As always, great content. Very helpful and appreciated. We too ride the Great Lakes, from the Canadian side. The hands, gloves, mitts issue is the weak link for us. Any insight into best options would be great. Your session only lasts as long as your hands do. Wth the travel restrictions, we plan on pushing our shoulder seasons as much as possible.
Warmest mitts? I'd say the Xcel Drylock 7mm mitts. I am generally fine with a 4-5mm lobster most of the winter as long as I stay busy. But the 7mm drylock mitts are about as warm as it gets. Even in subzero temps my hands are steaming when I get out of the water after a couple of hours. -Tucker
We kite in Maine down to about 20⁰F. I use a Billabong 7/6 and wool socks under my 6mm booties. Also a thermos of hot water to pour into booties and gloves every 30min or so. I also use a wind layer over my suit. Some of the crew uses the mystic hoodie to. Any recommendations for keeping lines & kites from freezing?? ....other than a trip to the Caribbean 😅
@stuartjohnson3397 Lines and kites freezing can be a real safety hazard. You need to carefully evaluate the risk. If shaking the bar and lines doesn't free the ice forming, you should probably not be kiting. Most kiters here who ride in winter are good enough that their kite doesn't touch the water much, if at all. I appreciate your sense of adventure and do recommend a trip to the Caribbean if you can make it. If you can't, try Hatteras in the winter. It's super cheap, windy and not that cold.
What are your opinions on a 6/5 or 7/6 wetsuit? It is a contradictory subject in Poland, where some like 6 and 7 mm options, while others believe any wetsuit thicker than 5 mm should be banned, regardless of temperature. I've even seen some people wear battery-operated heater vests under a 4/3 wetsuit in single-degree temperatures. And occasionally drysuits being used.
I tend to rely on a good 6/4 for our icy conditions. A good 5/4 will do in most areas but it's nice to have that extra 1mm when there are ice chunks in the water. Obviously, it's subjective as well since some people run more hot/cold and stay more/less active on the water. -Tucker
nice, Netherlands here, aka frrrrreeezin' very very soon. Got an old dry suit, hardly used (so new but old), will try that too. Any opinions on dry suits?
Yes, drysuits are great when the waves are small or nonexistent. They allow you to regulate your temperature a little more easily. Kind of like an outerwear shell. You just dress for the conditions underneath it so you can use a drysuit in freezing to 50 degrees or so. If you are riding hard and get hot, you just sink into the water and cool off. Wetsuits are warmer in the water but start to cool off when exposed to wind and because of that radiator effect, they will cool down over time if you are not staying wet inside and keeping warm by riding hard. Personally, I ride drysuits in the winter on our inland lakes or when efoiling and spring when the lake is not so wavy. Lake Michigan tends to be pretty wavy any time there is wind in the fall/winter so I always go with a quality hooded wetsuit in those conditions. That allows me less drag if I need to make a long swim through heavy current. Also, you'll stay warmer during that swim because wetsuits insulate so well when underwater. We only sell Ocean Rodeo drysuits because we feel they make the highest quality product for the price. Speaking of price, Drysuits tend to be more expensive but they also last a lot longer if you take care of them. I generally get 1-2 years out of a wetsuit but I can get 5-6 years out of a good drysuit. -Tucker
I saw you put gloves over sleeves, I usually do the opposite - put them under my sleeves in order to prevent water getting in. Is there a reason to put the gloves on top?
Hey Dragonfistbs, I typically do the gloves under sleeves too. Guess I just carry that along from my surf past. I do know that some kiteboarders do put gloves and boots over sleeves to reduce the dreded rollup that can happen when water jets underneath when riding or on a fall. -Tucker
Hey Rygo - if riding boots, do ever line with socks on for extra warmth? i Stayed clear of the idea thinking the socks will get caught up / snag and gather badly when pushing each foot in to the boot, making uncomfortable... but as the water gets colder, maybe not as uncomfortable?!?
Hey Ven, Tucker here. Personally, I sometimes use thermal socks (not neoprene) inside my boots. It adds an extra thermal layer and is far more comfortable than packing your boots with extra neoprene. The Solite fire 8mm are the ticket for maximum warmth in crazy cold conditions. My 5mm do the trick for most of the winter but when I'm walking out on ice, it's the Fire 8mm that I choose. -Tucker
@Ryan Goloversic Thanks again Rygo, lost a big toenail so switched to pads for a bit - bit of lack of reviews on ratchet based pads and their pros and cons... just in case you thought worth reviewing?
Hey Mark, Most of our team has migrated from the Xcel Drylock boots to the Solite boots in 5mm split or 8mm round. Crazy warm and comfortable. Heat moldable too. The 5mm split do the trick for most winter days but when it's subzero, there is no replacement for the 8mm Fire boots. It's a mix bag here at the shop for glove/mitt use. The Xcel Drylock 7mm mitt is unquestionably the warmest mitt we sell but it sacrifices some hand movement and can be too warm if it is not subzero. Personally, I find the best options are NP Armorskin 3mm glove, