Whitewater Forum: Shorty vs regular question for WA

Shorty vs regular question for WA

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URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10890
Printed Date: 03 May 2025 at 5:09pm

Topic: Shorty vs regular question for WA

Posted By: warlickone
Subject: Shorty vs regular question for WA
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2011 at 8:01am

Hey Y'all,

     I'm looking for a summer paddling jacket.

     With 2mm neoprene and some fuzzy rubber, would a goretex semi drytop shorty be a useful piece for the WA summer? Or, should I just get a real long sleeve drytop at "ACK!" $400? I have a drysuit for cold days, need the right thing for summer WA boating.

     Seems to me, if it's cold enough to warrant a real drytop, it's cold enough to not want to swim without a drysuit. What do you think of this logic?

    Thinking about the Kokatat shorty semi drytop at $180 over some neoprene/rubber. Whatchathink?

Jim

Replies:

Posted By: WA-Boater
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2011 at 8:16am

Depends on what you are doing. If you're playing on the Wenatchee a shorty would be great. However, for most creeky runs in the area, even if it is hot out, the water stays cold and you find yourself in the shade 50% of the time. I would vote for the drytop.

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Posted By: Leland
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2011 at 8:17am

I wear a long sleeved IR Comp top in the summer in Washington, and it's really comfy. Short sleeves leave with me cold arms due to the chilly water, but the comp top has the comfort of not having a neck gasket. Good compromise.

Posted By: James
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2011 at 9:04am

I usually playboat in a shorty on the wenatchee but it greatly depends on the outside temp and sun being present. On a shady day with temps under 70 I start getting cold in a shorty and turn to the dry top. I usually boat in a drytop on all creek runs although cooper and fall in the wall are often shorty runs since they are short and generally well flavored in the sun. I have done Robe once in a shorty and thunder creek but both times were flukes when the sun was out after a nice summer rain. I have never worn a wet suit once in all the time I have paddled. I prefer fleece suits or pants and dry tops. Of course dry suits are a nice tool to have for those wet runs with long portages.

Posted By: warlickone
Date Posted: 01 Jun 2011 at 9:46am

Thanks for the word guys...drytop it is.

Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2011 at 3:25pm

What you need is some cheap ass used drytop. If the gaskets are blown so much the better. For me, an old drytop with a blown gasket or two is the cure for the summertime blues. Perfect for those hot days up at Fitwah, if they ever arrive. You gotta hike back up that rode if you wanna keep the laps in heavy rotation.

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