Wetsuit on cold rainy hikes?

“Anyone wear a surfing wetsuit when hiking in cold rain? Seems it would be very simple and solve a lot of concerns about staying dry and perspiring under your rain gear.

One concern however might be the pack damaging the wetsuit. Comments?”

“A wet suit sounds awfully heavy Steve. I just suck it up. How heavy is a wet suit?”

“What would you do with it when it stops raining? I agree that sounds way to heavy.

Thinking about changing your handle Steve

Maybe Aquaman?”

“Weighs more than clothes, but might be worth it for simplicity. Am planning a winter hike in the Olympic rain forest and it crossed my mind. Weight might rule it out however.”

“Maybe Sur-Hiker, Sur Pete? lol”

“Just be wet & happy.”

“geez, THAT wouldn't cause a rash.

go right ahead, man. have at it.”

“Just based on past experience with a neoprene knee brace I would say you would sweat your butt off hiking in a wetsuit - no matter how cold and wet it is. It would however be OK for fording rivers .

HOI”

“I have used my wetsuit boots(socks-no sole) before in the winter with a liner sock underneath. Worked fine. And I have used my neoprene gloves before. But, I don't know about the whole suit. Seems like it would be bundlesome, hot, sweaty, heavy and just plain uncomfortable.

Hay, but, go for it and give us a report.”

“plus, you do realize that a wetsuit is not intended to keep you dry, don't you?”

“Steve,
I scuba dive and have used a wet suit alot. I would not consider using it for anything other than water sports. Wet suits are heavy when wet. It will also smell very bad if you don't wash it after use. Wet suits don't have flys. Flys are very important.”

“I think you'd get too hot and it would be too heavy. Not having a fly is a huge drawback. Also, rad makes an excellent point...you'd be soaking wet anyway inside the wetsuit. It is very difficult to regulate temperature without having a quick way to cool down in a wet suit. But sure, go ahead....give it a try and let us know what happens.”

“Maybe it's not a good idea. But hey, it was a thought!

Say, maybe I can bring a board along and throw it in the stream when the water is high. Would beat walking!”

“

Have you considered wearing flippers and using a trident as a hiking staff?”

“LOL!”

“I used to where one while kayaking. I was as wet inside as out--from sweat. They are made to keep you warm, not dry.”

“I have used 3mm neoprene waders for canoeing in Alaska (lotsa muck to walk in). Mid way through the trip the weather turned rainy and cold, while the waders kept me warm, pulling them off for a portage really sucked because I sweated a lot in them and my legs were very wet. Portaging in them was even worse.

Here's a question for y'all. If you fall in deep water wearing hip boots or waders, will you sink like a rock or are they buoyant? My biggest fear was tipping over the canoe in rough water and drowning. Does anyone know?”

“I have hiked with plastic bags inside my boots. They kept my feet warm in cold weather and deep snow. I had a friend who made a suit of "armor" out of foam. He would go winter hiking with me, and could just flop down in the snow and sleep, no tent or sleeping bag. However, it wasn't very practical.

Concerning waders, falling over in a stream wearing regular waders is very dangerous. They turn into a water filled sail, and your head end isn't necessarily the lightest part of your body. Neoprene is much safer, because it floats, but your feet end are much more bouyant wearing neoprene waders than your head end. Still pretty dangerous.”

“I've seen people floating in some that are made to hug tight around the body. They are boyant and do trap air. However, many people have drowned in waders. If they fill with water you'll go down and never come up. A friend of mine used to dive for bodies for the county sheriff and he had more than one old duckhunter body in hip waders to retrieve. He said he found one standing, drowned on the bottom, reaching and looking up, with his eyes wide open.

picture that”

“There seems to be an irrational fear of water in this group. Getting wet is not the worst thing that can happen. If you are carrying enough stuff to backpack with you will not likely freeze to death just because you get wet. You can freeze to death, but with a little precaution the danger is moot.

Wet suits? No down sleeping bags? Waders?

Waders by the way make it tough to swim and they can drag you down and they aren't easy to get out of.”

“I understand that many hydrophobes are actually fearful that they, themselves, might be largely made up of water.”

“Ohmagawd! I might be largely made up of water?! Is there any way I can drain that?”

“If you wear hip boots or waders, you should always carry a very sharp knife that is quickly accessible. If you fall in the water you would want to cut those suspenders real quick!!!”

“The suspenders aren't the hard part. Getting your feet out of the boots is the trick. They are a fit snug to begin with, but your feet tend to form a vacuum when the water soaks pants, socks, etc.

Most suspenders have some elastic in them and they come off pretty easy.”

“I'd gnaw my leg off.”

“You would die.”

“Is the water inside the waders somehow heavier than the water outside the wader? How else would they drag you down? My neoprene wet suit floated. Wouldn't neoprene waders actually help you to float? I've never worn them so I'm just wondering. Are you referring to them opening up when swimming against the current or something? Wouldn't a belt help?”

“I don't know, I never used neoprene waders. I was refering to the rubberized canvas type.”

“Here is the deal, rubber waders and hip boots can fill with water but they are basically neutrally bouyant when full. Hydrodynamics is what makes you not come back to the surface. Scenario A- In a stream/river you fall over. Water fills boots, boots flare open at top creating a sail of sorts pulling your feet down stream, you cannot get head out of water because you are moving down stream feet first.
Scenario B- In a lake you fall over, water fills boots, boots flare open at top when you try to swim to surface. Boat anchors on legs.
I am not saying don't use waders and such because they will keep you dry, just be very careful not to fall over, or allow water to enter the boots.”

“The physics are simple. Inside the boots/waders are the person and air takes up the space not occupied by that person. The air provides some degree of flotation(sp?). Remove the air and replace it with water and the flotation disappears. As waders don't occupy that much volume for their weight, they become negativly bouyant(sp?) and drag you down. As you only need about 5 pounds to submerge a person... (ever try to bring a brick up from the bottom of the pool?) The restrictions on your movement don't help matters either.

Neoprene is bouyant and would probably bring your legs close to level with your head on the surface. (assuming your pack did not drag you down)”

“try frogg toggs at www.froggtoogs.com. I am a diver to and frogg toggs work much better for hikeing. they only weigh 14 oz ,keep you warm and dry,and there cheep, also you can look like your from outer space!”