008 at 20:07 |
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yea neils right, i haven't got the layering right yet, i sweat too much, but at least i'm warm..
i'm on third season with the ocean rodeo pyro pro and it's still going strong, i have just had new seals put on, i accidently ripped
the neck seal so went for a neoprene neck and latex ankle and wrists, i didn't really need the ankles etc doing but i thought while it
was in for repair it'll keep going, if anything i was too hot on saturday, either that or i weeeeeeed again (must be a bladder
thing.catching up with neil you know!!)
Shem you must have had a duff suit, the ocean rodeo is still our best selling drysuit at the shop, with over 200 sold in two years, the
only returns we get are from people who brought the wrong sizes and are swapping for next size up or down...i mean my suit is a medium
but someone put XL in the size label
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dunk
A Force-of-Nature *** 
Member #: 570 Posts 606
Registered: 2-3-2004 Member Is Offline Mood: Spaced out
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| posted on 17-11-2008 at 20:17 |
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I wear dry suits day in day out for work in the Winter, but I think they suck for kitesurfing.
I suppose they're ok if its onshore and you stay in you depth, but don't ever try to swim in one. Drop you kite and packdown in the
Winter, you'll just be like a big crisp bag going with the rip. Burst a seal or a zip, and all your body heat is gone in a flash.
Beware
Dunk
KITE / SAIL REPAIRS
http://www.jonnieeisler.com
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jon d hat
A Force-of-Nature ** 
Member #: 1437 Posts 410
Registered: 11-8-2005 Member Is Offline Mood: Not long to go..Morocco again!
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| posted on 17-11-2008 at 21:30 |
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Hey Mark, that GUL looks the biz for the money. I'm with the Ocean Rodeo boys myself. this was because of the sizing that was
available. Being that I weigh about 15 stone and am 6'3", I went for the Large tall which seems to be a perfect fit. The Pyro has latex
seals all round and a front loading zip. Like Niel, I wear a fast wicking set of long johns an a similarly constructed thin fleece top
as a base layer, however, if it ain't that cold or you have an epic session, you will get a tad damp.
As pointed out by Dunk, beware if you spend any amount of time in the drink, you will soon lose your core temperature but as for
swimming, its a matter of technique. I have used drysuits on a number of occasions for white water safety courses which often require
you to self rescue from grade 3 and 4 rapids, without any problems. You just have to ensure that you expell the majority of the air.
Anyway..I saw this Drysuit, packed with features and has to be the coolest looker on the market.
http://www.npxwetsuits.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=156&Itemid=306 />
I must say though that I still prefere to use a wettie for as long as is possible before I switch. for the sort of $$ you are
considering spending on a drysuit, you could get a fab wetsuit. Check this out, Its suposedly the warmest wettie on the market and has
wone awards 2 years on the bounce.
http://xcelwetsuits.com/surf/index.php?area=products />
Good luck buddy
[Edited on 17-11-2008 by jon d hat]
When you're close to the EDGE....Trust your INSTINCT....!
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shem
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| posted on 17-11-2008 at 21:37 |
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I just priced up new seals for my ocean rodeo, as the seals only lasted one year, and it seems stupid having it sat there doin nothing,
but Ive been quoted £90 plus carage both ways for new seals, which seems colstly when I could buy a new dry suit for a little
more!!!! I totally back up dunks point of view, for me a wet suit is way better and way safer as well.
Kite & SUP wales
Caravan decking wales
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jon d hat
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 1437 Posts 410
Registered: 11-8-2005 Member Is Offline Mood: Not long to go..Morocco again!
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| posted on 17-11-2008 at 21:37 |
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Ok, so the link to the wettie doesn't take you straight there. youneed to scroll allong the product screens till you get to the
Infinity Hooded 6/5/4 Fullsuit
When you're close to the EDGE....Trust your INSTINCT....!
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jon d hat
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 1437 Posts 410
Registered: 11-8-2005 Member Is Offline Mood: Not long to go..Morocco again!
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| posted on 17-11-2008 at 21:42 |
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Hey shem.. there is a lady called Delia Ellard the lives in Rugby who replaces seals. She replaced my neck seal in my Kayack cag (
which is identicle to the O.R seal) for £30. that was with the cost of the seal. I think Dunk knows her. If not, I'll try ang get
her tel. no. of one of my mates from the local kayak club
When you're close to the EDGE....Trust your INSTINCT....!
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Loxley
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 1919 Posts 382
Registered: 26-5-2006 Member Is Offline Mood: all I need is everything...
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| posted on 18-11-2008 at 15:27 |
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Well some more advice to consider. Dunk scared me a bit the other night with tales of split zips/suits and water filling them up and
dragging you to the bottom, but not sure if he wasn't winding me up again or not.
That said, I am more than warm enough in my 5/3 at the moment, it just seems more cosy to be able to get in and out of a dry suit
without having to put it on again wet ( sweat damp notwithstanding ).
I like the look of the NPX one and viewed the video on their site but at £450 and not available till next March, I will have to
consider an alternative.
[Edited on 18-11-2008 by Loxley]
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