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Kayak: Easing into dry suits

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Donning a dry suit is not intuitive. The first time I tried, I ended up on my back, on my bed, with my wife shoving the rubber booties over my feet. I felt like a toddler. The whole process took about 45 minutes and was such a strain I had the ironic thought I might have a heart attack putting on a suit meant to save my life. Now, since I’ve learned the step-by-step method from Jackson Kayak pro Roberto Briones, I can do it in just over 5 minutes — all by myself like a big boy. <p> With cold-weather kayak angling opportunities, a dry suit is a great safeguard against hypothermia if you fall in. They keep you nice and dry in rainstorms, too. <p> <em>All captions: Dave Mull</em>
Donning a dry suit is not intuitive. The first time I tried, I ended up on my back, on my bed, with my wife shoving the rubber booties over my feet. I felt like a toddler. The whole process took about 45 minutes and was such a strain I had the ironic thought I might have a heart attack putting on a suit meant to save my life. Now, since I’ve learned the step-by-step method from Jackson Kayak pro Roberto Briones, I can do it in just over 5 minutes — all by myself like a big boy.

With cold-weather kayak angling opportunities, a dry suit is a great safeguard against hypothermia if you fall in. They keep you nice and dry in rainstorms, too.

All captions: Dave Mull

Start with one leg, foot completely in the bootie, and put your boot on over it to avoid scuffing the soft rubber on asphalt or sticks. Repeat with your other leg, stand up and pull the suit up as snugly as possible before attempting the arms.
Start with one leg, foot completely in the bootie, and put your boot on over it to avoid scuffing the soft rubber on asphalt or sticks. Repeat with your other leg, stand up and pull the suit up as snugly as possible before attempting the arms.
Put one arm at a time completely through the sleeve, as far as possible, bringing the rubber gasket up a few inches past your wrist to allow a bit more space for your second arm to get into its sleeve.
Put one arm at a time completely through the sleeve, as far as possible, bringing the rubber gasket up a few inches past your wrist to allow a bit more space for your second arm to get into its sleeve.
Now the really fun part: Get your head through the neck gasket. Some people have birthday flashbacks. Most suits are designed to allow zipping up, on your own, with minimal contortions. Make sure the zipper is completely closed, as water can seep in fast and right where you don’t want it if you leave even the smallest opening.
Now the really fun part: Get your head through the neck gasket. Some people have birthday flashbacks. Most suits are designed to allow zipping up, on your own, with minimal contortions. Make sure the zipper is completely closed, as water can seep in fast and right where you don’t want it if you leave even the smallest opening.
The last step is “burping” the suit by squatting, arms close to your sides and holding the neck gasket open to let excess air escape. Otherwise, you’re a human air mattress. A Buff on the neck can avert irritation from wearing the tight gasket all day.
The last step is “burping” the suit by squatting, arms close to your sides and holding the neck gasket open to let excess air escape. Otherwise, you’re a human air mattress. A Buff on the neck can avert irritation from wearing the tight gasket all day.

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