I am wanting to do longer kayak trips over more open water and thinking of wearing a wetsuit for that and training purposes also---rolls and reentry training...How do i balance overheating (pour water on me?)LOL vs saving my life in an extended swim in 56 degree water? What is flatlock wetsuit and 4/3 sealed? I understand the mm thing -- 4 mm on torso but what is the 'sealed' label mean? My scuba diving wife says to get 5mm minimum while some sites say 3/2 for kayaking is fine?
I have never dumped my kayak by accident yet have only been in 4' waves & confused waters. Also do people ever wear a wet/ dry combo? farmer john or shorty with dry top? If you want you can answer at freeski6@msn.com thanks from snowy montana

Hi tellyakker,
Hey, what part of Montana do you live in and what waters do you paddle? I was born in Montana, but we moved west when I was 4.

Since I've been a paddler, I've thought that I would really love to paddle on Flathead Lake, but I probably never will. Flathead has got to be one of the truly magnificent lakes for sea kayakers.

Anyway, I also posed the question about whether it makes any sense to wear some kind of wetsuit under a dry suit for very cold applications. My first choice is to paddle in warmer waters and even then my aim is to stay upright and dry. I wear a full wetsuit that I think is 3 mm in cold weather.

I have been paddling for many years and have only dumped about three times. None of those flips were in a sea kayak. Before I got into sea kayaking, I used to think that all kayaks were a wet proposition. I've found them (sea kayaks) to be the exact opposite. If you want wet, try a narrow canoe. My kayaks are all very stable and easy to stay dry in. Just the same, I try very hard to be prudent and not get into situations that I am not pretty darned sure of. I'm nearly 68 years old and at this point in my life I'm not into adrenaline thrills. I'm also a bike rider and I get enough close calls riding in traffic.

When out today and it a 60-65+ F and water was 43* F I was paddling at a good clip and averaged 6 mph for 4.5 miles best I can figure it. I had Kokatat drysuit and Kokatat fleece lining. I was not real hot and sweaty but I was was not cool by any mans. It was comfortable. Wet suit will not wick any sweat away from you body and I think it would make you very wet in short order.

I did see two people out in separate areas in Kayaks today with no jackets and shirts. Boy will they be in a world of hurt if they go over. I was dragging my hands in the water to cool and 43-44* is no joke. I can't imagine my whole body in it unprotected. They were in a bay area but one guy was quite far from shore where I doubt he would have made it in a swim. I also had on a Kokatat goretex hat.

So the temps were bearable and I could stand to lose a few pounds at 220 and 6'. I want to get to 205. Today was a good work out and I feel good. I don't have a ton of experience but I'll keep the dry suit till the water is 55* +F. Then I think I can go to the 3MM farmer john under garment and jacket.

Our fellow poster ShiverMeTimbers, aka Moulton Avery, and his longtime paddling partner Brian Price were paddling cold water in drysuits way back when. They spread their experience of "Rotary Cooling" to stay comfortable in drysuits in warmer weather--that is, by repeatedly rolling their boats and thus chilling down in the cold water to neutralize excess heat. Here was another area wherein a solid roll was helpful indeed, and the repeated rolling kept the skill fresh.

Another benefit of wearing wetsuits and drysuits as the normal response to cold water is purely psychological--by wearing the suit, most paddlers become and remain more conscious, more aware, of the dangers of cold water, and paddle with more prudence and judgment (most people do--Bart Allen Berry and others like him being the exceptions). I know that, when the cold-water season arrives and I switch to the wetsuit or drysuit, my paddling becomes more conservative.

Regarding wearing a wetsuit under a drysuit, I think that one will experience much greater comfort with traditional insulation under the drysuit. As a former recreational SCUBA diver, I'm comfortable in a wetsuit out in open air or water, but the idea of wearing one under a drysuit makes me hot and sweaty or cool and clammy just thinking about it.

The local reservoir where I practice stuff had water tempts around 47 degrees last week. I tried standing in about a foot of water. After a minute I was really feeling it. Because of that I did two things:

1) Only went about 1/2 mile and stayed next to the shore, even though I've never flipped accidentally.

2) Ordered a drysuit

Right around the same time I was "testing the water" three males were out in their 14 foot fishing boat. The winds were strong and somehow they managed to capsize about 30 meters from the shore. No one was wearing a PFD and only one of them made it to shore. Less than a 100 feet and they still got nailed by the 47 degree water.

Now I can't wait for my drysuit to show up.