[Dave Irving]

I need some new waders or something this season.
Currently I use a pair of breathable waders, and they are OK. But I do tend to feel the cold if I am deep wading for too long. I only tend to wear them early and late in the season. During the summer I tend to wet wade in shorts.
So rather than go for waders I thought about going down the line of a wetsuit, Has to be as warm while in the water, might get a bit hot on long walk in's, but could just carry them down to the mark. Another plus if I team a wetsuit with a kayak top, I could "skish" (float,swim, doggy paddle) out to rocks that I won't get to in waders.
I know some of the members (Keith and Kevin) do fish in wetsuits, I am after your thoughts. Ideas as to whether this is a good or a dum idea, what sort of thickness neo to go for, good value makes etc. Would be a great help.

 

[Keith White]

wetsuits are safer and open up lots of water to shore anglers.

However:

like waders, wetsuits have a crisis point.

Waders will fill up and you are in trouble, cold, wet, going to get colder and most likely sore if a walk
is involved. And, if you are wading when they fill and the water is coming in, you ARE in dire straights.

Been there, done it, lucky to be telling the tale.

Wetsuits are awesome treated right. warm, cosy etc but, they have a 'float off' threshold.

All wetsuit/person combo's are different.

I float off on 7mm at shoulder level. 5mm, lower neck level. Of course, that is with plug bag and
utility belt , wading boots on etc.

Why is this important ?

Because: most people who float off TRY to stay upright and...

YOU CAN'T !

You MUST use your free arm and feet to swim, on your back to shallower ground and then swing your legs
down. It is that easy. However, if you try to stay upright after loosing bottom contact, you'll most likely
panic, struggle etc. Absolutely NO NEED for that. Just relax, float onto your back, gently swim to
shallow ground, start again.

We carry fins mostly and true wetsuiting might mean a 50 yard swim over a gutter, a upto your shoulders
walk over to a normally unreachable head. It is a built in like jacket. If you fell and was knocked out, your
m8 could easily swim you on your back to shore. Or, if not, at least keep in contact with you without
fear of you both drowning.

I am a big advocate for the 2 pc wetsuit (spearfishing style) suit.
We have a number of suits and to be honest, I wouldn't be without mine now.
I have to really THINK when I'm with wader clad guys because they are so much more limited.

If you need to know more, we can extend this thread in depth and I'm sure Kev will
have something to say here as well.

Wind chill is another thing to consider with wetsuits but to be quite honest, I don't usually
get affected by it as 'I'm not human'. Both Chris Isaac's and Kev suffer from cold and wind
chill and have to act accordingly. Normally as the air temp drops by night or in strong blows but
, it's something worth noting.

We are adding Kayak tops to our list of stuff to try with wetsuits this season.

As for makes...

Omer and Cressi are what we use. We have 5mm superstretch, 5mm mimetic, 7mm superstretch, 6.5mm mimetic
and 7mm 1pc standard scuba suits for wetsuit wading with dive boots too. We choose the 2pc spearo suits
for whenever a swim is likely to stop flush through.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dave Irving]

Thank makes lots of sense to me,
Although the float off, is something I hadn't thought about.
I know what you mean about people panicing as they go bouyant, seen it a few times, really scares some people. I wade a couple of marks that involve a deep wade to reach some shallower outer sand banks, and the number of times on the way out (or back) I have been caught by a doubled wave, and soaked. Easy to just allow yourself to bob over the wave, but the cold down rush I could do without. Fishing with half full waders just isn't nice, or comfortable, and requires so much more energy. I carry a CO2 life vest when heading out that far, and only hit these marks when wind and tide are just right. Never needed the vest yet. But the added bouyance of a wetsuit would add another layer of safety.
Don't think I would be going as far as to need fins, but to be able to get through chest deep water, bob over a couple of wave (something I can't do in waders without getting a soaking) and climb onto a dry rock, would open up quite alot of new areas, and give me more ways of covering the areas I fish already.
I don't tend to suffer to much with the cold, hence the wet wading in summer, so what thickness of neo is a good starting point??

 

[Keith White]

what thickness of neo is a good starting point??

I'd start with a 7mm.

The best fishing isn't normally the hottest part of the day and the transition
from dry to (wet) wetsuit is gradual and in fact, often un-noticable.

 

[Dave Irving]

Cheers Keith,
Thanks for the advice, nothing like having someone that IS going it. To get good advice from. Thank you for taking the time to help.
If anyone else has any advice/reconmendations please feel free to add it.

