Checked overseas forums and got Helly Hansen LIFA fabric long sleeve shirt and long johns - synthetic base layer garments that wick any sweat away.
Already Tried the LIFA shirt under motorbike jacket - did not feel sweaty under my backpack when I got back from work on a reasonably warm afternoon (normally I would be if I wore a cotton tee shirt instead).

You get older, kids leave, got a bit of spare cash, I don't smoke, don't drink, can't take it with me, might as well spend it on my favourite hobby

Decided to try it despite the negative comments from this forum because I spoke to some end users in Australia who like the Gortex ones - notably kitesurfing instructor Ben from Port Kembla who uses them up to 20C air temperature.

Ocean Rodeo is not Gortex - some other supposedly breathable fabric.

Anyway, will post an honest review once I try it a few times.

yeah i always love how people selling the gear are so positive about how great it is.

you'd never think they had some kind of agenda or something

Swavek said..
You get older, kids leave, got a bit of spare cash, I don't smoke, don't drink, can't take it with me, might as well spend it on my favourite hobby

Decided to try it despite the negative comments from this forum ...
Anyway, will post an honest review once I try it a few times.

Maybe you would have got a better response in the foils forum, we're a bit old skool here, we use boards

Swavek said..
Ben is from Unhooked Water-sports Port Kembla - he does not sell any dry suits but has been using them for a while.

Kokatat is a US brand from California. They had production disruption due to covid and the next production batch will not be available till September. Managed to find my size on sale in one of the US stores and bought it (from Kayak Academy Washington). Will see how it goes in Perth this winter.

if you see a bloke dressed for skiing walking into the river with a kite and hydrofoil... that will be me :-)

Oh so you did buy one for Perth. Well why not I suppose - you won't be cold that's for sure.
then again nor will anyone else. Bahahahahahahahaha


why not I say, go for it.

Tried my drysuit today, sunrise to 9 am session, air temp 15 deg C, water probably about 20 C.

Glad I did not listen to all the negative comments, it worked a treat. Not a trace of feeling sweaty, not restricting movements at all. Had just a base layer Helly Hanson top and bottom + socks and was a bit chilly if anything but not cold. Will wear a jumper on top for the next session (under drysuit of course).Whatever others tried is not what I have. Fully breathable material, so much nicer to get out from the car wearing what you kite in and jump into drysuit.

Same when done, take it off, fully dry, put your pants on, done!

The neck seal was choking me when I got it, trimmed it about 15mm and left it stretching on a vase for 3 days, no issues today, something you need to do if you have a big neck.

Note that I vouch for what I got only (Kokatat goretex), never tried any other brand, there are lots of less expensive options but maybe they are the sweaty ones?

According to some users a dry suit can last over 10 years if you look after it, it might be a less expensive option in the long run.

weebitbreezy said..
My drysuit is going strong still after 5 years. The thing that goes is the seals. I use Mcnetts Seal Saver. This stops the latex gaskets from drying out and going brittle. Its also worth getting a treatment for the zip too to stop it seizing up whilst its left in storage.

I got recommendation for '303 protectant' for seals (used to be called '303 Aerospace protectant'. Yes, got the zipper lube as well.

Mark _australia said..

Swavek said..
Anyone tried drysuit for Perth winter kiting?

No. Kiters and windsurfers in Perth have used about a 3x2 wettie for decades. OMG, grow a pair.
Or do u mean Perth in Scotland?

Now we see you spent $800 on a wettie and are bagging it. I think the whole thread is a sh!tstir.

My base model 3x2 (back zip thing ) is fine for perth winter 25-35kn storm windsurfing so you will be fine without a $800 wettie, or drysuit. Petal.
I used my 3x2 (back zip thing) in Esperance 15yrs ago, 19deg water 14deg air, 30kn, hail. I didn't die. Or feel the need to post about it. It wasn't ideal but I didn't die.

I wish i was this tough, and didn't feel the cold. Always great to judge other with no knowledge of their individual circumstances.

Kited in 7 degrees early this morning with 30-39kn of SW freezing wind courtesy of antarctica and rain squalls, water temp around 15-16 (it's not winter yet). Took a couple hours to warm up and went out for another session. I'm not tough, I feel the cold... everyone does, but still no-one wearing a dry suit. It would be a bit like wearing a raincoat in the shower.

eppo said..
Reckon I'd be bloody tempted though. I've surfed over your side on a cold Vic day and I've never been so cold in my life ! Soft sand groper.

Haha, you get used to it kind of, I know I went soft after a few years in Sydney

Swavek said..

Peahi said..
Kited in 7 degrees early this morning with 30-39kn of SW freezing wind courtesy of antarctica and rain squalls, water temp around 15-16 (it's not winter yet). Took a couple hours to warm up and went out for another session. I'm not tough, I feel the cold... everyone does, but still no-one wearing a dry suit. It would be a bit like wearing a raincoat in the shower.

Is being cold a pleasant part of kiting for you? Suggest don't wear a wetsuit at all, would be even 'more fun'.

Just had a chunk of my back cut out - dry suit came handy, can kite before the stitches are out, a little bonus I have not considered.

Nah I go one better. I wear lycra, and to warm up I do a few laps on the bike path on my rollerblades and a wind ding.