Should I Get a Drysuit?

[Higgy]

I like water hunting. I mostly do summer freshwater when its warm enough not to cause significant shrinkage of my wee nutties, but I would also love to extend my season both Fall and Spring. I'm also a PADI diver, but never had a drysuit. If I get into winter saltwater hunting, should I get a drysuit? What do you hardcore folks do? In my opinion, I could do a wetsuit, but would not be able to stay in the water as long as a nice drysuit with thermals under it.

Any advice or opinions here would really be welcome.

 

[gamiller]

Can't help, all I know is that there a little pricey.

 

[CASPER-2]

I HUNT NEW ENGLAND WATERS YEAR ROUND - I WEAR A 7MM 2 PIECE WITH 7MM GLOVES AND 7MM BOOTS - I USUALLY GET TIRED BEFORE I GET COLD
BUT WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT - I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE A DRY SUIT BECAUSE IM ON MEDS WHERE I HAVE TO GO EVERY HOUR AND MY DRY SUIT WOULD BECOME A WET SUIT - WHEN I WAS YOUNGER - HEARD OF A FEW GUYS GETTING SLICES IN THEIR DRY SUITS AND THEY FILLED RIGHT UP - ONE GUY DROWNED - OTHER BARELY MADE IT - SO NOT FOR ME

 

[CASPER-2]

I'LL SEND YOU A LINK TO SOME ARTICLES IVE WRITEN - HAVE ONE OR TWO ON COLD WATER HUNTING

 

[Higgy]

I HUNT NEW ENGLAND WATERS YEAR ROUND - I WEAR A 7MM 2 PIECE WITH 7MM GLOVES AND 7MM BOOTS - I USUALLY GET TIRED BEFORE I GET COLD

This is exactly what I wanted to hear, Casper. Sounds like a quality wetsuit and gear is the way to go. And thank you so much for the articles!

 

[WaterWalker]

I have been detecting in the water since '92 and now I wear either a swim suit or breathable waders in the summer, a 5mil pair of waders in the winter and a wet suit as conditions dictate (sun, surf, singy-thingies). I also have a dry suit and it is very nice in the winter if the surf is a bit rough for waders or I want to get that extra 3-4 inches of depth without getting wet. I just do not have the -what ever it takes- to get changed from a wet suit to dry clothes when the temperature is in the low 30sF. Again as with detectors, no one product does-it-all. Here, with personal protection, it comes down to personal preference and not which is "best".

 

[TheRingFinder]

I'm from Minnesota and a diver - I am dry suit certified, though I won't wear one. They are to cumbersome and no matter what your wear underneath - you still freeze. A good wetsuit will get you into late fall and early spring. FYI - Casper, they do make a "pee port" for dry suits - it's a condom with a little hose and one way valve.

 

[penzfan]

I use these in the warm waters of Florida and they work great:

http://www.leisurepro.com/p-blrlm/neosport-unisex-lycra-spandex-skin-suit

 

[Jason in Enid]

I'm from Minnesota and a diver - I am dry suit certified, though I won't wear one. They are to cumbersome and no matter what your wear underneath - you still freeze. A good wetsuit will get you into late fall and early spring. FYI - Casper, they do make a "pee port" for dry suits - it's a condom with a little hose and one way valve.

Holy carp, you need to find someone to show you a good drysuit / undies combo! I have never gone back to thick wetsuits since I got my drysuit.

PS the urination drains are called "p-valves".

 

[OBN]

Holy carp, you need to find someone to show you a good drysuit / undies combo! I have never gone back to thick wetsuits since I got my drysuit.

PS the urination drains are called "p-valves".

100%

 

[OBN]

I am a firm believer in drysuits, If your cold in a drysuit then something is wrong. I can go out to chest deep for hours in 36 degrees waters and still be toasty, the only issue I had was keeping my hands warm but I solved that with some good gloves which limits me to about chest deep because of the design, and they are very flexible. Can pick up the smallest items, which is a problem with neoprene gloves. I have a light drysuit I wear early summer or late , which protects me from any bacteria, jelly fish, and it is a quick in and out and I'm dry...Winter I wear the heavy duties, nothing better then being dry...when the water is in the 30's....The only thing I have yet to over come is the winds when it is cold..