 

[kevin white]

can't believe i've only just seen this post,anyway.

wetsuit fishing is great, not just because of not having to worry about getting wet if you trip over a loose rock when wading or get a wave wash over you etc,etc, wetsuiting/skishing allows you can deep wade/swim to marks that haven't seen an angler, get to marks quicker/leave later than normal, keep on the move looking at fishing new water all the time.

go with a two piece 7mm with a hood,easier to get on as well compared with a one piece, also getting cold water down the neck when swimming to new ground after a while just f**ks you off, do your self a favour and get a set of fins just in case you need them, if you find yourself needing to get across current, you'll struggle without them if the current is pushing, thread them up with a strap and sling them over your shoulder, you don't even realise your carrying them after a while.

i find when i've been in the water for any longer than 3hrs, no matter how warm the sea temps are i begin to get cold, i've tried to counter this with an extra 5mm cut down smooth skin wetsuit top (removed arms, hood,etc)i wear over the top of my other suit, gives extra warmth and bouyancy.

looking into getting a neoprene drysuit for this year, stay dry, keep the bouyancy and can dress acording to temps, just need to see if it'll do what i need mobility wise.

kev

 

[Simon Clapham]

I'll second a drysuit having spent the best part of 30yrs in a wetsuit surfing! You'll be able to wear 'normal' gear to your mark, don the drysuit and float off. Air can be let out with a valve and in through the neck seal if needed, decent 'rock suitable' footware could also be worn over the latex booties of the suit. When back on dry land there is no heavy wettie to lug around. Another bonus is that its dry to put on for the very next session whereas a cold wetsuit.....yuk!

 

[Dave Irving]

Thanks Kevin,
Looks like a 7mm wet suit is the place to start, I am thinking about puting a kayak top over it to add some warmth.
Any retailers/makes that you would reconmend. Hadn't thought about fins, But I guess having gone this far, might be worth it.
Once again thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

[kevin white]

i have a 7mm cressi one peice

a 5mm omer 2 peice

a 7mm omer 2 peice

but like simon said, putting on a wet, cold wetsuit is horrible at best, it's a little better in the warmer month's but in the winter, well, that's why i'm looking into a neoprene drysuit.

kev

 

[Simon Clapham]

Dave, Palm make some of the toughest kayak cags around......but a word of warning, they are designed to fit and a biatch to get on/off when dry let alone wet! The lighter weight cags are still windproof but of a much lighter gauge material, many come with integral hoods too which can be a bonus.
Some people suffer with the latex neck seals some cags have, but then they are designed that way for a purpose, you can also get neoprene seals which are more comfortable IMO

There are some tough neo drysuits about....Northern Diver's have lasted some mates a near lifetime of diving. You can also get membrane drysuits......just like your breathable waders.....these are much lighter than the neoprene ones but cannot put up with the rock abuse like the neo's. Horses for courses I guess.

 

[Dave Irving]

Simon,
I lucky have a close by kayak shop, and they are Palm stockist so will probably be one of those.
Thanks for the advice, Begining to feel like I know what to go for.

 

[Ben Field]

Does anybody know how tough dry suits actually are - what they're like on the rocks and if they're any better than breathable waders? Also, how breathable are they?

I may not go for a full suit (or would if they were good), but am also tempted to get a pair of dry-pants for warmer days. So I can just go out in the trousers with thin tshirt on my top (if the water's not warm enough for wet wading).

 

[Ritchie Campion]

Great thread!!! Answered lots of questions for me too, cheers guys!

 

[Simon Clapham]

Does anybody know how tough dry suits actually are - what they're like on the rocks and if they're any better than breathable waders? Also, how breathable are they?

I may not go for a full suit (or would if they were good), but am also tempted to get a pair of dry-pants for warmer days. So I can just go out in the trousers with thin tshirt on my top (if the water's not warm enough for wet wading).

Ben, dry suits come in different materials.......membrane or neoprene......just like your waders do. The neoprene ones are much tougher, but come at a cost.....weight! membranes are light, but rip easy! I personally do not think any of them are 'breathable' unless its goretex, neoprene certainly is not!!
Dry pants.....just watch the foot section, some have seals at the ankle, some have stocking-foot......but why dry pants if you've only a t-shirt on top, if its that warm, man up and wet wade ;-)

 

[Ben Field]

Ben, dry suits come in different materials.......membrane or neoprene......just like your waders do. The neoprene ones are much tougher, but come at a cost.....weight! membranes are light, but rip easy! I personally do not think any of them are 'breathable' unless its goretex, neoprene certainly is not!!
Dry pants.....just watch the foot section, some have seals at the ankle, some have stocking-foot......but why dry pants if you've only a t-shirt on top, if its that warm, man up and wet wade ;-)

lol, my insect-like legs get cold pretty damn quick, that's the problem Si. Not very manly I know ..... but I am English afterall!

