Bomber Hydrobomb?

First off, I apologize if this is in the wrong place.  What I am looking for is advice.

I just picked up a T13...(happier than a puppy with a sock ).  I am thinking down the road a bit here, but need to plan accordingly. At some point..I know the ocean will be calling me, which means a dry suit. I have some concerns about a full suit.  First, is the heat factor.  I am a living furnace, I run really hot.  I would like to be able to take the top of a dry suit off and paddle an still have some minimal protection.  I don't want to just unzip the top of one, cause that's a recipe for disaster.

Bomber makes these: http://www.bombergear.com/products/hydrobomb-long-sleeve-dry-top. That seem to be almost the best of both worlds. A dry top that, when joined with the appropriate dry pants, makes a dry suit.  Anyone have any experience with this system or one like it?  I can handle a cold belly....trust me, there's insulation.  It seems more designed for white water, but so what? I have read all over this forum, and there is a lot of good information.  What I am looking for is real, actual experience.  I know that a full suit is best, but I'm not going out in December or anything like that. 

I have a Delta Pro drytop and NRS dry pants that I wear for the same reasons.  Used to wear the top with chest waders but the pants are more comfortable.  Often wear the pants with a lighter weight splash top.  Biggest hassle is the Delta has the whitewater tunnel for skirts so on/off takes some gyrations.  But I prefer my Grizzley farmer john wetsuit and booties if the outside air temp. is high, splash some water on it and keeps cool.

NTKI: Next Adventure has some Level Six Dry tops on sale.

I have done a lot of whitewater kayaking using a dry top and dry pants.  This includes multi-day unsupported kayak trips where I want to keep my clothing dry so I can wear the same clothing both on and off the river.  I generally use this setup in moderately cool and inclement weather.  In nasty weather I wear a full dry suit, and in warmer weather I wear just a dry top.

For me, the key to an effective dry top/dry pants combination is dry pants which have a wide band of neoprene for their waist band which fits snugly around my waist to seal out as much water as possible, and which provides a large smooth area to make a good seal with my spray skirt and/or the waistband of my dry top.  An example of this kind of dry pants are the NRS Black Rock dry pants.  See http://www.nrs.com/product/25861/nrs-mens-black-rock-dry-pants .

If you take a swim, a dry top/dry pants combination won't keep your clothing completely dry, as a full dry suit will, but it'll keep you pretty dry.  And if you want to keep your legs dry while kayak fishing, the Black Rock dry pants and other similar dry pants are way safer than wearing waders with a tight elastic belt, because the neoprene band on the dry pants seals to your stomach more smoothly and tightly than waders under an elastic belt.  Waders will always have a lot of folds under the elastic belt which will let in some water.

A disadvantage of the Black Rock dry pants is that they have ankle gaskets rather than dry socks.  Dry socks are way warmer than ankle gaskets because your feet stay dry, and you can layer up as many layers of socks as is necessary to keep your feet warm.  Dry socks are particularly nice when kayak fishing in a sit-on-top kayak, because your feet are typically wet most of the time.  But you can keep your feet dry by wearing a pair of Sealskins waterproof socks over your insulating socks, and putting the ankle gaskets of the dry pants on top of the waterproof socks.  If the waterproof socks fit snugly enough so no wrinkles form under your ankle gaskets, you can wade around in the water or hang your feet in the water without getting your insulating socks and feet wet.  Don't get waterproof socks which fit too tightly, because that will constrict your feet and make them get cold.

The dry pants I use have socks and a wide elastic waist band:



http://www.outdoorplay.com/Kokatat-Mens-Hydrus-3L-Tempest-Pant

I got a lot of razz about using the term chest waders for my choice in bottoms. To clarify are they the gray baggy kind with a belt or the kind that are like  a farmer john wet suit, makes a big difference. IMO

The newer Goretex dry suits don't really offer much thermal protection.  Only on the warmest days of the summer can I go out with only shorts and a tee-shirt underneath - and I have an older Tropos suit. You may be over-estimating the insulation value of a drysuit.

The newer Goretex dry suits don't really offer much thermal protection.  Only on the warmest days of the summer can I go out with only shorts and a tee-shirt underneath - and I have an older Tropos suit. You may be over-estimating the insulation value of a drysuit.

