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Wetsuit or Drysuit?
Andrew's Question:
Overall, would you recommend a wetsuit or a drysuit for whitewater rafting? I want to raft during all seasons and don't want to end up buying both a wetsuit and a drysuit.
And speaking of suits, would you recommend the full-body suit or a farmer-John/suit-top combo? (For a drysuit, the equivalent is a dry bib plus a dry top). Lastly, what type of footwear goes with a drysuit? I was thinking of purchasing a pair of NRS Workboots, but will they work with a drysuit? And what footwear does one wear with latex socks that are attached to a dry bottom?
Thanks, and sorry for all the questions at once,
Andrew Jonathan's Answer:
Andrew, Overall, I think you'd be better off with a wet suit. It's considerably more versatile and durable, and less expensive to boot.
In either case, you'd also be happier with a two-piece suit. A farmer john wetsuit, which protects your core area, is often all you'll need for summer paddling in cold rivers, and adding the top if necessary ups the protection factor considerably. I suggest a medium-thickness suit—say two
to three millimeters—to maintain freedom of movement, unless you live in a really cold-water area. Some suits combine a three-millimeter body with two-millimeter sleeves, which is a good compromise.
As to footwear, the NRS Workboots are excellent. Even with a drysuit, neoprene gloves and footwear are the way to go.
Have fun!
—Jonathan
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