NRS Stuff

[Monsoon]

Can anyone tell me the quality of NRS baselayers and splash jackets, pants etc...?
I am hoping the quality with which they make their tie down straps are the same for the apparel.

Are NRS river work boots too much for a Mulberry float? I like them and the price.

Thanks.

[Randy Dodson]

One word of caution on the NRS Workboots, Mine started coming apart and wearing out after the first year ( about 50 paddling days ) but I wore them for another 3 years anyway. The thing that bothered me the most about them was not how easily they seem to get torn up but how INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT they were to get on and off.

People have actually died on the river because of shoes that were hung up in a strainer and could not be removed in time to prevent drowning.

I once almost died of starvation because of the length of time it took me to get them off my feet at the take-out.

Other than the NRS Workboots and NRS gloves, I haven't had a problem with their apparel.

My own recommendation for open boaters footwear is the Keen Hood River bootie.

[Monsoon]

Man, they look so tough though. I just need something I can walk on the slippery rocks with. I have a slippery rock problem. Ask the Mulberry trippers last weekend.

What about socks with the boots or booties? Smartwool or some other water sock?

[okieboater]

try the NRS paddle shoes with felt soles, very slip resisent. I had a pair and they worked well for me

[Monsoon]

Found'em and going to put my order in today!! Thanks guys.

[Randy Dodson]

Yes, Smartwools with the booties.

[Monsoon]

It just so happens I have a few pairs of those.
One more question....Do I want a splash top or Dry top? I see a hutge price difference and function difference, but I don't know which to get.
I will have the hydro skin or a wet suite as a base layer, so I imagine a splash top??!!

[okieboater]

My opinion only:

Splash tops work ok till you take a swim, then you will get soaked. This could be a problem if you are out in the winter on a long float.

Dry tops cost more but if you trim the latex gaskets properly, you will stay mostly dry in the chest area, if you swim. Most of us will be damp in a dry top but that is why you wear a fleece layer.

The old semi dry tops with latex wrist and neoprene neck gaskets used to be just that semi dry but leaked thru the neck when you took a swim.

I purchased a NRS new style semi dry top and the neoprene neck seal has been improved to the point it is my top of choice. I have done a lot of roll practice in mine this winter and little to no leakage thru the neck gasket. I do not know how it would work in a swim. Cannot be sure your experience will be the same as mine with a NRS semi dry top, but it might be a middle of the road choice if you do not want to buy the more expensive dry top models.

Be aware that a regular splash top is only for splashes and you will get soaked if you take a swim in a splash top. The only time I wear a splash top is in the heat of summer when I am looking for mostly sun protection or wind cooling protection.

Some of the new models of dry tops and dry paddle pants have wide neoprene strips along the waist areas. These things are not water tite, but my experience has been pretty good. You will get some leaks but not the full blast of water. Nothing beats a good dry suit (kokotat gore tex very expensive but works the best of all I have used over the years).

I hate cold water and mostly over dress if I am paddling in the colder months. You may be able to handle the cold a lot better than me. So this is my opinon only.

[Monsoon]

Thanks OKIE. That helps a bunch....I do not care for the cold water, but it doesn't kill me. I will probably just go with dry top and bottom and hydroskin baselayer. and a fleece layer like you. I bet its comfortable enough.

Thnaks again!!!!!!!!!

[okieboater]

One more bit of feedback.

For a long time, most of the folks I paddled with in the winter used the neoprene farmer john with capalene under neath, a dry top with a nice fleece top for the top layer etc etc for winter paddle trips.

Be aware that a wet suit (when you take a swim) will flush water between you and the wet suit. This will cool your body down dramatically. When you get out of the water, your body will have to warm up the water left in your wet suit. If you have a lot of body heat left, things are usually ok but if you get past the point of no return, you may still get hypothermia even with the wet suit.

By adding the dry top to the farmer John, you get a lot of protection on your chest area. The neoprene bottom of the dry top will seal pretty good to the farmer john and prevent the major flush of creek water thru the wetsuit if you swim. You will still get some leakage from the foot area, but that is usually not that bad.

Since you already have the wet suit, if you add the dry top and a nice thick fleece top between the wet suit and dry top - you will have a much better cold water outfit than just the wet suit and splash jacket.

Like I said, I am prolly over cautious here. But, I have seen several of my paddling buds get into big trouble recovering from unplanned swims with less than optimal paddle gear.