Out in 36 degree waters, feb...airtemp was a good day..in the 50's, rare but nice to slip out and hunt during the winter

 

[TheRingFinder]

Holy carp, you need to find someone to show you a good drysuit / undies combo! I have never gone back to thick wetsuits since I got my drysuit.

PS the urination drains are called "p-valves".

I wore a Bare dry suit - one of the best out there, I was told? I had thermal under wear and gloves. (I'm from Minnesota, I think I know how to dress for cold) - Try working out in 50 below wind-chill sometime. I went in the water 36 degrees, my fingers were numb and my lips were so cold I couldn't keep my regulator in my mouth. I dive for fun, and that was not fun - so no more dry suit for me.

 

[TwistedElvis]

If you are going to spend any amount of time in cold water go with a dry suit.

 

[OBN]

It took me a few years to find the right combo of keeping warm in cold waters and that really is above water, chest deep. I would have no clue how to keep ones face warm in the water. I do know the neoprene gloves were useless below 40 for extended periods of time for me. Also found I needed to buy bigger dive boots just for cold waters because I needed to wear neoprene sox's along with thermo wool sox's to keep the feet warm. Then regular long johns with a quilted type of underwear and with a good base layer of Synthetic under ware. Seems my main body is fine with just the quilted underwear, and the good base layer. Been looking at DUI zipseal gloves for one of my drysuits, but for right now using Atlas 282's that I modded with a old military drysuits sleeves. As far as the head, working on a neoprene hood for those windy days which I hate but when the right conditions open up weather should not make a difference. They will have the headphone intrigued into the hood. Here is a pic of the first attempt, perfect for those early windy spring days. But will be a full hood.



some of the goods



One of my favorite work drysuits, got off of ebay for 150.oo



And a good price..with no leaks.

 

[lost items recovery]

Geeez you guys are hardcore. Save your money on cold water gear.. Move to Florida!
Anything out there in the line of shark proof?

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[River Hound]

Howdy do you need to pee much its difficult in a dry suit neoprene should do it

 

[Jason in Enid]

I wore a Bare dry suit - one of the best out there, I was told? I had thermal under wear and gloves. (I'm from Minnesota, I think I know how to dress for cold) - Try working out in 50 below wind-chill sometime. I went in the water 36 degrees, my fingers were numb and my lips were so cold I couldn't keep my regulator in my mouth. I dive for fun, and that was not fun - so no more dry suit for me.

IF you can dive in heavy neoprene you can dive much warmer in a drysuit. All thermals are not the same and drysuit diving is NOT walking around on the surface in a bunch of layers. There are lots of different designs and constructions of drysuits too. BARE does make nice stuff but that doesn't mean you in the appropriate BARE drysuit. Cold hands means you didn't have drygloves and need them. Cold lips will happen regardless of what suit you wear, so you can't blame that on a drysuit.

 

[TheRingFinder]

IF you can dive in heavy neoprene you can dive much warmer in a drysuit. All thermals are not the same and drysuit diving is NOT walking around on the surface in a bunch of layers. There are lots of different designs and constructions of drysuits too. BARE does make nice stuff but that doesn't mean you in the appropriate BARE drysuit. Cold hands means you didn't have drygloves and need them. Cold lips will happen regardless of what suit you wear, so you can't blame that on a drysuit.

Yeah = I'll leave that dry-suit diving to you guys, I'll stick with the other suggestion In this thread and move to Florida!!! Keep Warm!!

 

[FarmerChick]

only if ya don't look like a beached orca in it

I do warm things. I won't (any time soon) be doing cold water situations, but if I did, YES I WOULD invest in good clothing/accessories to make my hunting safe and enjoyable.

 

[Higgy]

My only concern with the drysuit is the cost. Wicked. However, a drysuit would be most-handy to change out of when the day is done. Decisions decisions!