User Tools
Sidebar
Table of Contents
Clothing - In Between Conditions
Clothing for shoulder months between Winter and Summer, or mixed conditions - not cold water, but maybe cool water and medium to warm air temperature, etc. - you have to figure out what your in-between conditions are and what provides adequate protection. In between water temperatures are still dangerous for extended immersion (particularly in terms of attitude, as they can tilt many paddlers toward less care in terms of immersion survivability). Shoulder seasons can also be extra dangerous because weather can be volatile and water temperatures can be subject to rapid and not always anticipated decreases.
When you see prices that seem low compared to other products there usually is a reason, most likely you are looking at less expensive neoprene with overlock or flatlock stitching which will not keep your nearly as protected from leakage and faster flush through. And the neoprene may very possibly be more water absorbant and less flexible than higher quality, more expensive options.
Farmer Johns/Janes, Shorties, Vests
Before you rely too heavily on these styles for warmth you should test them in the conditions you intend to use them in. Farmer Johns/Janes can be deceptive - providing a fair amount of warmth while you are dry, but providing surprisingly little protection when wet or submerged particularly if they are the style with long zippers - often such zippers and/or the suits simply allow too much rapid water entry and exit to slow heat loss. If paired with a snug top, water flow-thru rate can be reduced.
- Giant Fish USA Main site Paddle shorts, Windshirt top, (spring 2024 new Bib overall - similar to farmer john)
- Mocke SA Lookup Main Site lookup Equinox vest
- NRS USA
- Nineplus UK - farmer john, jane, shorties, jackets, vests
- Palm UK Main site lookup tops, bottoms, farmer janes and farmer johns
- Vaikobi long johns
Many other wetsuit brands offer farmer johns, janes, and shorties
Lighter Weight Pants and Tops
- Giant Fish Oregon, USA lightweight tops and bottoms, limestone neoprene, designed for paddlers - new company as of 2020 - shorts, pants 1.5 mm and 3 mm (really for colder conditions) and tops 2 mm.
- Helly Hansen Norway a small variety usually aimed toward non-immersion with flat-locked seams, but occassionally higher end wetsuits with better seam sealing
- Mocke Equinox South Africa - Equinox Options
- NRS USA - Hydroskin (.5-1.5 mil)
- Patagonia USA (R1 Lite - 2/1.5 mil, R1 - 3/2.5 mil)
- Promotion Exoskin USA - windproof sweaters for watersports
- Reed Chilleaters UK Tops, also check their trousers and shorts
- Vaikobi Australia
- Vaikobi's VCold line is popular for in-between temperatures. VCold has a range of thickness (Hydroflex, Flex,…) which seems to be composed of a mix of stretch material, neoprene (we don't see how thick in the spec for many of these). These are designed for paddlers and the descriptions make a point about having perforations and avoiding overheating. So they are probably more helpful for above water cool conditions, but not necessarily as much protection for extended immersion as a paddler might assume.
- Triathlon Wear
- DeSoto high end limestone neoprene
Discussions
- Fireskin, Lavacore (not immersion wear)
Paddle Shoes