You're right though to a degree. Wet wading is probably just the best allround option where it's possible. There are plenty of days early in the year especially though when the air is warm but the water is still bl**dy cold! ON everything apart from windy, cold winter days, I do have quite a dislike for chest length waders - and waste waders aren't really an option since they mostly tend to be expensive, and rubbish (from what I've read). Sigh.... what to do, what to do...?!

 

[Simon Clapham]

lol, my insect-like legs get cold pretty damn quick, that's the problem Si. Not very manly I know ..... but I am English afterall!

Someone has to be Ben......some of us Welsh refer to England as East Wales though....so you could be classed as almost Welsh maybe?

You're right though to a degree. Wet wading is probably just the best allround option where it's possible. There are plenty of days early in the year especially though when the air is warm but the water is still bl**dy cold! ON everything apart from windy, cold winter days, I do have quite a dislike for chest length waders - and waste waders aren't really an option since they mostly tend to be expensive, and rubbish (from what I've read). Sigh.... what to do, what to do...?!

Get a nice thick wettie or a decent neo drysuit to snag on the rocks with no worry......prices are very similar anyhow :-D

 

[Keith White]

Added advantages exist guys...

Wetsuits are only a minor step away from snorkelling (checking inshore weedbeds, local fodder etc)
Camo wetsuits blend in, great around clear water.
One step away from 'Skishing' with training of course.
A good wetsuit can be cheaper than equally good waders.
A reason to loose weight, no one wants to looky porky in a rubber skin. I still have a stone to loose...

Where's the bike..

 

[Ben Field]

Has anybody tried walking a long way in wetsuit bottoms (or a full wetsuit with the top rolled down?). I'd go for them for general use in the summer, but reckon they must chafe pretty badly with a lot of walking? I surfed for years so am used to wearing a wetsuit, but not sure I'd fancy walking long distances in one? Bottoms would be bearable temperature wise (take a dip if it gets too hot), but having them rub your bits to pieces is my only other thought?

 

[Dave Irving]

Ben,
The more I look into wet suit, the more I realise that Keith is spot on with the two piece idea. When cold you could wear both parts, if hot then the bottoms and a kayak cag. Plus a two piece would hopefully make taking a leak alot easier. Finding 6-7mm two piece suits isn't as easy as I thought it would be though.
I have to admit the walking to the marks is a cause for some concern (overheating) and chaffing (ouch), But I wondered if something like thin long jons underneth might cure the chaf?? it either that or loads of talc. Plus I think that in a wetsuit I wouldn't be quite so restricted of tides, as far as reaching marks. I have found kayak shorts for wet wading though, basically board shorts with built in 2-3mm neo shorts, so that is high summer sorted for me.
Keith,
what do you guys wear footwear wise while out, studded wading boots? Reef Runners?

 

[Ben Field]

Ben,
The more I look into wet suit, the more I realise that Keith is spot on with the two piece idea. When cold you could wear both parts, if hot then the bottoms and a kayak cag. Plus a two piece would hopefully make taking a leak alot easier. Finding 6-7mm two piece suits isn't as easy as I thought it would be though.
I have to admit the walking to the marks is a cause for some concern (overheating) and chaffing (ouch), But I wondered if something like thin long jons underneth might cure the chaf?? it either that or loads of talc. Plus I think that in a wetsuit I wouldn't be quite so restricted of tides, as far as reaching marks. I have found kayak shorts for wet wading though, basically board shorts with built in 2-3mm neo shorts, so that is high summer sorted for me.
Keith,
what do you guys wear footwear wise while out, studded wading boots? Reef Runners?

Yep, think we'tre thinking along very similar lines now Dave. Although I think long johns will be really hard to keep in place while pulling on some tight neoprene? A rashvest on top will suffice as upper clothing some days, so wonder if it's possible to get hold of rash 'bottoms' too - to go under the neoprene bottoms?

Presume it's then just a case for neoprene socks and wading boots (or something better?)! God, I'm gonna look like a cOck with mahoosive boots at the bottom of my spindly legs!!! :-?