This is another reason you need a drysuit and not waders and belt

It's a lesson I have witnessed first hand on several occasions...fortunately without a death involved.  Icefishing, snowmachining, and kayak fishing. 

its an article about Craig Strickland the country music singer who died of hypothermy and not drowning. 

I see too many folks here in Alaska (mainly sea kayakers not so much kayak anglers) out on the water without drysuits.  I am guilty of taking my son out in waders  before but always in warmer lakes, multiple adults, or very close to shore with easy access to hotels and such.  I once flipped my kayak in my early years but was saved by a passing boat.  I could have easily made it to shore and I would have been fine because there were many people who witnessed it (ARGH) and support services were nearby.  But had it happened on many of my trips where even if I got to shore, I would have been alone miles away from my vehicle or any other assistance. 

I think people OVERestimate what their bodies can do in the cold.  I bet I couldn't get my jacket and such off if I were soaking wet.  It'd be hard to get at my keys to even get into my truck from what I have experienced before after falling into a river while fishing with waders had help not been around. 

I don't want to be the safety police, but especially if you are alone, please do not underestimate how cold water can sap your strength and mental state.  Coast Guard says if you fall into cold water you have only ten minutes of useful movement without a drysuit.  Can you get back to shore and a heated environment within ten minutes if you are alone?  If the answer is no , you must wear a drysuit. 

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2016/01/04/body-country-singer-craig-strickland-found-after-days-searching/?intcmp=hplnws

Thanks for posting this Rudy.  I've taken out a few friends in my extra Outback on halibut fishing with no accidents, but I would feel a lot more calm if they were properly dressed for the environment.  An extra drysuit is one of the items I'd like to purchase for 2016.

If you ask me a dry suit is pretty much mandatory, i got a drysuit before i even got a kayak by far the most important piece of equipment to me besides a life jacket

If you ask me a dry suit is pretty much mandatory, i got a drysuit before i even got a kayak by far the most important piece of equipment to me besides a life jacket

+1 on this one.

Let's not forget the late founder of North Face who died of hypothermia after falling into a lake last month. I didn't learn the details, but from the photos it looks like they had some stylish jackets, which of course didn't help much.

http://ktla.com/2015/12/08/founder-of-the-north-face-dies-after-kayaking-incident-in-chile-with-other-outdoor-legends/

I duck hunt a lot.  I have often considered a drysuit and it is on my list of things to buy.  But I don't have one yet.  It is interesting that they have not really caught on in the duck hunting community.  In addition, no one seems to make them with duck hunting in mind.  Bright colors and reflective tape are great when trying to get rescued but not so much when you are hunting ducks.

The cost is the other thing that keeps them from being standard gear for duck hunting.  A parka and waders is going to set you back 400 but a drysuit that will be substantial enough to hold up to duck hunting will be more.    I would love to see some manufacture a drysuit that has the duck hunter in mind.  Closest thing I could find was this. (http://www.shopusia.com/mass-8899/)  and I have no idea what the cost would be or even if it is available for civilian purchase.

If you were advising a duck hunter what drysuit would you recommend that would be tough enough to handle being around some brush as well as the cold water?

I think the design needs for a duck hunting drysuit and kayak fishing drysuit are moving closer together, but still have room to evolve. For durability Kokatat Angler suit gets top marks, but it can be made better if the heavy fabric that is currently layered on the lap and back of calves is extended to the entire lower half and on the elbows to the wrist. Next Adventure is doing a bulk order now with the NWKA logo on these suits, profits of these sales go to HOW. But, back to your point on durable suits the drysuit industry is moving/expanding/re configuring designs now to accommodate the SUP industry. Previously, sea kayakers were the main sales demographic and most suits are designed of that, but now the old sea kayakers are going away and the younger demographic is SUPs, Fishermen, and hunters. I expect it will take a couple of years before design changes catch up. I'll certainly pass this info about a hunter's drysuit along to Kokatat (they do sponsor me). I would wear a camo drysuit for everything.

Mythic drysuits will be in a competitive range of $400.  You can add nylon camo wear over the drysuit to help with concealment and also to protect the suit from brush and general wear and tear from abrasive things.

