Youth drysuits? Anyone have a lead?

[86Skier]

I'll add a little more detail about my comment above about the Camaro Blacktec. I have a pretty nice baggie drysuit. And it is great, but it's also a fair amount of work. Keeping drysuits completely dry requires a fair amount of care. You have to maintain the zipper and seals pretty well and even with that, it's difficult to keep them completely dry when they are past new. Some people also find the tight neck seal a little unsettling because they feel like they are chocking. You need to keep air in them to keep the warmth factor, so you feel like a marsh mellow in the water. They are bulky enough that they do impact your skiing a bit. But it is pretty cool to get out of the water and take it off and be in nice dry warm clothes. If it's really cold, there is no better option.

The Camaro Blacktec is made out of a thin very supple closed cell rubber. It's not 100% waterproof, but it's not like your old-style neoprene wetsuit where you end up completely wet. For a full length wetsuit, it's quite easy to put on or take off. Much easier to put on and take off than a drysuit. You do have to be careful with them because fingernails will damage the soft rubber if you're not careful. But it's about the same as not damaging the seals on a drysuit. One of the best things is they do not impact your skiing at all and are super comfortable.

While the Camaro's aren't cheap, they are still a fair amount cheaper than a good quality drysuit. So, depending on how many skiers are involved, you can often have a suit for each skier rather than sharing fewer drysuits. Since you're not completely wet in the Camaro, we'll often leave them on after getting out. I pull a lot of people skiing even in cold weather. It's a lot more affordable to have a wide range of BlackTec sizes than a full range of drysuit sizes.

My daughters are free to choose between the drysuit or Blacktec. They always choose the Backtec unless the temps are 40s or below.

I just had a look at the current Camaro Blacktec's. The current product is called the Blacktec Overall for the 2mm. And now they have a Blacktec Zero Overall that is 3mm and sounds like a more waterproof zipper. They have a Jr series for kids sizes.

I typically buy them from www.perfski.com. But sometimes www.rei.com has a more limited selection but they are often on sale.

Thanks for the input. I may look into getting one of these for me... and if I like it, another for the girls... especially if they don't care for the drysuit that arrives today.

[jpwhit]

I'll add a little more detail about my comment above about the Camaro Blacktec. I have a pretty nice baggie drysuit. And it is great, but it's also a fair amount of work. Keeping drysuits completely dry requires a fair amount of care. You have to maintain the zipper and seals pretty well and even with that, it's difficult to keep them completely dry when they are past new. Some people also find the tight neck seal a little unsettling because they feel like they are chocking. You need to keep air in them to keep the warmth factor, so you feel like a marsh mellow in the water. They are bulky enough that they do impact your skiing a bit. But it is pretty cool to get out of the water and take it off and be in nice dry warm clothes. If it's really cold, there is no better option.

The Camaro Blacktec is made out of a thin very supple closed cell rubber. It's not 100% waterproof, but it's not like your old-style neoprene wetsuit where you end up completely wet. For a full length wetsuit, it's quite easy to put on or take off. Much easier to put on and take off than a drysuit. You do have to be careful with them because fingernails will damage the soft rubber if you're not careful. But it's about the same as not damaging the seals on a drysuit. One of the best things is they do not impact your skiing at all and are super comfortable.

While the Camaro's aren't cheap, they are still a fair amount cheaper than a good quality drysuit. So, depending on how many skiers are involved, you can often have a suit for each skier rather than sharing fewer drysuits. Since you're not completely wet in the Camaro, we'll often leave them on after getting out. I pull a lot of people skiing even in cold weather. It's a lot more affordable to have a wide range of BlackTec sizes than a full range of drysuit sizes.

My daughters are free to choose between the drysuit or Blacktec. They always choose the Backtec unless the temps are 40s or below.

I just had a look at the current Camaro Blacktec's. The current product is called the Blacktec Overall for the 2mm. And now they have a Blacktec Zero Overall that is 3mm and sounds like a more waterproof zipper. They have a Jr series for kids sizes.

I typically buy them from www.perfski.com. But sometimes www.rei.com has a more limited selection but they are often on sale.

[86Skier]

The characteristic of a dry suit. Spot on. You did well.

.

Never had one before. So yeah, I understand the importance of the looseness, but definitely think it looks uncomfortable. Since I was 8 or 9, we've always been first on, last off the lake... but it was always just sucking it up and doing it. I got older, and added a shorty wetsuit, but still stings in the spring... haha.

Then I had kids.... girls.... who want to do it forever, but maybe not to the same extreme. I, as a dad, miss that extreme... but, love their energy, so as an admitted softy just trying to keep them out there.

Last spring, the oldest (9) started in 46 deg... was proud as heck. But it didn't last long.... so hoping this keeps her going.

[waterlogged882]

Awesome! Looks miserably loose fitting, but ordered nonetheless.... she was all in on trying it.... so worth a shot!

The characteristic of a dry suit. Spot on. You did well.

.

[jackpine]

Not much experience in this area (yet), but depending on the sport, apparently a looser fitting dry suit can be easier to get on than a tight fitting neoprene one. Also it leaves room to wear some insulating clothing underneath as well.

[86Skier]

https://wileyski.com/stay-dry-drysuit/

Awesome! Looks miserably loose fitting, but ordered nonetheless.... she was all in on trying it.... so worth a shot!

[gwozhog]

https://wileyski.com/stay-dry-drysuit/

[jpwhit]

After getting a Camaro Blacktec 2.0 wetsuit, I never wear my drysuit anymore....

[Skyskiguy]

Try OS Systems.

[86Skier]

My 10 year old daughter doesn't quit. Started this season at 46 deg in a wetsuit, and went until Nov in Michigan last year doing the same. I love her passion, so trying to keep it going . . But can't find youth drysuits.... extra tiny in particular. Anyone have good success with any?