when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time...

Micheal Artindale wrote:
> How do you deal with relieving yourself?
>
> When I go out for a paddle, I usually go for several hours. During this
> time, I can get out on the shore, and do what I need to do.
>
> With a wetsuit, its even easyer.
>
> Am I right that I have to peal off all the layers to do what is nessisary?
> Any other options besides dehydration?
>
> Thanks
>
> Micheal

Despite Pete's comments to the contrary, I consider a "relief zipper" in
a dry suit to be a must-have item, along with booties and a double
tunnel. I find that the diagonal chest zipper is not positioned properly
to easily be used as a relief zipper and unzipping entirely can be a
chilling experience on a cold, windy day. Everyone I know who owns a dry
suit feels the same way and those who've owned suits without relief
zippers have either had them added (~$100) or replaced their original
dry suits with suits with relief zippers.

Buying a dry suit without a relief zipper is like buying a
non-breathable dry suit; it's a mistake you make once.
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

Per Brian Nystrom:
>Despite Pete's comments to the contrary, I consider a "relief zipper" in
>a dry suit to be a must-have item,

I should have been clearer: I'm definitely in the minority on
that issue.

Everybody I know who has a relief zipper swears by it. I guess
that's why they have chocolate and vanilla....
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

Brian Nystrom <brian.nystrom RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Despite Pete's comments to the contrary, I consider a "relief zipper" in
> a dry suit to be a must-have item, along with booties and a double
> tunnel. I find that the diagonal chest zipper is not positioned properly
> to easily be used as a relief zipper ...

Depends on the design.

The diagonal chest zipper *is* well positioned for male relief purposes
on a the MTI Palm Sidewinder drysuit. Picture here:
http://theboatpeople.com/atr_riverwear.html#Drysuits

Data point: my Kokatat relief zipper leaks. I know because I paddle
and IK and get a lot of water splashed into my lap.

But I still recommend Kokatat due to their excellent repair service.
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

Per Bill Tuthill:
>But I still recommend Kokatat due to their excellent repair service.

A lot of people do - and I might too.

But, based on experience, I wouldn't recommend them for their
after-market alteration service.

On my custom suit, they got the belt tunnel way too high - so the
crotch is halfway to my knees when it's cinched. This becomes a
problem when you get dumped. The legs vacuum bag to your bod
and, if the crotch is too low at that moment you cannot drop into
a squatting position. You have to lay back in the water to get a
little air in there and wiggle around until you can get the
crotch back up where it belongs. It's also a problem when
windsurfing/water starting.

I was perfectly willing to pay to have it lowered, but they
didn't want any part of it.
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

On Aug 26, 6:37 pm, "Micheal Artindale" <michealartind... RemoveThis @eastlink.ca>
wrote:
> How do you deal with relieving yourself?

Until I had a "pee zipper" installed in my drysuit, I never realized
how many rapids I paddled with a full bladder!

John Kuthe...
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

On Aug 26, "Micheal Artindale" <michealartind... RemoveThis @eastlink.ca> wrote:
> How do you deal with relieving yourself?
>
> When I go out for a paddle, I usually go for several hours. During this
> time, I can get out on the shore, and do what I need to do.
>
> With a wetsuit, its even easyer.

Why? (Maybe I don't want to hear)

I don't know why but some people need to piss every hour while others
only a few times a day,
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

On Aug 27, 10:05 am, "(PeteCresswell)" <x....RemoveThis@y.Invalid> wrote:
> Per Brian Nystrom:
>
> >Despite Pete's comments to the contrary, I consider a "relief zipper" in
> >a dry suit to be a must-have item,
>
> I should have been clearer: I'm definitely in the minority on
> that issue.
>
> Everybody I know who has a relief zipper swears by it. I guess
> that's why they have chocolate and vanilla....
> --
> PeteCresswell

The absolutely invaluable benefit of the relief zipper is this: It is
human nature to avoid going to a great effort or putting oneself to
great discomfort, and stripping to the waist to take a leak is a
measurable effort and quite uncomfortable in cold weather (uhhhh,
which is when you would be wearing a drysuit). The easy way to
accomodate human nature, then, is to avoid drinking so you won't have
to go to that effort and discomfort to take that leak. A likely
consequence of that solution is some measure of dehydration, and
dehydration, if it becomes severe, can be dangerously -- if not deadly
-- debilitating in a wilderness situation in cold weather.

So: if you don't get a relief zipper installed, be sure to keep
yerself hydrated, even though you know it will be a pain in the butt
when you need to pee.

