I've been looking at the Kokatat Super Nova semi dry suit or the Anglers version which is a little heavier duty. Have a friend with the Goretex version full dry suit and he said the latex neck is bloody uncomfortable but seals completely, but he often kayaks in snow and almost freezing water. The semi dry suits have a neoprene seal on the neck and latex on the wrists. From what I've read, you can expect a little wicking of moisture around the neck on the semi-dry, not a biggie though.

Can't quite decide if it is all more trouble and expense than it's worth, but it would be bloody nice to be warm and dry for winter downwinders. Looking at US sites the semi dry suits go for between about 500 and 600 US, not that much more than a good sealed winter wetsuit I guess.

kokatat.com/product_detail.asp?code=sna

Ocean Rodeo make a surfing and SUP specific suits - oceanrodeo.com/support/?v=7516fd43adaa

Looked at the Ocean Rodeo suits, nice....and seem to be much more about action sports than the Kokatat kayak/angling gear. Although come to think of it white water rafting is about as "action" as it gets. Kokatat have been doing suits for a long time and have a real following, tricky call - quite like the "relief zip" and the built in sealed booties on the Kokatat, not sure how you would have a pee if you were doing a long long paddle and you certainly need to if you have really water loaded before you go.

Good discussion on the Zone about the same thing

www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=5448.0

JonathanC said...

Looked at the Ocean Rodeo suits, nice....and seem to be much more about action sports than the Kokatat kayak/angling gear. Although come to think of it white water rafting is about as "action" as it gets. Kokatat have been doing suits for a long time and have a real following, tricky call - quite like the "relief zip" and the built in sealed booties on the Kokatat, not sure how you would have a pee if you were doing a long long paddle and you certainly need to if you have really water loaded before you go.

I have a couple friends at home that surf in them (ocean rodeo) - Kokatat make great dry suits, I wore them when I was sailing dingys.

No matter how much a wet suit company bangs on about how great the breathability of there suit is you will always sweat and get condensation in the suit. Trick is to wear a good fleece and/or under layer to wick the mousture away from the body.

Could always try the heated rip curl wet suit - I'd imagine it would be the same price as some of the wet suits out there.