Winter-gear equipment

[liberdy]

Winter.

Again.

 

The drysuit is my matter pending.

It seems that the Gul Astro has no more evolutions since 2011.

On the other hand Ocean Rodeo has the Soul.

What of them would you recomend?

Or any other.

 

But a drysuit without a good protection for hands and feet is for nothing.

Is there any good boots or golves that can fit the drysuit so as not to have frozen extremities?

[Dragnfly]

I love my gul enforcer. It works well with any boots and gloves as it has Velcro cuffs on wrists and ankles, so your glove/ boot goes over the rubber seal, but under the cuff, so hardly any water gets into them either. It's a back zip which is better than the astro as it isn't trapped under your harness, and its really easy to unzip yourself. It's less than half the price of a soul too.

 

 

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[lives2fly]

Just noticed you're in Spain. If I don't need a drysuit in the Hebrides you really don't need one 1500 miles further south

 

But if you do get one the Xcel drylock boots work really well with latex ankle seals. and Mystic do mits with no palm section that keep the worst of the cold off your hands without tiring out your forearms.

[Skyhooked]

Any wetsuit boots or gloves will work with the Ocean Rodeo Soul.

 

Dunno if anyone else has noticed, but wetsuit boots have rocketed in price - saw a pair of Patagonias for £80...still gonna wear through within a winter from walking to the beach haha.

 

Everyone will have different experiences with drysuits but I'm a believer in that you get what you pay for, and for that reason some are more expensive (dependable ) than others...

 

http://www.surfsanctuary.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1401814_763524273673801_1250308077_o.jpg

 

http://www.surfsanctuary.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1415561_763523907007171_346539028_o.jpg

[g0nz01599968659]

At an mistral hot are the warmest winter boots. 6mm, full plush lining, smooth skin foot cookers. Bit thick with straps maybe but nice strapless. Gloves are a super personal thing I find... The thinnest are the best, but if it's proper parky out I have a set of lobster claw ones from Othree down at Portland, technically a dive glove I think but I don't get cold in them.

 

I think the most important thing is to not let yourself get cold before you get on the water. Put ya suit on in the warm and wear gloves and a hat while your setting up. If I get on the water feeling warm enough I have a much better session than if I'm cold and trying to warm up.

 

Dan

[liberdy]

Just noticed you're in Spain. If I don't need a drysuit in the Hebrides you really don't need one 1500 miles further south

 

Well, I do not know how is going on in the Hebrides, but here I kite on the reservoirs near Madrid. Right now, 20.30h it is 4ºC. This morning, 10.00h, was -1ºC.

In winter kiting between 0-5ºC is usual. Imagine the thermal sensation. This morning, that -1ºC, thermal sensation was -4ºC. And there was no wind.

So, I think that your kiting in the Hebrides seems to be kiting in the Caribean

 

I think the soul is the top.

Even a fly, for that moments.

And I think is mad expensive.

Time to reflect.

But the Gul has been always an option.

 

I also think that gloves ''The thinnest are the best''. I cant bear the strong arms you need to resist with the thicker ones.

 

I'll revise your advice.

[liberdy]

and Mystic do mits with no palm section that keep the worst of the cold off your hands without tiring out your forearms.

 

perfect

my most precious aspiration

problem may not be warm enough

above all if you came in contact with water and your hands became cold

[andrew pattullo]

got my new ion 5m 5 5 element well toasty ,so warm had a shock when I got a face full of ice cold sea water !

[liberdy]

I have found this

Ion Claw Glove

Curved gloves, to avoid cramp arms.

Have you test it?

Ion Claw Glove - Surfstore

[TheJake]

I'm using Ion Claws - great stuff, I'm on my second pair and I wouldn't swap them for anything else.

[kiteingcolin]

I love my gul enforcer. It works well with any boots and gloves as it has Velcro cuffs on wrists and ankles, so your glove/ boot goes over the rubber seal, but under the cuff, so hardly any water gets into them either. It's a back zip which is better than the astro as it isn't trapped under your harness, and its really easy to unzip yourself. It's less than half the price of a soul too.

 

 

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With you all the way,

I have gull enforcer dry suits with the zip across the back, 2 x 2012 with the brass zip, 1x 2013 plastic zip across the back, and the latest 2014, plastic zip Across the back, (yes I like to collect and compare)

Brilliant suits, the plastic zip is better as it is so easy to use, but I guess the brass ones will last over 10 years easy,

 

Neoprene neck seal and cuff seals are so much better than the old style latex ones, overall much tougher than any wet suits, last longer and much warmer with ease of mobility,

Wetsuits are ok but fall well behind the new dry suits, I have around 4 top drawer winter wet suits, and they are great but take ages to get on/off, no where near as warm, and take days to dry out.

 

And no, dry suits don't puncture, in 35 years of using them I have never known one to puncture whilst in use, mine or anybody else's,

The RNLI use them as standard clothing.

[cowboy54]

With you all the way,

I have gull enforcer dry suits with the zip across the back, 2 x 2012 with the brass zip, 1x 2013 plastic zip across the back, and the latest 2014, plastic zip Across the back, (yes I like to collect and compare)

Brilliant suits, the plastic zip is better as it is so easy to use, but I guess the brass ones will last over 10 years easy,

 

Neoprene neck seal and cuff seals are so much better than the old style latex ones, overall much tougher than any wet suits, last longer and much warmer with ease of mobility,

Wetsuits are ok but fall well behind the new dry suits, I have around 4 top drawer winter wet suits, and they are great but take ages to get on/off, no where near as warm, and take days to dry out.

 

And no, dry suits don't puncture, in 35 years of using them I have never known one to puncture whilst in use, mine or anybody else's,

The RNLI use them as standard clothing.

 

What do you use under the gul suit?

Normal clothes, fleece liner or dry wick thermals?

[C00KIE]

With you all the way,

And no, dry suits don't puncture, in 35 years of using them I have never known one to puncture whilst in use, mine or anybody else's,

The RNLI use them as standard clothing.

My Ocean Rodeo Pyro Pro got a tiny hole in the crutch. As I was wearing it teaching and often in waist deep water my legs got soaked in a few minutes. Very cold. Fixed the hole (had to blow up the suit and submerge to find a tiny stream of bubbles, so only a pinprick hole) but dont use it as a cant trust it if I had to do a deepwater packdown. Wetsuit with a windproof top for me

[Dragnfly]

Under my gul I wear thermal leggings. Wicking T shirt, thermal top, and the fleecy onezie thing.

 

 

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[broraboyan]

Sounds warm dragnfly, where did you buy the onezie?

[mick]

Sounds warm dragnfly, where did you buy the onezie?

 

Oh no. Onezies !! I despair now.

[broraboyan]

Here's your kind of underware mick http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/01711/Onesie_Main_620_1711480a.jpg

[mick]

Here's your kind of underware mick http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/01711/Onesie_Main_620_1711480a.jpg

 

Not wrong there.

[saltire]

My Gul astro has served me well for 3 years now, only wish they had fitted neoprene to the ankles seals as well .No issues with the zip but i do clean and lubricate it regular.

[liberdy]

taking notes

[Dragnfly]

Onzie - came free with the suit. Wetsuit outlet dish them out gratis with their dry suits.

 

 

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[broraboyan]

That's a bonus there