Drysuit decisions.....

   In the process of sorting out my drysuit options - from Hammonds you can opt to have ankle cuffs as against latex feet. In my limited experience of dry suits I've only had latex feet but have always suffered freezing uncomfortable squashed up feet that are wet n clammy no matter what I do.. ...Gah it's gotta be better than this surely!  So..... Was thinking of going the cuff route which'll allow for hot socks & regular dinghy boots. What's the opinion of you forumites as to the wisdom or otherwise of this please? Do your feet still end up freezing?

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didlydon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 15 Oct 08 Location: Margate England Online Status: Offline Posts: 280	Post Options Post Reply Quote didlydon Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Drysuit decisions..... Posted: 07 Nov 14 at 8:25pm
	In the process of sorting out my drysuit options - from Hammonds you can opt to have ankle cuffs as against latex feet. In my limited experience of dry suits I've only had latex feet but have always suffered freezing uncomfortable squashed up feet that are wet n clammy no matter what I do.. ...Gah it's gotta be better than this surely! So..... Was thinking of going the cuff route which'll allow for hot socks & regular dinghy boots. What's the opinion of you forumites as to the wisdom or otherwise of this please? Do your feet still end up freezing?
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RS400atC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3011	Post Options Post Reply Quote RS400atC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Nov 14 at 8:40pm
	I have a Typhoon with fabric feet, neo collar and cuffs. Would buy the same again. It was their expensive model, but I got it at a good price. Also have a diving drysuit with built in rubber boots, that would be an option except our slipway wears the grip off boot soles.

GarethT Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Apr 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote GarethT Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Nov 14 at 8:40pm
	If you put something slippy outside the drysuit feet they should slide into boots without squeezing. You can buy Lycra socks for just that purpose, but I found freezer bags just as good. Edited by GarethT - 07 Nov 14 at 8:41pm

jaydub Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 06 Jan 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 267	Post Options Post Reply Quote jaydub Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Nov 14 at 8:51pm
	I'll second the use of lycra socks. Couldn't believe the difference they made. It's only £10 for a pair of lycra socks. Could end up cheaper than freezer bags in the long run My first dry suit had ankle cuffs and my feet froze in old fashioned wet socks. Technology has moved on, but I'd still don't think I would consider ankle cuffs again.

Do Different Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jan 12 Location: North Online Status: Offline Posts: 1312	Post Options Post Reply Quote Do Different Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Nov 14 at 8:54pm
	My mate nicks his wife's (so he says) ankle height stocking feet things for the same purpose.

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Nov 14 at 9:58pm
	The boots you wear over built-in drysuit feet need to be big enough not to squeeze your feet, so I buy supersize (think Coco the Clown) dinghy boots and just live with my feet slopping about in them in the summer. The well-heeled (literally!) could have summer and winter pairs - they all wear out eventually, after all. Under the drysuit feet, I wear polyprop liner socks and Musto hot socks. No more cold feet (except in my mental approach). I'll second the freezer bag idea, but find the free bags used in supermarkets to put your fruit and veg in are ideally thin and slippery. Also helps deal with the mounting pile of such bags gathering in my veg drawer (I've even started taking them back to the supermarket to re-use them - gives me a warm enviro-glow!)
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The Moo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 01 Jun 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 809	Post Options Post Reply Quote The Moo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Nov 14 at 7:52am
	Oversize dinghy boots (I think mine might even be 3 sizes up!) and a pair of ordinary socks over the latex. Feet are toast and I am still nimble on my feet. My wife wears my summer size boots over her drysuit feet.

Paramedic Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 929	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paramedic Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Nov 14 at 8:14am
	Talcom powder works well to get in and out of boots and helps protect the latex.

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Nov 14 at 9:47am
	Have you already decided on whether it's latex or neoprene for the cuff and neck seals? I've now switched to neoprene. Definitely not as good a seal for a given amount of strangling, but good enough for dinghy sailing imho, and it does save me the biennial (it seemed) trip to Hammonds to have them replaced.
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Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Nov 14 at 9:55am
	I replaced my own neoprene wrist seals at the beginning of the season (I'd bought the suit 2nd hand the year before, and one was torn) and it wasn't too hard. Taking the old ones off was the most difficult bit, but I managed without leaving too much glue on the iron... The feet are a little too small, so my next task will be to replace them, but kinda waiting till I have to. They are latex - can I replace them with cloth, or do they have to be on a suit from new?
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