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The NewEngland temps have dropped...

......what is your limit for water temps and how do you combat them. I have a 7mm farmer John with a step in full top. It is a little tight on me but works for my son. I'm in the market for another that will fit me. How cold should I be able to stand with a 7mm? When I was kayaking I paddled year round as long as the rivers and creeks did not freeze but riverboarding in the New England weather may be a different story. Any suggestions on wetsuits to purchase?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Yount on October 26, 2009 at 8:44pm
I like a 7mm two piece and 7mm top (I use my 3mm top when it's not too chilly). Some of us have come up with a personal 40-40 rule. 40 degrees water temp, 40 degrees air temp, and won't go below that, though I haven't had the chance to test it out down that low yet. I think the coldest water I've ran was 48 degrees with an air temperature under 40, but it warmed up during the day for the second and third lap. I remember all of us saying during that first lap that it was better to go ahead and get in the water since it was warmer.

Hydration becomes a big deal during the cold to prevent cramping. The other aspect that hinders my winter boarding is having fewer daylight hours. Even with a few runs at about an hour from me, to teach school and then try to get to the river to set shuttle and suit up, it always feels like I'm racing daylight and that's no fun.
Permalink Reply by Rochelle Parry on October 26, 2009 at 10:54pm
Maybe you should look into a dry suit?
Permalink Reply by Alex Koutzoukis on October 27, 2009 at 6:27am
www.FaceLevel.com has a good selection of wetsuits that would probably work for you, maybe 7mm top and bottom, with a long sleeve rashguard underneath.

I've also been looking at this wetsuit for a while
The website says it works in 32-52 degrees water temperature. Something like this might be the way to go if you want a 1-piece full wetsuit with really good flexibility....:

http://www.hotlineonline.com/products/wetsuits/men/ultrahotcombo.shtml


Another option is a drysuit, I've never worn one but this one seems pretty cool, and durable (YES it is a dry suit despite looking like a snowboard outfit haha!):

Permalink Reply by J. Young on October 31, 2009 at 4:51pm
I went with a wetsuit right off the bat for cold water and have never regretted it. I have a 3mm Henderson vest and 5mm Henderson booties I bought from Josh, plus an O'Neill 5/4/3 hooded fullsuit I got on ebay for around $250. That gives me 8mm on my core with plenty of flexibility. On my hands, I wear poly-pro liners and 2mm NRS webbed gloves. My hands and feet still a get a bit cold, though, so I might look to upgrade there soon.

Off topic: Josh, I'll prolly talk to you about a new set of fins before spring. I'm seeing a lot of cracking in the ankle straps of my old Makapuus. I think I left them in the sun too many times.
Permalink Reply by Rob Larkham on October 27, 2009 at 2:09pm
I have a full length drysuit already. Most drysuits are dry for short periods of time but leak small amounts over long periods of time. Plus the rocks we hit while boarding will destroy an $800 drysuit in no time. I like the looks of the full suit Alex posted. I may have to get one and test my cold water limits. It will also be useful on the swift water rescue team I'm on at the fire department. Maybe I can get them to pay for it...hahahahah!
Permalink Reply by Alex Koutzoukis on October 27, 2009 at 5:04pm
Yeah, I really think a high end 5/4 hoodie wetsuit is the way to go for riverboarding, although I do not own one yet.

They are designed and tested in Santa Cruz FREEZING waters + it is a surf suit, flexible for riverboarding.

When I went riverboarding with Bob Carlson and Peter Cameron on the American last week, I wore my 4/3 and put a 7mm farmer john over it. Kept me pretty warm, but probably not warm enough for the temps you will be boarding in.

I also have a 7mm full dive suit but I am not happy with it, very hard to move around in for surfing, etc.

Last year at the Kern I wore my 4/3 surf suit and then put an XL 3/2 surf suit on top of it, which I was pretty happy with. Thats 7/5mm right there.
Permalink Reply by Rochelle Parry on October 27, 2009 at 6:05pm
Hotline makes great suits. My next one will definitely be one of those.
Permalink Reply by BrianJ on October 27, 2009 at 6:57pm
Rob, check out the new fullsuits that patagonia is making. they make a 5mm fulsuit with a 7mm hood. the suits are lined with wool. first ever wesuit of this type and looks to be good in water temps just above freezing with temps in the freeze zone. the hood is probably the most critical feature in my opinion. the hotline suit looks pretty sick too. also X-cel and O'neil make exceptional cold water suits which are extremely flexible. hope this helps :)
Permalink Reply by Rob Larkham on October 28, 2009 at 1:30am
Permalink Reply by Josh Galt on October 29, 2009 at 12:52am
If you're on a budget,Henderson's Gold Core line as well as the 7mm Hyperstretch are super warm dive suits that won't break the bank and give you good flexibility. I can, of course, get you a screaming deal on all of them. :)

I'm with you on the dry suits - we protected them by wearing a XXL 3mm farmer john wetsuit over them, which worked great. However, neck gaskets don't keep all water out when you're going headfirst through waves / holes / off waterfalls. I've gone back to a wetsuit.
Permalink Reply by Rochelle Parry on November 9, 2009 at 1:57am
I went out today for reasons other than the thrill of riverboarding - hate to say it but I would have preferred finish out the church service, then to stay inside and watch movies were it not for the plans that came together, the sun that came out, the people that showed up, my health that improved 'just enough' and the water levels that dropped to only 150-200 cfs above what I normally run it, in spite of it raining buckets yesterday and last night. The only difference this time, there was snow in the foothills.

Instantly realized the water was a good 10F colder than what I'm used to. And what I'm used to is in the 40s. I had 7 mils over my middle plus my Force 6 pfd which is extremely bulky. What froze were my feet. I have 5mm booties. I don't know that they make any booties that are thicker, or if a hard sole boot would be warmer. I think I have seen dry-seal booties, but I wouldn't want to walk back up the trail in something like that without shoes over them.

Ski area opens up next week. Costa Rica is not far off and it's going to pollute my tolerance for cold...
Permalink Reply by Rob Larkham on November 9, 2009 at 1:10pm
I'm afraid my season is done as well. I will be hitting frozen water on my snowboard soon. That will have to be it until spring.

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