This will surely seem like a total newbie question. (Is there a rbpt FAQ?)
After purchasing a kayak, I found that part of the culture appears to be a ritual pilgrimage to buy a membership in the Mountain Equipment Coop (in Canada). This I dutifully attended to yesterday afternoon. After completing the form, I strolled around my local outlet.
I marvelled at all the cool toys and was impressed by the quality and price of the Farmer Johns. It then struck me: I hadn't a clue, should I ever buy one, what one wears under them. Are they like the Scotsman's kilt?
Any help in this regard or anything else I ought to know about these things would be welcome.
"BCITORGB" <wilf.ratzburg@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1110314593.450906.107260@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...> This will surely seem like a total newbie question. (Is there a rbpt> FAQ?)>
After purchasing a kayak, I found that part of the culture appears to> be a ritual pilgrimage to buy a membership in the Mountain Equipment> Coop (in Canada). This I dutifully attended to yesterday afternoon.> After completing the form, I strolled around my local outlet.>
I marvelled at all the cool toys and was impressed by the quality and> price of the Farmer Johns. It then struck me: I hadn't a clue, should I> ever buy one, what one wears under them. Are they like the Scotsman's> kilt?>
Any help in this regard or anything else I ought to know about these> things would be welcome.>
Cheers,> Wilf>
Silk boxers are nice, but they tend to bind up when you put on the farmer johns. I used to wear speedos, back when I lived in cold climes. Nothing on the top half. Unless you are prone to loaning your wetsuit out (not a hygenic idea), the reason for wearing something underneath is to avoid skid marks when you postage stamp yourself against the big rock in the middle of the plume on some class 5 river that your buddies promised was only a class 3 at this level.
On 8 Mar 2005 12:43:13 -0800, "BCITORGB" <wilf.ratzburg@gmail.com> wrote:
After purchasing a kayak, I found that part of the culture appears to>be a ritual pilgrimage to buy a membership in the Mountain Equipment>Coop (in Canada). This I dutifully attended to yesterday afternoon.>After completing the form, I strolled around my local outlet.>
I marvelled at all the cool toys and was impressed by the quality and>price of the Farmer Johns. It then struck me: I hadn't a clue, should I>ever buy one, what one wears under them. Are they like the Scotsman's>kilt?>
Any help in this regard or anything else I ought to know about these>things would be welcome.>
While I have no plans to invade the privacy of any kilted Scotsman, I can address the other.
Going commando underneath a wetsuit is not a great idea.
Many will wear a swimsuit, leaning towards a thin nylon or Lycra. In some conditions, wearing lightweight polypro might make sense.
Happy trails, Gary (net.yogi.bear) -- At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence
Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom
riverman: ============== I used to wear speedos, back when I lived in cold climes. ===================
I guess I'm in "cold" climes (Pacific Northwest), so I'll give the speedos a try (although I've tended to avoid the very brief "eastern european at the beach" fashion statement -- which is`exactly the comment I know I'll get from my wife and daughters... "eeeeewwwwwww!")
So far, everything I've read about attire indicates that cotton is out. Thus, I'll assume, not cotton briefs.
So, while we're on the topic, if not cotton T-shirts, what would you recommend as a top?
If all goes according to plan, we hit the salt chuck this weekend for our shake-down cruise.
"BCITORGB" <wilf.ratzburg@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1110320923.633836.269110@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...> riverman:> ==============> I used to wear speedos, back when I lived in cold climes.> ===================>
I guess I'm in "cold" climes (Pacific Northwest), so I'll give the> speedos a try (although I've tended to avoid the very brief "eastern> european at the beach" fashion statement -- which is`exactly the> comment I know I'll get from my wife and daughters... "eeeeewwwwwww!")>
So far, everything I've read about attire indicates that cotton is out.> Thus, I'll assume, not cotton briefs.>
So, while we're on the topic, if not cotton T-shirts, what would you> recommend as a top?>
If all goes according to plan, we hit the salt chuck this weekend for> our shake-down cruise.>
I never wore anything on top. The purpose of the speedos, as I said, really is to avoid 'dirtying' the wetsuit. However, as your body heat is an essential element in the function of the suit, then go topless underneath and on your legs.
However, if you want to keep the suit free from body hair, sweat, dead skin, etc. then wear some lightweight polypro top underneath. Nonetheless, you still have to wash the suit about once every 5-10 wearings, or else it gets stinky. I used to just put mine in a bathtub full of hot water and a touch of mild handwash detergent and walk on it for a bit. Using an antiperspirant before you put it on will save the underarm area from getting too ripe too quickly.
