PEAK UK’S CREEK ONE PIECE
$799, PEAKUKUS.COM
FOR YEARS, THE ADDITION OF A “RELIEF ZIPPER” SET THE INNOVATION BAR FOR DRY SUIT COMFORT. Peak UK has established a whole new bladder-draining paradigm with its Creek One Piece. The Nottingham, England-based design team tweaked the typical torso entry with a unique TIZIP MasterSeal ‘leg-entry system,‘ with one zipper running up the inside of one leg and down the other. The innovation allows for easy entry (just pull it on like an over-length dry top) and eliminates those awkward “hey, zip me up, bro,” riverside requests. The suit is an extension of Peak’s Creek Jacket, featuring tough, stitched and taped seams of X4HD multi-layer material, allowing any lingering Teen Spirit smells to breathe. From mosh pit to mankfest, this suit boasts Cordura-reinforced shoulder and arm sections with slots for motocross-style upper spine, shoulder and elbow pads–all included–that passed the C&K winter test run down an elbow-slapping section of the Temecula Gorge in Southern California. Peak UK also debuts a sea kayakers’ version, the Adventurer One Piece suit, with a hood and pile-lined neck in place of neck gasket and pad slots. — Dave Shively
LEVEL 6 BARRIER
$799, LEVELSIXINC.COM
Last year, Level Six co-founder Tyler Lawlor wasn’t sure what reception a small test run of drysuits would have in the tight market for these big-ticket items. To Lawlor’s surprise, the Ottawa-based company is now pumping out the Barrier Dry Suit as one of its top-selling pieces. Chalk that up to an eXhaust three-layer, DWR-treated, waterproof/breathable laminate shell. Working off the base of the Mack Dry Top, which uses the same thick latex gaskets with neoprene covers, the comfortably fitted and stylishly cut Barrier also boasts a double tunnel with a new dual cinch system (no more Velcro dependency) as well as protected YKK brass, waterproof back/shoulder-entry and relief zippers, a pair of hip-side hand warmer pockets and rugged Cordura-soled booties. Available in charcoal-, red- and navy-tin.
KOKATAT GORE-TEX MERIDIAN
$999, KOKATAT.COM
No drysuit discussion would be complete without a nod to the one that set the expedition standard for many kayakers, Kokatat’s Gore-Tex Meridian. Much of the credit here is due to the trusted Gore-Tex name on the Evolution 3.21-ounce, three-layer nylon fabric and the lifetime warranty it carries. Not that Kokatat hasn’t honed the sealed seam construction and features like the waterproof Optiseal metal zipper, self-draining Cordura seat/knee patches and adjustable neoprene overskirt and overcuffs. Don’t forget about custom build-ons like suspenders, female dropseat zippers, reflective tape or sleeve pockets. If you don’t have a G to drop on cold-water protection, Kokatat unveils its new TROPOS T3 version of the Meridian ($679), offering a comparable three-layer base material to the original ($859, $999 with booties and relief zipper, pictured).
IMMERSION RESEARCH DOUBLED
$830, $880 IN PLAID, IMMERSIONRESEARCH.COM
The late, great Daniel DeLaVergne always prodded Immersion Research to produce a dry suit, testing a prototype on the Stikine that became the Confluence, Pa.-based company’s original ’07 model. This year, IR doubles down on DeLaVergne’s namesake “Double D” with a new, lightweight protected back-entry TIZIP zipper, and an updated four-layer, coated and heavier-laminated Entrant (waterproof/breathable) shell material. The suit still features the articulated cut and hand-trimmed stitched and taped seams of IR’s popular Comp LX top, plus a neoprene waistband, booties and a relief zipper. Available in gunmetal grey, mango and a new limited-edition plaid print.
CAMARO FARMER JOHN FREEFALL
$190, CAMARO.AT
If you don’t feel like going into a freefall over the latest and greatest, check out the Camaro Farmer John Freefall, a traditional-style suit beefed up by innovative Austrian design. Camaro uses seamless construction and 3-mm neoprene to keep you extra snug under drytop or paddle jacket. The eco-friendly bamboo lining will feel like crawling into a down comforter, even if you’re pumping through raging Class V snowmelt. We like this piece for surf kayaking or sitting on top of an oar setup on a windy day. Flexible material in the back, shoulders, knees and sides–basically everywhere you need to be flexible for paddle strokes—prevents wear and tear. But even if your Freefall does get a worn spot, Camaro guarantees its product with repairs made directly at its factory. Available in men’s and women’s sizing.
NRS RESCUE WETSUIT
$275-295, NRSWEB.COM
River-runners who could use a little thicker skin when heading into the harshest elements need look no further than NRS’ Rescue Wetsuit, which provides the company’s highest available level of insulation. That’s due to glued and stitched seams a 3-mm Terraprene (petroleum-free) neoprene with blended titanium. Zippers halfway up the forearms and calves make this baby easy to get into. Add the mobility of PowerSpan neoprene panels across the shoulders and down the back and arms, plus a reinforced 5-mm padded seat with padded and urethane-protected outer knees/shins and you get a piece of body armor worthy of any abuse and exposure you can dish out, whether it’s kicking your way downriver on a river board or taking waves up the gut in your cataraft.
BOMBER GEAR SBR
$120, BOMBERGEAR.COM
Rick Franken drew on his experience working with the renowned wetsuit crafters at Rip Curl, then made a few notable river tweaks. The result is Bomber Gear’s new men’s SBR, a tough, warm and very flexible suit at a price you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. The suit combines a 3-mm neoprene core with super-stretch 2-mm neoprene on the legs (articulated for a seated position with protective neoprene on knees and butt) and down the length of the articulated, paddle-ready sleeves. Also, taking a page from the drysuit book, Franken added a relief zipper in both the men’s and women’s versions. “Most guys just pee in their wetsuits now, but sitting on a raft, you don’t want to sit in pee in your boat,” says Franken, whose small Colorado company is highly adaptable to boaters’ needs. “I’m just trying to be the mediator for what the paddling world is asking for.” Available in both full and sleeveless.
CAMARO SEAMLESS SURFER
$399, CAMARO.AT
The Camaro Seamless Surfer incorporates 5-, 4-, and 3-mm stitch-free, bamboo-lined neoprene using Seamless Bonding Construction, making for a super-warm, and super-comfy coldwater wetsuit for surf or river.
PALM ALEUTIAN
$850, PALMEQUIPMENTUSA.com
Palm Equipment takes the proven platform of its Stikine drysuit to sea with the new Aleutian EXP Immersion Suit. The high-visibility Aleutian uses the same construction of four-layer, waterproof-breathable XP200 fabric as the Stikine with Cordura 300D reinforcement at the elbows, seat, knees and soles, while adding sea-faring specialties like well-placed front and sleeve pockets and a high collar that encloses a roll-away, adjustable hood. Unlike other sea-specific drysuits however, the Aleutian features a latex neck gasket in addition to protected wrist gaskets, to give paddles serious protection from the full gamut of ocean elements. Access is through a TIZIP back/shoulder-entry, with front relief zipper.
