Clothing- Wetsuit alternative?

ChrisS

New Member
Hey folks! I'm looking for a garment or combination of garments that I could wear with my hikers as an alernative to wearing a wetsuit(I hate the things!). Preferably a few layers that would be suitable to wear year-round. I've been looking at Rooster.com and they seem to have some good clothing e.g. The 'Hot top' and 'Polypro top'. What do you guys wear instead of a wetsuit? Has anyone worn the rooster garments? Any ideas?:confused: All help much appreciated! :)
 
Depends on the season.

Summer- Rash guard only.
Fall- Rash guard, light fleece and spray top
Winter- Rash guard, t-shirt, heavy fleece and spray top and, (most important) Fleece HAT.
 
Pretty much all my kit is rooster so I'd recommend there stuff.

Freezing winter months - Polypro top and leggings, raceskin, hot top, aquafleece, hikers, dry top, hat and neck gaiter. Wearing this lot I survived all of last winter without getting too cold on any days.

As it gets warmer I take layers away so in the hottest summer days just hikers and a rash vest, adding either a hot top or aqua fleece if needed.
 
Just a suggestion for all - it would really help everyone understand what and why if you put the air and water temps that you are dealing with when asking or listing what to wear..
 
No idea what the air and water temps are when I am sailing - cold or warm is about as technical as it gets with me. Also there is a lot of personal preference involved in choice of gear. There are lots of people still sailing with bare legs in winter here (nutters is my personal opinion) and others who still wear thermals in summer (I'd melt!).

Wind strength will effect your choice too as spray can be very chilling on even the warmest of summer days.

Lots of layers is key as it is then easy to add/remove kit as conditions change to suit you.
 
Sailorchick is right, the Rooster polypro top is amazing - it keeps you warm when it is cold but does not cause you to overheat when the sun shines. My 2c
 
I'm crazy. I sail more by water tempatures than air tempatures. Where I sail the water usually stays above 50 degrees F until right around chistmas. I wear a spaytop, base polypro layer and maybe a water heater if its a bit breezy.

Once the water temps hit the 40's.... its dry suit time and I am in love with my drysuit.

I used this philosophy all last winter and never had to bail on a day of frostbiting due to being cold.

On another psycho note... i found that if I dress a bit less thoroughly I tend to sail better because the consequences of a screw up are more severe. That mindset kept me "skinny thing up" for most of my season.
 
I have a similar question - What clothing would be the equivalent of a wetsuit? ie what layers would provide the same or similar warmth?
 
What about wiping out on a cold day (air/water)? I guess if you are wearing all those layers you will be soaked, heavy and cold!!

Can some from the "no wet suite" folks tell us their experience?

Thanks,:confused:
 
Even with swimming I keep warm enough in the winter. All the layers are fairly thin and the polypro top in particular does not hold water so you don't get that heavy.
I would never go back to a drysuit as find them far too restrictive in the boat for me and I get colder quicker in a drysuit than in my layers.
 
Even with swimming I keep warm enough in the winter. All the layers are fairly thin and the polypro top in particular does not hold water so you don't get that heavy.
I would never go back to a drysuit as find them far too restrictive in the boat for me and I get colder quicker in a drysuit than in my layers.

What's the water temperature?
 
No idea on the water temperature - UK south coast in Feb feels freezing to me.

Does anybody know how to find this out? If the temps are in the 50s F or 10 C, yes you can handle that with layers. I'd be really interested to know if layers can handle something colder.
 
Thanks for all the information. We are just getting started, so we'll be dunked lots and needed to figure out the best way to stay warm enough to enjoy learning.

Erica
 
Keep in mind that wet suits come in many different flavors as well... there are separate top halves, overalls (Farmer John/Jane) etc and several different thicknesses available if that works better for you (I've never worn anything but swim shorts and a t shirt on a boat - but I'm a diver too).

Scubatoys.com is a good place to look.
 
Hey folks! I'm looking for a garment or combination of garments that I could wear with my hikers as an alernative to wearing a wetsuit(I hate the things!). Preferably a few layers that would be suitable to wear year-round. I've been looking at Rooster.com and they seem to have some good clothing e.g. The 'Hot top' and 'Polypro top'. What do you guys wear instead of a wetsuit? Has anyone worn the rooster garments? Any ideas?:confused: All help much appreciated! :)


hi i sail my laser wearing my hiking pants a thick u.v protective gill rashvest underneath and a spray top and boots, gloves, and boyancy aid and im fine never get cold but then i rarely capsize. lol

Jack
 
Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've last posted here, but I've just joined the Newport frostbiting fleet so now I'm trying to decide what will work best to stay warm. A lot's already been covered and I plan on going out with a 4:3 wetsuit, hat, boots and gloves to start. Just wondering what types of gloves and boots are the best. Recently I've seen a trend in wearing those blue, waterproof dishwashing gloves. Do those work better than Neoprene gloves? Also, I've just got my standard hiking boots at the moment and I'm afraid my feet will freeze. Do you think I'm better off wearing neoprene socks under them or is there a better/warmer boot available?

Thanks everyone, hopefully I'll see some of you out there.
 
I never wear gloves so can't comment on what works there but adding wetsuit socks inside your hike boots should keep your feet nice and toasty. Just make sure your boots have enough room for the extra layer, if you cut your circulation to your feet off then your feet will freeze no matter how many layers you have on them.
 
I have a similar question - What clothing would be the equivalent of a wetsuit? ie what layers would provide the same or similar warmth?

I wear a set of 3/4 hikers (magic marine until they were stolen over 4th July) with a zhik thin neoprene top for most days in winter. Water is 55-60 deg F. Air is 40-70 deg F.

As air gets colder and wind gets higher I add spray top & a hoody fleece.

I wear boots and different combos of gloves depending on conditions
 
On another psycho note... i found that if I dress a bit less thoroughly I tend to sail better because the consequences of a screw up are more severe. That mindset kept me "skinny thing up" for most of my season.


skinny thing being your dagger board?

:p
 
Ya Glen, I thought you looked pretty funny out at the lake in just you swim trunks. j/k

Last we sailed was early November with temps in the 70 degree area and water temps near just as warm.

Swim trunk are a good idea if you only go sailing on warm days (here in Austin, Tx).

And now, you've said you put your laser away for the Texas winter.

No worries, I'll be reminding you of the Easter regatta at the lake!

Keep in mind that wet suits come in many different flavors as well... there are separate top halves, overalls (Farmer John/Jane) etc and several different thicknesses available if that works better for you (I've never worn anything but swim shorts and a t shirt on a boat - but I'm a diver too).
 
RE: Water temps - I sail lakes, It took me a while to find a website providing water temps on a daily basis, but the one I found is good and covers the whole U.S. so far, even the most obscure lakes I've searched for has been supported.

http://www.fishingnotes.com/lakes.php

Unfortunately I don't have a link for coastal waters...
 

Back
Top