I found the dry top I borrowed kept too much heat in as long as I paddled but very shortly after I stopped paddling to fish n drift I got cold arms fast. That's a true statement there I only had a tee and tank top on under.

You wrote: "I know that a full suit is best, but I'm not going out in December or anything like that. "  The ocean water off the PNW coast is often a tiny bit colder in the summer due to currents from the NW.  Also, whatever you decide to select for Imersion gear I'd suggest you go for at least a ten minute swim, no kayak, in that bay of yours.  If you can't get back in your boat you'll be in the water for longer than that before the CG arrives.

The dry pants I use have socks and a wide elastic waist band:



http://www.outdoorplay.com/Kokatat-Mens-Hydrus-3L-Tempest-Pant

+1 on these. The Hydrus fabric breaths well. When these come Cordura reinforced seat, lap, knees and legs like the Supernova drysuit they'll be awesome. I'm working with Kokata on improvements to the fishing line of clothing and gear. Look for lots of new stuff coming out in 2015 with us anglers in mind.

  I'm going to guess that your T shirt and tank top were both made of cotton ? Wet cotton has no insulation value at all. In fact it increases evaporation and cooling.

  You might want to try a synthetic fabric (polypropylene comes to mind) that will keep you warm when wet under whatever top layers you use.

  At least you are trying different options. Sooner or later you will find what is most efficient for your application. Keep at it......the right combination is out there

  I'm going to guess that your T shirt and tank top were both made of cotton ? Wet cotton has no insulation value at all. In fact it increases evaporation and cooling.

  You might want to try a synthetic fabric (polypropylene comes to mind) that will keep you warm when wet under whatever top layers you use.

  At least you are trying different options. Sooner or later you will find what is most efficient for your application. Keep at it......the right combination is out there

Tee yes cotton already got the safety rant , tank no and that's why I prefer to try before I buy, the lavacore I tried on was comfy and light but insulated , has anyone used these on the water ?

I recently started using a Stohlquist Shift suit and love bring able to pull the neck gasket
off once I'm clear of the wave zone. Great for someone that overheats. Just don't forget to put it back on before you come in thru the wave zone. Yes, I am sponsored by Stohlquist, but this suit may be a good option for you.
http://www.stohlquist.com/apparel/drysuits/shift.html

A suggestion: practice re-entering your kayak from the water, so if you end up in the water accidentally, you'll know exactly what to do.  In calm conditions, and accompanied with a friend in a kayak, paddle out into water which is over your head.  First try lowering yourself into the water and getting back into your kayak.  When you've got that skill nailed, grab the side of your kayak and dump yourself into the water by rolling it over, so you can practice turning your kayak back over before you get back in it. If you're wearing a full drysuit, you can afford to hang out in the water for a while before getting back in your kayak.  But if you're wearing waders or a dry top-dry pants combination, you want to get back into your kayak as quickly as possible, to minimize the amount of water which seeps inside your dry gear.

I snorkel and spearfish from my kayak while wearing a drysuit, 13-16 pounds of weight in a free-diving backpack, and 3.5 pounds of weight on each ankle.  I get back into my kayak repeatedly during the day while wearing these weights.  Here's my suggestions for getting back into a kayak from the water:  Grab the gunwale of your kayak and kick your feet so you're lying relatively horizontally in the water.  In one quick motion, pull that gunwale underneath you all the way down to your hips, so your head is hanging over the other side of the kayak.  Then roll over on your side and sit up in the kayak.  If you hang vertically in the water and try to chin yourself on the gunwale, you'll just stand the kayak on its side.

Sportsman Warehouse has an online only sale if anyone is interested in the Black Rock pants, doesn't say what sizes are available.


>NRS Men's Black Rock Dry >Pants
>(1293252)
>Sale: $93.50
>Reg: $169.99
>NRS Men's Black Rock Dry Pants - NRS BlackRock Dry Pants keep you dry, even when you're standing waist-deep in the water.

Jammer

Just like you I enjoy leaving the top off if the water is glassy and not so cold.  For me takes some work putting the top section back on, but that's do to my torso size.     

https://www.facebook.com/303065546417594/photos/pcb.987733277950814/987732837950858/?type=3&theater



No I'm not a sponsored by Stohlquist.  Just a Stohlquist gearhead.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=958598227546177&set=pb.100001880256571.-2207520000.1451279320.&type=3&theater