Wetsuits vs Dry Suits?
Read on about both pros and cons for each option. Wetsuits vs Dry Suits? It all comes down to your preference for comfort, the type of paddling you do and/or features. Both are great options for immersion and water safety.
Up here in the Pacific NW, most kayakers wear dry suits and most paddle boarders and surfers wear wetsuits.
Why one or the other?
Sometimes its a group culture thing. Traditionally, wetsuits were not as dry or warm so the kayaking communities in cold water went for the drier dry suits. In recent years, wetsuits have come a long way with dry and super flexible models.
Dry Suit Pros
- Dry suits do provide a pee zipper
- Can be worn on dry clothes – thus dry when you’re done
- Dry suits offer folks with larger body types a less revealing clothing option.
- Better option for reducing super cold wind chill
- Colorful for on-water visibility
Cons of dry suits – Expensive ($600-$1,500), a rip can compromise the suit’s safety, requires maintenance such for latex gaskets, suit material and zippers.
Manufacturers like Kokatat offer really good repair services, often free to fix fabric wear and tear, gaskets and more.
Full Wet Suit Pros
- Many suits over $200 are completely dry, some are fleece lined
- Very flexible, even in arms if no more than 3-4mm.
- A hole doesn’t compromise the suit’s ability to stay dry and/or warm
- Affordable. A high end suit may be $600, low-end, about $150.
- Easier to swim in
- Minimal maintenance
Cons of full wetsuits – No pee zip, lacking bright colors, doesn’t fit all body types, occasional zipper and fabric maintenance.
Some manufacturers offer good wetsuit repair. Or get in touch with ProMotion in Hood River, Oregon who not only make their own suits but repair other brands as well.
Alternative Mix / Match Tips:
Some neoprene options like a wetsuit hooded vest fit well over hoodless dry suits. Or you can add a fabric Splash Top over a neoprene wetsuit to cut wind chill, add visibility and more.
Some kayakers have been comfortable with Farmer Johns (armless wetsuits) with a dry top or neoprene jacket or top over for cold water.
Recent Wetsuit Improvements..
Innovative and Environmentally Friendly Neoprene
Fleece quick drying and dry interior of the RipCurl Flash Bomb wetsuits
Materials such as the Japanese limestone neoprene, fleece lined RipCurl Flash Bomb suits and, the thermal lined environmentally friendly Patagonia Yulex suits, and the toasty battery warmed wetsuit by RipCurl are changing perceptions.
Seam Sealed Wetsuits
Most medium to higher end surfing wetsuits are now totally seam sealed and waterproof. “Wetsuit” isn’t right term for these suits anymore.
After owning two $900 plus dry suits over the years, I quickly became a fan of my $460 ish 5/4mm RipCurl Flash Bomb wetsuits not only for the price, but contrary to what others told me, the wetsuit was completely dry and more flexible than dry suits especially when swimming.
Wetsuit Thickness Explained
What does 4/3mm mean? 4mm chest, 3mm arms and legs. a 5/4/3, means 5mm chest, 4mm legs, 3mm arms. Some friends own 6mm, others a 4/3 – it depends on your body and how you perceive cold. Some suits come with hoods.
Trusted Wetsuit Brands
Add a wetsuit top over a hoodless dry suit
Popular Dry Suit Brands
Tips for Wetsuits
- When putting a back-zip on for the first time, the pull string goes on your back. Newbies often put wetsuits on backwards.
- Wetsuits with no zippers are warmer and leak less, but will be more difficult to put on. Got old stiff shoulders? Get a back-zip.
- Does the suit feel stiff at first? Neoprene loosens up when wet.
- While rental wetsuits are often not in the best shape, renting is away to find your preferred thickness and suit type. Try before you buy.
- Put on a rash guard or thin thermal layer under your suit to boost warmth. I also put a kayaking dry-top over in cold temps to reduce windchill.
- Do your arms get cold? Put bicycling arm warmers on under your suit or a thermal shirt layer under.
- Most importantly, each his own! Find what works best for you.
- Wash after each use. You can put on a wet wetsuit and it’ll warm up quickly. RipCurl’s Flash Bomb and Patagonia’s Yulex suit dry quickly due to their internal fleece like thermal layer.
- Kayaking shops tend to call a Farmer John a wetsuit and don’t have full 4/3mm wetsuits. Surf and SUP shops often don’t carry dry suits.
nice writeup on suits rob. one question for you…coming from a wetsuit newbie. i have a new quiksilver 4/3 cell that fits great, and has all seams blindstitched, glued, and taped. recently took it out for a test immersion in the sound a few weeks ago. arms and legs fine, no leakage. i got a little flush from the back zip at the neck, no biggie. but the biggest surprise was a lot of water coming in around the groin area where the leg panels are sewn together.
i was wondering if this is this normal.. for a lot of water to come in through the seams? my gloves and booties don't have that issue w/ the seams. the suit is only a few months old and i can send it in for warranty (already called and talked to qs about it). not sure what they can do to fix either.
whaddaya think? thanks! jon
ya, that sounds odd. wetsuits will leak in spots, but it shouldn't be a full on leak. after nearly two years with my xcel, it's only dry in the torso area, but i still stay warm. i do wear thin neoprene shorts under mine on really cold days and a fleece crew neck top under which if i do get a leak, it's not as shocking. my neck is stretched out and the zipper leaks on wipeouts, but the hooded vest which i wear on top prevents water leakage. where's you get the suit from? got your paipo yet?
i got the suit from snocon (it was on sale for a deal). i'm thinking about sending it in for warranty… but that would mean missing some paddling time!
board looks great, but the real test will be in the water. i'll probably take it back to hawaii sometime soon.
we'll heading to oahu for 3 days on the 17th, then a week by kona. can't wait! i always feel naked without my 4/3, booties, gloves, hood, etc..
have fun in hawaii! send me an email if you're interested in where to surf or paddle on oahu and what shops to go to. don't know much about the big island and kona tho.
i may be out this weekend at GG. -jon
jon, thanks. we'll mostly be at waikiki, then a day trip to makaha and maybe to the north sure to poke around. the big island is tough, pretty rocky, tough access often requiring 4wd. there's a good break by kona called Pine Trees and a few little ones in town. i got kicked out of one by the outrigger hotel for having a 'kayak' there, not allowed at that beach. i think i'll mostly boogie board, take it easy. maybe rent a sup.
have fun in hawaii. on oahu: wet feet (aina haina) and tropical blends (queen st. near ala moana) are 2 good SUP shops. there's a few in kapahulu (near waikiki) also.
there's a lot of places that rent or demo and you can paddle/surf almost anywhere. i like to paddle in the swimming channel at ala moana park since it's protected and good for flat water. you'll probably want to ride some waves since you'll be in hawaii tho. lots of good little breaks between queens and diamond head since you're staying in waikiki. most surfers are cool with SUP's sharing the breaks as long as they aren't wave hogs. watch out for box jellyfish pretty much everywhere on the south shore (waikiki). they show up like clockwork 9-11 days after the full moon.
sorry don't know much about the big island. but watch out for the big guys in grey suits out near kona, especially near the old airport. lots of shark stories by surfers and divers there.