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Post by rider1200 on Mar 10, 2010 13:33:38 GMT -5
I never committed to a suit last year but the late September winds combined with empty beaches and far less boat traffic made me think I'm missing out on the best windsport days! Last year I was pretty much set on the Oneill Hybrid. I like to be warm & my wirey (like the kicker from Necessary Roughness) frame does little to help. I'm also imagining riding long enough for the wetsuit to dry and then dealing with the cold water slowly seeping in when I bail. Has anyone had a bad experience with the Hybrid? Are they higher maintenance that a wetsuit...I feel like I've heard something about waxing the collars? How many years can I expect it to last? The best price I've found is $353 here: www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=18114&Click=310393http://www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=18114&Click=310393Any help is greatly appreciated. I wonder what Lynn was wearing in that picture of him riding away from the snowbank that was the shore! |
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Post by rider1200 on Mar 10, 2010 14:06:43 GMT -5
Swim outlet only has small & xxl...some more research showed they stopped making the blue/black and now use black/black colors. Looks pretty easy to find at $380 but I haven't found anything cheaper. I also found some complaints about the neck being too tight making it difficult to put on or take off. Not a deal breaker for me but I'd love to hear what other people are wearing.
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Post by rider1200 on Apr 29, 2010 12:31:24 GMT -5
I was finally able to go through all the thought-out, informative ideas and suggestions I got from rws and somehow still had time to do some of my own research (jerks!). I've never actually been able to try on a drysuit but I've never been really happy with a wetsuit so I bit the bullet and bought one.
I went with O'neill's Boost over the Hybrid because I'm hoping the baggy bottoms will let me put on more layers when I need it and less when I don't. I also didn't like the idea of stripping down to shorts in a parking lot when its cold & windy...the boost I can slip right on over pants, jeans or my daily Khakis. The boost also sports a neoprene neck (new this year, I think) instead of rubber which is supposed to be much easier to put on and take off. Having never tried a rubber neck I won't be able to compare but I am worried about it keeping me dry though I've been assured it will. I got it from Activewake.com for $380 and added 3mm heat socks for another $20.
I chose a size large based on some feedback from other sites ('nother jab) and they accidentally sent me an XL. Apparently my wife had never heard the crinkling sounds a full grown man trying on a drysuit for the 1st time at 11:30pm in his living room makes so when she came down to find out what was going on she tried to convince me it wasn't that big on me. I, however, don't like to swim without water so I called activewake the next morn and they're 2 day airing me my large. I am just barely 6ft & 180lbs.
The wrist & ankle seals are thinner and more pliable than I imagined which makes them easy to get on & off but they look like they make a nice seal. The neck is easy to get on & off but tight after a few minutes, I'm guessing it has to be to keep the water out. The zipper is also difficult to zip by yourself. It has about a 6 inch strap you have to pull hard on and it goes from shoulder blade to shoulder blade but most suits I've seen seem to use that method, I might try to extend the strap a little. Activewake included wax for the zipper but nothing to protect the ankle & wrist cuffs from drying out so I'm working on that. I'm hoping the suit will last 4 years and then guessing I'll need to replace the cuffs. Except for the assault, I believe this suit is the least expensive on the market so I hope I didn't make a mistake but I'll banter on as soon as my large comes & I get out on the water (assault was $330).
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Post by Buoy on Apr 30, 2010 6:47:58 GMT -5
Sorry I didn't see your post earlier. My just replaced drysuit was the Oneal Hybrid with the baggy top and neoprene bottoms. I did get three years of dry sailing out of it and the fourth year of semi dry use. My only advice is to be very careful of how you bang around in the suit on shore. I'm convinced the leaks I developed were more from my carelessness then a fault of the suit. Lyn's suit in the picture is a Kokatat which is what I too purchased last fall. They are not only comfy and dry but quite pricey as well. At my advanced age and lack of ability to stay standing on the board I opted for the most protection and comfort available.
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