DRY TOPS

[LARAMY]

Has anyone tried a NRS Revolution drytop? Another one I was curious about is the one advertised on the back of the current issue of Paddler magazine. www.extrasport.com

[RomanLA]

I'm wearing NRS from head to toe (stampede semi-dry top) and I'm very happy with everything. I looked at the Extrasport site...this is a pretty impressive statement..."This is the best dry top ever produced".

[LARAMY]

Yeah I saw that. I haven't seen anyone wearing one though. My mission today was to buy a dry top but I'm not having luck finding what I want which is a Black or Gray size large. NRS said they were back ordered until March so I'm SOL on my first choice I guess.

[Renee H]

Look at the Kokatat Gore-tex. I've had mine for 5 years and still in great shape. I've had IR and known people with Bomber Gear and those tops are crappy. I'm pretty loyal to Kokatat--I have a Gore-tex drysuit as well. Ouachita Outdoors has a good selection of that brand. Also, if you don't want to spend the $$ on Gore-tex, Kokatat has another breathable fabric that is less expensive called Tropos.

[Clif]

I've had IR and....those tops are crappy.

Well, dang. I wish you had told me it was crappy before. I been thinking mine was ok all this time!

Never had another to compare it to tho.

[LARAMY]

If anybody is looking for new dry tops you can't find try Colorado Kayak Supply. I had been looking for an NRS top that all the local dealers were out of and NRS wouldn't get in until March which they had. Got it for a great price too because its an '07 model.

[LARAMY]

I retract my previous Colorado Kayak Supply comment. They sent me the wrong one!

[Mike_P]

NRS has some sales in their latest catalog. Is a semi-dry top adequate for around here during the winter? Are NRS products sufficient?

Looks like main issues are:
1) whether one needs a latex gasket vs neoprene
2) Gortex vs "TriTon" vs "Tropos"

Also what are kayakers wearing on the bottom half during the winter? I assume it's directly related to the confidence in your combat role. I assume most are NOT wearing full dry suits. Are you wearing full wet suits with dry top over it?

Thanks,
Mike P.
Rogers

[Crane]

For most of the year, I wear an IR semi-dry top and fuzzy rubber pants. I have had good success with my IR top, but I may not be as hard on it as Renee... I lent it to a friend on the Grand Canyon & he liked it so much he ordered one on his return... and that was BIGGGG water with several pretty long swims. He got a drop or two down his back a time or two, but the comfort made up for it. My experience is that semi-dry are significantly more comfortable to wear. In winter, I switch to a Kokatat GoreTex dry-suit, which is the best year-extending piece of equipment you can own. If you can afford one, buy the Meridian for yakking now and plan on getting a semi-dry top for summer wear. I also have a short-sleeved dry top I got on sale several years ago for hot summer wear... As for Tropos, I understand it's cheaper, but may not be as breathable as original GoreTex. It's really nice to be dry at the takeout... and after swims.

Fuzzy rubber bottoms are good for cool to warm times. Many folks use neoprene shorts for warm season wear... but, I just use swim trunks. Many folks combine a Farmer John with a dry or semi-dry top for fall and winter wear and seem pretty comfortable.

The best single piece of advice I have to offer is to spend as much as you can to buy the best you can possibly afford & save spending later to up-grade your outfit... and if you paddle very much/long, you'll want to move up to good quality equipment. Better to simply spend it once...

[ryno]

I've had an nrs revolyution dry top for a few years now and it is wonderfull. the material is a little heavyr than some of the other brands. i've paddled a lot in the fridged spring runoff of Idaho. it keeps dry and warm. the lochsa is where the guys at nrs do a lot of paddling and r/d the water is big and cold. but mine keeps me dry there.

[Zach]

You can also keep an eye on Sierra Trading Post:

www.sierratradingpost.com

They often have drytop, pants, wetsuits, occasionally drysuits on sale.