: You want a goretex dry suit. I have used both wetsuits and drysuits. I paddle
: most of the year in a drysuit.

: Read Jay Babina's article at the URL below. He says it better than I could.

This is an excellent article, and I have great respect for Mr. Babina but couldn`t resist adding my .02 cents.

Goretex suits have at least two big problems that I am aware of. One is price. Another is that if you poke a hole in one, blow out a seam or zipper, then end up in the water it will fill up with water and will make swimming and or rescue difficult at best.

Mr. Babina only mentions farmer john suits. For cold weather paddling I wear 3/2 or 5/4 fullsuit (steamer) and a shorty in the summer. My 5/4 suit has an integral hood.

Here in Maine we surf year round. When the water temps are in the 30`s from Nov until March a 5/4 or 6/4 wetsuit is the only answer. You might get a "popsicle" headache, but that`s about it.

I`ve paddled week long (early spring) canoe trips in northern Maine wearing a 3/2 fullsuit every day without discomfort.

I guess what I`m trying to say is don`t just rule out wetsuits. I`ve never owned a drysuit but I have spent countless hours wearing wetsuits in and around the water in all seasons, and I like `em.

Hope that helps.