On 8-Mar-2005, "BCITORGB" <wilf.ratzburg@gmail.com> wrote:
I suppose I'll have to look at poly or fleece type options. For the> summer months around here (Vancouver and the Gulf Islands) I'm guessing> that all my cotton stuff will do, as the temperatures -- air and water> -- seem to be relatively warm (from June to October, I think, but I'll> ask around).
MEC stocks some decent polyester quick-dry Tees and stuff. Better than polypro as it doesn't tend to stink as much when worn a short time. In fact, check out all the paddling wear at MEC once the spring/summer stock is in.
I usually wear swimming trunks (MEC quick dry shorts) and a long sleeved Powerdry top under an FJ most of the time. Only when it's hot enough to skip an FJ do I wear a short sleeved polyester Tee. I find that the wind over water gets just chilly enough to want long sleeves most of the time.
I don't know that the cotton is ever a good idea. I've never heard anyone describe the BC coast as having particularly warm water. You have to dress more for immersion than for the air, unless you have a bombproof roll and paddle in a group.
Fiona Stirling 11 March 2005 20:20:17 [ permanent link ]
Darryl Johnson wrote:> BCITORGB wrote in news:1110337727.832888.70210> @g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:>
Alex says:> > ==============> > In warm climates Killer Cotton is the best thing in the world.> Here in> > eastern Canada, in the Labrador current it is not something I would> > wear on the ocean ( ever ) .> > ===================> >
Since thinking about going out on the water and having read about> > cotton being bad, I've had to reevaluate my wardrobe: it seems that> > cotton is just about all I own.> >
I suppose I'll have to look at poly or fleece type options. For the> > summer months around here (Vancouver and the Gulf Islands) I'm> guessing> > that all my cotton stuff will do, as the temperatures -- air and> water> > -- seem to be relatively warm (from June to October, I think, but> I'll> > ask around).> >
Thanks for the tip re cotton under the wet suit - it stands to> reason> > that without the evaporation, the chilling factor doesn't occur.> Maybe> > I won't have to go the Speedo route after all.> >
Cheers,> > Wilf> >
MEC sells "quick-dry" boxer shorts and briefs, as well as other> clothing. I use the boxers under everything. They're sized to fit> snugly, like the tight shorts that bicyclers wear. They look so much> like those biker shorts that I can change in the middle of a crowded> parking lot and not get a second glance fomr anyone. Well, maybe a> few young kids saying: "Who's the fat old guiy over there, and what's
he doing?">
--> Darryl
i wear a lite swim suit under an fj. i wear quick dry material over the fj and under a spray jacket as required. baby powder is something i have not heard mentioned in this string. best two dollars you are likely to spend... the swim suit is simply to allow me to slip into something dry in a parking lot. oh; be carefull. i thought i had a bomb proof roll untill i tried one in very cold water. a friend, who i though less skilled than i, rescued me and is still laughing at it. it was a very hot day but the water was bitterly cold. the lads did some rolls, a couple of practice rescues and we all did some rock hopping. i am bcu trained ( well trained ) lots of certificates; thought i could show them. when that cold water hit my head and neck i panicked and did a fast wet exit. i had my paddle but my friend was tasked with recovering my boat. i was gasping for air as water filled my spray jacket and wet suit. both of them told me not to try a roll without a dry suit. i have never been so cought off before or since. i had no idea the effect realy cold water has. that was in newfoundland 3 years ago. i have never had that problem again since in nova scotia and british columbia the water does not get that cold. just a note,,, dress for immersion. that ended our paddling day as it drained all my energy ( instantly ) and scared me even though we were 100 m from a beach take out and the same to our cars. i borrowed my friends hh thick poly pro and curled up in my car to get warm again , they put our boats on the car. people on the beach got a wonderfull laugh. Oh . I was wearing a very light fasionable dry suit, a neoptrene swim suit realy a light spray top and light polly pro . the weather was 25 or 27 c the water was about 0 c. We had lots of great paddling later that week but i was a little better prepared.
Fiona Stirling 15 March 2005 08:30:21 [ permanent link ]
the last line i said dry suit. i ment a tiny wet suit about 1.5mm . re. an instant roll. i bloody near took a breath under water. it is called cold shock and it got me. you know ,,, i would have rolled up but my paddle was set up so it would have to be a full roll. i was simply shocked out of my boat. you know it got much worse when i got out of the boat and my .... well when i got wet all over it was bad. they had me back in the boat in likely under 30 seconds. it was very fast, felt like forever but it was fast. i have not failed a roll since.