-Richard, His Kanubic Travesty
--
Richard Hopley, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Nothing really matters except Boats, Sex, and Rock'n'Roll
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

On Aug 27, 1:27 pm, Bill Tuthill <ccree....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Brian Nystrom <brian.nyst....TakeThisOut@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> > Despite Pete's comments to the contrary, I consider a "relief zipper" in
> > a dry suit to be a must-have item, along with booties and a double
> > tunnel. I find that the diagonal chest zipper is not positioned properly
> > to easily be used as a relief zipper ...
>
> Depends on the design.
>
> The diagonal chest zipper *is* well positioned for male relief purposes
> on a the MTI Palm Sidewinder drysuit. Picture here:http://theboatpeople.com/atr_riverwear.html#Drysuits

>> You needn't pay an extra $250 to $300 upcharge for a Goretex version
>> because Palm's are made of a breathable tri-laminate hybrid fabric that
>> called XP100 with an excellent rip-stop characteristics.

Three grammar errors in a single sentence? Why do I doubt the
professionalism of "theboatpeople"?
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

Oci-One Kanubi <rhopley RemoveThis @earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> http://theboatpeople.com/atr_riverwear.html#Drysuits
>>> You needn't pay an extra $250 to $300 upcharge for a Goretex version
>>> because Palm's are made of a breathable tri-laminate hybrid fabric that
>>> called XP100 with an excellent rip-stop characteristics.
>
> Three grammar errors in a single sentence? Why do I doubt the
> professionalism of "theboatpeople"?

Well yes, the Boat People are originally rafters
and rafters are not as well-educated as kayakers or
(especially) open canoeists.

In "Snake Eyes," a good novel by famous Canadian writer Margaret Atwood,
I found 11 spelling or grammar errors, but that was over ~ 200 pages.
However she had both editor and publisher!
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

Per Oci-One Kanubi:
>It is
>human nature to avoid going to a great effort or putting oneself to
>great discomfort, and stripping to the waist to take a leak is a
>measurable effort and quite uncomfortable in cold weather (uhhhh,

I find it the opposite. If I'm dressed for any kind of
prolonged immersion, I'm sweating pretty heavily while paddling
and it's a relief to pull out, and strip down the top for awhile.

In fact, I usually take off my shirts and hang them up to dry a
little while I'm doing what I have to do.

I still think you have a valid point about subconsciously
avoiding hydration though - but I wouldn't use my relief zipper
out on the water.... too fearful of something happening that
would flood the suit.
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

"Davej" <galt_57.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1188414161.838440.224820@22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
> On Aug 26, "Micheal Artindale" <michealartind....RemoveThis@eastlink.ca> wrote:
>> How do you deal with relieving yourself?
>>
>> When I go out for a paddle, I usually go for several hours. During this
>> time, I can get out on the shore, and do what I need to do.
>>
>> With a wetsuit, its even easyer.
>
> Why? (Maybe I don't want to hear)
>
> I don't know why but some people need to piss every hour while others
> only a few times a day,
>

I am of the former. I did not know about the relief zips and wondered how
people could go so long, or did they use something like a pair of Depends...

I will spend the extra for a relief zip

Micheal
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

Per Davej:
>I don't know why but some people need to piss every hour while others
>only a few times a day,

Wait about 40 years...
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time... 

On Aug 29, 2:19 pm, Bill Tuthill <ccree....RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Oci-One Kanubi <rhop....RemoveThis@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> >>http://theboatpeople.com/atr_riverwear.html#Drysuits
> >>> You needn't pay an extra $250 to $300 upcharge for a Goretex version
> >>> because Palm's are made of a breathable tri-laminate hybrid fabric that
> >>> called XP100 with an excellent rip-stop characteristics.
>
> > Three grammar errors in a single sentence? Why do I doubt the
> > professionalism of "theboatpeople"?
>
> Well yes, the Boat People are originally rafters
> and rafters are not as well-educated as kayakers or
> (especially) open canoeists.
>
> In "Snake Eyes," a good novel by famous Canadian writer Margaret Atwood,
> I found 11 spelling or grammar errors, but that was over ~ 200 pages.
> However she had both editor and publisher!

As you can well imagine, Bill, I am *never* guilty of typos, spellos,
grammaticos, or thinkos! And I always demonstrate good judgment and
impeccable taste!
 >> Stay informed about: when wearing a Drysuit for long periods of time...