What to wear under a drysuit

[Chris]

What do you guys recommend wearing under a drysuit, I have just bought a Henri Lloyd TP3 suit with latex socks.

I imagine that gArf would wear a leopard skin thong and corset.

Chris

[Biggles]

15 Denier stockings for me

[Stoo]

I only wear a drysuit for diving, but I learned that's it's best to have something breathable. My nylon covered "undies" tended to allow condensation to form against my delicate self. The breathable stuff formed condensation under the drysuit, but outside the undies...

On the other hand, the nylon stuff slides into the suit better...

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Stoo

I only wear a drysuit for diving, but I learned that's it's best to have something breathable. My nylon covered "undies" tended to allow condensation to form against my delicate self. The breathable stuff formed condensation under the drysuit, but outside the undies...

On the other hand, the nylon stuff slides into the suit better...

STOCKINGS

[Simon B]

Cotton base layer
Fleece outer layer; anything that is cheap look for v-neck sweater type thingies Makro were flogging them for a fiver. The best kit I got was some Matalan fleece thermal underwear £10 for the whole set

Does help if it looks vaguely like normal clothing so the ladies arent too distressed on the dockside.

If all else fails a tuxedo and Walther PPK will normally suffice.

[Lostboy]

The TP3 is breathable isn't it? In which case go with a thermal base layer (Musto, Gul, HL, HH etc, they all do them) and then a fleece mid, again all the sailing guys do them.

I wear Gul thermal shirt and shorts and fleece under my Code Zero wets and it's superb!

[Nos4r2]

I get away with flab and an extra layer but if you really want to stay warm get a cheap woolly bear like this.

[mark-f]

This is what i use under my Breathable Drysuit and I have never been cold or damp.

http://www.fourthelement.com/xerotherm_arctic.php

more like dry and toastie

Mark

[Lostboy]

Originally Posted by Simon B

Cotton base layer

NO!!! That's what knackers (technical term) the breathability of most suits. It needs to be a man-made fabric, check with all the suppliers!!

[Limey Linda]

I am sure codders would recommend sheepskin. I used to use satin undies but they tended to make things very hard.

[fred bolton]

Originally Posted by Biggles

15 Denier stockings for me

Yeah they are ok for the winter I prefer 10 denier for the summer

[fred bolton]

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

I am sure codders would recommend sheepskin. I used to use satin undies but they tended to make things very hard.

Aahhh but they are not man made unless they are from Wales

[Lostboy]

Originally Posted by fred bolton

Aahhh but they are not man made unless they are from Wales

I've never seen sheepskin from a whale

[codprawn]

If you use sheepskin and loads of lanolin you won't even need a drysuit - or a lifejacket - sheep are always self righting - they float with their legs up in the air!!!

Cotton is the most breathable material around BUT once it gets wet it stays wet. The old rule is "cotton kills". I would rather use a microfibre wicking type material.

There is one amazing cotton based product that is fantastic - Ventile. It was first developed for RAF survival suits during WWII. It is fantastic for mountain use. Much more breathable than modern materials - when it gets wet the pores swell up. It's much nicer to wear and doesn't rustle which is why the SAS uses it. Also much tougher - just chuck your jacket over a barbed wire fence to climb over.

The main problem with Ventile though is that when the water eventually gets through it stays wet - for days!!!

http://www.west-winds.net/ventile.htm

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by codprawn

If you use sheep, loads of lanolin - - just chuck your jacket over a barbed wire fence to climb over.

So thats how its done

[Northern Tim]

I wear a cheap set of thermals from Tog24, a woolly bear (all in one fleece for the uninitiated) and then the drysuit which is breathable.
I was in the north sea for about 10 mins on the first weekend in March and didn't get cold.