Dry feet, cheaper than dry suit

[ebell]

the waders look basically like my dry bibs, with feet. that being said I do get some water in my bibs after long swims and the ankle gaskets don't let it out.

I imagine with a dry top on water would get into the waders, but you would have to swim for a very very long time to ever get enough water past to make much of a difference.

The bibs I have do have a tunnel on them that rolls up with the dry top tunnel to create a "waterproof barrier" much like the top of a dry bag. It does leak a little on occasion.

best of luck with the experimentation.
eric

[Tim Eubanks]

All right. Looks like a Mythbusters episode in the making. I'll bring a dry top, splash top, and waders. No cameras please. Bob will be on safety. If someone wants to bring their rescue PFD he can put me on a tether (or have another rescuer on a tether). Marcell may want to set up a compound Z-drag as well.
Plan is to drop in on one end (shallow end, of course), go under, attempt to swim (slowly, I'm out of swimming shape) to other end or until exhausted or Bob( or his stand in) pulls me to the side. Take off waders and measure to the nearest 0.01ml the water that is poured out. Repeat with other top.

[Tim Eubanks]

Results of pool test (Bob?)
First run: waders and dry top. Jumped in, swam length of pool. No water to pour out of waders, but there was some moisture. I was not wearing a PFD. Doing so would likely have kept any water from creeping in.

Second run: waders and splash top. Jumped in, swam length of pool. Splash top let a lot of water in. Waders had water to ankle.

The waders did not fill up. First run they were tight to my legs when I got out.

Conclusion: Myth that waders will fill up with water: Busted

There were some witnesses, should they wish to confirm results.

This is not an endorsement for the general public to go out and buy waders to wear under your dry top and I'm not liable for your long swims regardless of what you are wearing. Be safe. If you don't believe me, go jump in pool.

[ckuntz]

I confirm Tim's results at UALR pool tonight. Wonder if in more violent water(aka-holes) if results would be the same. Dry top did seem to work well in calm water swim and had hilarious ballooning effect to Tim's swim that I wish I had on camera!
Chris K

[rick james]

Tim, as to your comment on socks, check out sealskinz. I use them instead of integrated booties w/ my drysuit. If you put the socks on 1st and pull them gently through the gaskets it actually will seal pretty well around the sock. Since the socks are waterproof you now have somewhat dry feet.

[Tim Eubanks]

Rick
Seal skinz were my first try at dry socks. I was unimpressed and sent them back to NRS (who gave me a full refund). Glad they work for you. I don't have any pants with ankle gaskets. Found some knock-off gore-tex socks at Topps shoes. They work OK. Problem is that if you get much over your ankles, you get wet. Splash protection is great.

I'm sticking with the waders when a swim is low propability, like most of the rafting I do.

[prophet]

Tim have you tried the NRS expedition socks with the bibs? they're waterproof and seal pretty good with the bib gaskets. insulated too.

i tried the sealskins and they did not work for me at all

[Dane Pruitt]

Use flats fly fishing boots with your waders very comfortable. I just bought a pair of hodgman zipper front breathables and was thinking of wearing them as some float pants with a drake pullover rain jacket for a dry top.

also for around $299 overtons sells a full dry suit for water skiing made of nylon with gaskets at neck, wrist and feet with zipper across shoulders to get in and out of suit. I have couple friends use them wakeboarding say no leaks but gaskets are toght and uncomfortable.

By the way first post Hello everybody. Been lurking for sometime though

[Clif]

A water ski suit would hafta be able to stand some moving water... falling on yer face at 25 to 30 mph hurts. Been there....

I had always heard the problem with wader setup would be the type with boots.

Interesting stuff

[Tim Eubanks]

My current neoprene boots will not "accomodate" the wader feet. just need to get a size larger.

Disclaimer: The intended use of the wader/drytop-splashtop combo for me is rafting(low swim probability) in cold water and cold air.

After the pool test, I'd feel confident taking one of my "usual" swims with no worries about filling up the waders.