What's the Dry Suit experience been like lately?

Speedo · Since 07 May 2007 262 Posts Obsessed

How are people who have the ocean rodeo dry suits feeling about them? Still good? Any local sources.

Since Pepi is going to be the Mystic dealer, has anyone had experience with the Mystic dry suits?

Thanks,
Ken

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Liking my Pyro Surf a lot, but mainly because it fits fairly tight and I can still wear boardshorts (though I think it's harder to get on than the Pryo Pro/Lite)! I swear I remember hearing something about one of the HR shops carrying OR, but Kite-Line in Bend is a good, local option too.

As far as the Lightning, I looked into it a while back and got decent reviews on it from Kiteforum, but at the time they still had a plastic zipper that everyone was worried about. Don't know if that's the case anymore, but it's definately something to check on before buying.

kss · Since 24 Apr 2006 614 Posts pdx Addicted

FYI, for those closer to Portland,

Gorge Performance is ALSO now carrying the Mystic line-up!!

just a heads up. some great products out there this year! nice to be able to support our local shops!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Boardshorts over drysuit? wha? I am going to start wearing board shorts over my snowboard pants! Wink

I got the Pyro Pro, the surf was available and looks cool but I was playing it safe cause Henry already had the Pyro and I knew he was happy. Adam is the only one I know with the Surf.

My conclusions: I really like the OR Pyro Pro and would recommend it to anyone.

Pros:
- Keeps you warm especially when standing on the beach after sesh, no rushing back to the car.
- Stripping down to your dry base layer poly pro is much nicer than stripping down to wet and nekkid post sesh.
- Warm in the water, no issues with leaky seals or anything.
- Front zipper is convienient, easy to get into head gasket after I adjusted it to my neck size.

Cons:
- More material than a wetsuit, you have more flexibility in your joints but the baggy ness makes some moves a little harder... OR Surf might be better in this respect.
- Putting it on/taking it off can take a bit longer than wetsuit... mostly because you want to be careful not to damage seals.
- Ankle gaskets are especially painful if you have hairy feet... Kayak drysuits with built in booties might be better in this respect.
- Expensive!

Anyhoo I have no trouble riding for several hours at a time... my feet get cold but that's just becfause I have really thin booties and they have a ton of holes in them.

Overall I'd say it makes the cold water more approachable and not as dicey my old 4/3 steamer.

boredbrain · Since 16 Feb 2006 352 Posts Hood River Obsessed

Phil,

What is the potential for a seal or seam failure, and how much water will you end up taking on?

I had a kayaking dry suit that did exactly that and it was a long time ago (1987), January, Shilshoe in Seattle, Northwestrly and colder than ....

That is my main concern. I am sure it is better quality than what I had as I saw you wearing it the other day.

mschulz · Since 29 May 2007 530 Posts Reno, NV Addicted

If you break a seal, you will have a full flush of cold water. Suits made of neoprene have a better chance of keeping you warm and floating in the event of a seam malfunction all though they do not have as good of movement as the others. Either way you go, it is still warmer than a wet suit. My $.02

Sol-flyer · Fri Mar 07, 08 11:38 am

Navanod · Since 20 Feb 2007 207 Posts Beaverton Stoked

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Mar 07, 08 12:17 pm

for whatever its worth, I was completely warm in my 5/4/3 although the dry suit guys do look a little more hardcore with whole spacesuit looking deal.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

I've taken a couple HARD head hits with the Surf and have yet to have any water blast in... Could be because the neck seal on mine is pretty tight though. And a little water does get in through the ankles if you're riding powered, but if you weren't stupid like me and wore booties, it wouldn't be a problem.

As John said, I wouldn't worry too much about the seams. If you look at the suits, they're actually made of a pretty beefy coated, nylon fabric. Not going to take a sharp blow from a G10 fin, but I think it'd be hard to rip otherwise.

Figure the water's up 5-6 degrees from where it can be, so I if you're planning on riding in late December to early February, they're definately worth it.

Here's a pic, because Phil likes it when I post a pic in every thread! Wink

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 387 Posts Seattle Obsessed

The OR Surf is the shit! Front zipper and plenty of free feeling movement for tricks. I have pounded this suit and have only come out damp in the calf area of one leg once. Impressive suits.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

gorgebob · Since 25 Jun 2007 259 Posts Portland, OR Shop Owner

Sorry about the mystic info , we do have warrior harnesses in stock, no drysuits. I would gladly order a mystic drysuit for anyone however. Anyone used the OS breeze suit?

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

I have a 5/4 wetsuit that's been great this past winter, but a drysuit would be nice to have.
I was wondering, what is the life on the pyro suits? I would be comfortable w/ it for a year or two, but then you might be thinking about replacement seals?

rodeo clown · Since 29 Jan 2007 40 Posts Seattle

The surf dry is sweet.
This same suit is offered in a freedive version by Whites
(Ocean Rodeo's sister company, making drysuits for 50 years)
Because the suit is pulled tight by the outer lycra layer, a tear or seam failure will not result in a massive flush. Its been tested for this already.
What do I like about it?
The front zipper is amazing! Very easy and totally leak proof.
Feels like I'm wearing a jogging suit instead of a dry suit, amazing flexibility!
No wind chill, no nothing but warm warm warm!
I've spent 5 hours on the water in 38 degree temps and was toasty until I had to take it off.
The seals can be tight, but these are tapered, so you need to carefully trim off an 1/8 to 1/4 inch at a time until they are just snug and comfy.
Tough. I'll just take a chance here and suggest that this suit is tougher than any wetsuit or drysuit out there. I think it has to do with the way the inner core and the outer lycra interact...its tough to get a hard rub or rip on this suit...it just absorbs the energy with no damage at all.
You can swim very well in this suit, its designed for surfing after all.

What don't I like about it?
Peeing in a drysuit is not the same as peeing in a wetsuit.
If you have a drinking problem, or a weak bladder, don't get a drysuit.
It takes longer to get into one of these too, those ankle and wrist seals need to lay flat to work, and that takes a little x-tra time.
If you are into short sessions, a wetsuit is better.
X-pensive! This suit is the cream of drysuits.
The whole system (drysuit, gloves, booties, hoodie, and back zip underwear)will set you back a grand.

I think you can easily get 5 years out of one of these suits, maybe more if you keep it clean and replace the seals when they wear out.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

What are you Pyro Surf guys layering with? I opted not to spend $150 on the OR layering and instead was stupid and spent $130 on the thickest Under Armor (which is ultra thin by comparison). Definately isn't thick enough when the water's cold, so I've had to just throw a fleece over it.