I duck hunt a lot.  I have often considered a drysuit and it is on my list of things to buy.  But I don't have one yet.  It is interesting that they have not really caught on in the duck hunting community.  In addition, no one seems to make them with duck hunting in mind.  Bright colors and reflective tape are great when trying to get rescued but not so much when you are hunting ducks.

The cost is the other thing that keeps them from being standard gear for duck hunting.  A parka and waders is going to set you back 400 but a drysuit that will be substantial enough to hold up to duck hunting will be more.    I would love to see some manufacture a drysuit that has the duck hunter in mind.  Closest thing I could find was this. (http://www.shopusia.com/mass-8899/)  and I have no idea what the cost would be or even if it is available for civilian purchase.

If you were advising a duck hunter what drysuit would you recommend that would be tough enough to handle being around some brush as well as the cold water?

If you have a bright drysuit you use for kayak fishing, for duck hunting you can buy a cheap set of 3D camo and wear it over the drysuit, which will both make you less visible to ducks and protect the drysuit from brush.

Yaktrap - I think you are right on target.  I would love to see some hunting specific drysuits.  If Kokatat needs any field testers let me know.  

Mythic might want to seize the day and go for a niche.

Some experiments would certainly have to be done with the overlayer, it will get drenched, especially when wading. I could imagine that a wet blanket over a drysuit could be cold even if you were dry.  I would probably still wear the parka shell for the top.  Not sure I would have to do anything for the bottoms other than for protection. 

all garments wear out.  What is a realistic expectation for either a Kokatat or a Mythic drysuit as far as how many years of service can you expect?

The Stohlquist EZ (semi) drysuit is all black and is usually at a sale price.  It has a neoprene neck gasket, so it's a semi-drysuit.

The best idea is the suggestion to wear cheap, thin camo on top of the drysuit.  If drysuit prices are a problem, check the auction sites, or the classifieds here on NWKA or over on NCKA.com.

Pmmpete - cool picture.  I could see that the 3d camo stuff would not hold water. Interesting ideas.  Is camo needed for spearing pike?

Pmmpete - cool picture.  I could see that the 3d camo stuff would not hold water. Interesting ideas.  Is camo needed for spearing pike?

Pike are usually pretty spooky, and will shuffle or blast off as soon as they spot you.  I wore camo when I was snorkeling in a mango colored Kokatat drysuit, but now that I'm using a black OS Systems drysuit, I've quit using the camo, and don't seem to be spooking away pike any more than when I was wearing camo.  But who knows.  Maybe the black drysuit scares them away before I even see them, and I should go back to using the camo.

I duck hunt a lot.  I have often considered a drysuit and it is on my list of things to buy.  But I don't have one yet.  It is interesting that they have not really caught on in the duck hunting community.  In addition, no one seems to make them with duck hunting in mind.  Bright colors and reflective tape are great when trying to get rescued but not so much when you are hunting ducks.

The cost is the other thing that keeps them from being standard gear for duck hunting.  A parka and waders is going to set you back 400 but a drysuit that will be substantial enough to hold up to duck hunting will be more.    I would love to see some manufacture a drysuit that has the duck hunter in mind.  Closest thing I could find was this. (http://www.shopusia.com/mass-8899/)  and I have no idea what the cost would be or even if it is available for civilian purchase.

If you were advising a duck hunter what drysuit would you recommend that would be tough enough to handle being around some brush as well as the cold water?

If you have a bright drysuit you use for kayak fishing, for duck hunting you can buy a cheap set of 3D camo and wear it over the drysuit, which will both make you less visible to ducks and protect the drysuit from brush.

Busy day for this fella(pmmpete) ...  Dive flag, camo suit, fishing rods, spear guns, dynamite (lol!)... Hell yea!

My suggestions to Kokatat on 2017 colors for the Hydrus Supernova drysuit:
1) Camo
2) Silver salmon scale, splattered with blood

I love it.  I hope they listen to you and add camo to the offerings.  Is there a thread somewhere on the suits you are ordering for NWKA?