dry tops.. dunno what to do..

[The Iceman 6]

I stayed in Holiday Inn Express last night

[Zeno]

I think buying a "dry-top" is way overrated. Getting a bit of water up a sleeve has never bothered me.
I rather do that then try to squeeze my gigantic head through the head gasket and THEN be miserable all night because the thing is choking me.
You worry about rough water ? Wear a wetsuit.

I think the best way to approach of what kind of fishing do you do and what kind of clothes you like to wear.
Give me a double sweatshirt and an open neck jacket any day instead of heavy neoprene jacket and gasket that makes me look like a seal.That's me. You might like short sleeves in November in which case you might want a thicker jacket. Word of warning on "breathables" and dry-top's..... the better they seal ,the more I sweat. Consequently,the wetter I am when I get out of it
what was the point of a dry-top again?

[Mr. Krinkle]

[QUOTE=Zeno;613658]I think buying a "dry-top" is way overrated. Getting a bit of water up a sleeve has never bothered me.
I rather do that then try to squeeze my gigantic head through the head gasket and THEN be miserable all night because the thing is choking me.]

I have that problem too. Does that mean I have a huge head?????

[GonnaCatchABig1]

Originally Posted by The Iceman 6

I stayed in Holiday Inn Express last night

ok ok ok... beyond all the fancy stuff.. i'll just go with my gut instinct on whats necessary and whats just there to woo people into buying.

my basic over all question (after collecting my original thoughts and reprocessing them into coherency).. and the only thing that really matters.

what does it take to fill these things up? or do they get filled up?

i plan on spending most the time in it (if i get one) above the waist seal. i'm always pushin it to the edge of the waders. and if a wave thats a little to big comes rollin on in at about shoulder height, i would like to not get drenched. do things tend to ballon up and lose the integrity of the waist seal? i've just had no experience with them at all. so i am trying to figure out the limitations. especially since i'd have breathables and not worry free neoprenes. my main concern is keeping water out of the waders should waves arise really. i dont plan on being ridiculous and being out past a reasonable height on the waders. but it only takes one wave to get them nice and sloshy inside. (a belt cant keep all the water out of the feet.)

[The Iceman 6]

GonnaCatchaBigOne -

Just like you, a few sweatshirts and a nice raincoat for the fall. Works for me.

Ice

[late-start]

I at times use a my kayaking drytop when I'm out on the rocks. To be honest, I have yet once been in the position where I think it has kept me from being submerged. I do like being able to dunk my arms and not worry about being soaked. But 95% of the time a good waterproof shell might do you as well.

[GonnaCatchABig1]

Originally Posted by The Iceman 6

GonnaCatchaBigOne -

Just like you, a few sweatshirts and a nice raincoat for the fall. Works for me.

Ice

does that actually keep the water out? cause i managed to get wet alot last year. and the problem with that is it generates alot of laundry. and im a laundromat guy with a small wardrobe. i try to keep it to one fishing outfit per week. sea soaked sweat shirts are fine... till the next time you hafta wear them. so im thinking i should probably get one.

soo to zenos comment about thickness. do they generally share the same characteristics of waders? (i dont have a car so i cant go shopping and touching at will. i hate internet shopping...) i've seen some that look like they are all neoprene. i'm pretty sure i saw a gortex one.
what other materials are there and what are their characteristics?

id want something really light. basically a water proof windbreaker. that i could use "comfortably" in spring and bad summer weather. but also bundle up under it on the cold fall nights .

some of the nicer ones look like winter coats. but the lighter ones dont look very water proof.

[striperjerk1]

Ive,d been using a rain jacket for yrs. and no problem. i have the stearns breathable with velcro cuffs and like it very much. stumbled a few times and still was dry.

[GonnaCatchABig1]

what kind of rain jackets are you guys talking about? the rubber/pvc type stuff ones? cause every rain jacket i have ever had would soak through after being in the rain for an hour. let alone under water.

[vanstaal]

ya gotta think of the time of year it is those top keep you some what dry they also don't let any air in there for you sweat I bought a good HD Grunden top for 140.00 collar opened only wear it in early spring and the fall or when its raining it's the hood that make a difference for me .


my.02

[JamesJet]

I also wear the Helly Hanson Raincoat - its like $25 and works fine, I use it with a grundens bib when on boats and as a rainjacket in the surf. I did however buy a drytop on whim for the kayak from Sierra trading post, the Simms one and I don't have any complaints.

[GonnaCatchABig1]

ok so afer now having looked at probably 50 or 60 tops. i think im seeing a pattern.

when it comes to "dry" top vs. "splash" top - appears that while the dry is fully water proof. the splash can soak through after prolonged periods of time in water.

and

dry vs. semi dry - it appears to be they are almost the same thing. except there are no tight cuffs to form seams on the semi drys.

are those two observations correct? or am i still missing something?



as far as the rain jackets go. i reallly want to hop on board that train. but i cant see any way they would protect me from a wave. a crashing wave while in waste high. i can see. but im usually with in 6inches of being chest deep. and do take rollers over my waders. (its about a 50 yrd distance difference. from waste high to chest high which i would love to not have to give up.)basically i would like to be able to switch to chest high breathables and use the top as way to keep waves out of the waders. which i am now under the impression is possible with a dry top and all the seals they have. (at first i didnt under stand how the waist seals were set up, but the NRS site explained them better than any other site. thanks tynan)

can any one deny that a full dry top they will keep the rollers out? cause if so it negates the whole point and i can go the rain jacket route and lose the 50 yrds.