By Jessica Egelnick
Buy Palm, Dagger and Ainsworth kayaking gear through Mobex. Mobex are a Manx children's charity specializing in outdoor activities for kids. All profits are ploughed straight back into Mobex.
myKAYAK is the Facebook group where you'll find many of the kayakers involved with KAYAK.im. If you are looking for a paddling partner on the Isle of Man, Paddle Buddy is a way of linking with local Manx sea kayakers, surf kayakers and river paddlers. (No. of members, 31)
Detailed wind, temperature, precipitation, visibility and tide reports for the Isle of Man all in one handy place.
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Dry suits come with different combinations of several features.
The two-piece suit involves pants and a top that fasten together to form a water-resistant seal. These
do not provide a waterproof seal once swimming, however, and so are not recommended.
One-piece suits come in different zip options – generally a back zip and a diagonal front zip. The back zip is less obstructive as far as fitting under a buoyancy aid , but they are next to impossible to zip or unzip without help (photo right). The diagonal zip is easily zipped by the wearer, though due to the rigidity of the zips, it can sometimes bunch or create lumps under a buoyancy aid (photo below). It is best to test the fit with both pieces of kit together, as well as to consider if you will ever be paddling alone.
Relief zips for men are horizontal zippers in the front of the suit and seem to be used often and easily, and mean the whole suit does not have to be removed during a bathroom break. They come standard on many suits and are optional on others.
On many suits it is an option to have either attached waterproof feet or latex gaskets at the ankle. Some people complain that the feet leak, especially if they fold the feet into shoes, but this is not a universal complaint and can be offset by the water resistance of the boots worn. This is the only option for fully dry feet and, for long trips or very 
cold days, can be much more comfortable than wet feet.
Waist flaps that cover the spray deck are also options, found only on dry suits specifically designed for paddling. This helps prevent water leakage into the boat, and comes standard on many suits.
An important note for women: When buying a women’s dry suit, check what the features are. They may not be better than the men’s, and may lead to unnecessary extra cost. Rare but incredibly useful is the back bum-flap relief zip (in Kokatat suits only), which means bathroom breaks do not require removing the buoyancy aid, spray deck, and dry suit. This is very, very useful, and though expensive, repays itself quickly, especially in cold or wet weather or in rushed conditions. Other suits offering a women’s model with a relief zip generally have lowered version of the front-zip, which still requires use of a she-wee, and are not as effective or broadly useful. A relief zip is a worthwhile investment. The other features of women’s models are shorter sleeves, narrower shoulders, and a better waist fit. Depending on your build, these may be irrelevant, as dry suits are not close-fitting anyway. Smaller wrist and neck gaskets may be options, and it is best to check with the manufacturer about which sizes are standard on which suits, and these can be easily changed later.
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