In Hawaii, Surfers load up in the back of the truck

[waikikikichan]

In Hawaii, it's legal for adults to sit in the back of a pickup truck. Great for bumming rides to the beach. BUT...... not in Japan. It is illegal to ride in the bed of a truck. Last week, I am so thankful there was room in the front cab for me and my wife.

Back was full of ice after we took the boards out.

Lucky we got Dry suits, so we don't even need to take a shower after surf. Just rinse off our hair of salt water then take off the suits.

[billie_morini]

waiki,
"...in Japan. It is illegal to ride in the bed of a truck." Ditto for California. God, as a kid and teenager, we were always doing this. I do not remember an inordinate amount of deaths.

Tell us more about dry suits. Do they really keep you dry? Can you surf in them? What was the water temperature? "Enquiring" minds want to know!
billie

[waikikikichan]

1) Do they really keep you dry? - Yes. You do get a little moist thru the neck and wrist, but other than that you're dry. You can almost wear regular clothes inside. I was wearing thermal underwear in mine. My wife even used a disposable thermal heating pad.
2) Can you surf in them? Yes. These are specific Surfing drysuits, not Diving suits. Even makers like O'neill make surfing drysuits for the Japan market, but don't advertise ( or block access to the website ) for foreign markets. Surfing Drysuits are about $600 - $1200 U.S.

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This O'neill dry suit ad is taken from a Korean website. The zipper goes under the arms and around the back. The boots are attached. I also notice they're using velcro bands around the wrist. Mine doesn't have so water gets in a bit even with the double seal.
3) What was the water temperature? I don't know last week exactly, but today it says Water temperature around 15 celsius / 59 F. Air temperature was like 3 C. / 38 F. in the morning.

[billie_morini]

Thanks, Waiki! Now onto the $20,000 Question:
Should those of us using wet suits switch to dry suits?
billie

[waikikikichan]

Should those of us using wet suits switch to dry suits?

Cons:
1) If you do a lot of duckdiving, I could see the neck seal getting compromised. I ride a longboard mainly and do scrunch up my shoulders when I turtle roll.
2) If the suit fills up with water, there's no way for it to get it out since the boots are attached to the suit and the legs will fill up and you'll get dragged down.
3) You CAN NOT pee in your wetsuit. So very long session might be hard to do. There are guys here ( seriously ) that wear adult diapers inside there drysuits. ( of course, none of us pee in our wetsuits right ? )
4) Cost might be a prohibiting factor.
5) Do have to dry them upside down by the boots. Plus keep the weight off the shoulders when storing them because the boots have weight to them.
6) You can't get them in the U.S. ( maybe you can petition Oneill to bring some in )

Pros:
1) Drysuits are built a little looser around the shoulders. So you feel less strain
2) Suits should last longer since your mainly rinse the outside and don't need to flip them inside out to dry.
3) Double-sessions are a no brainer.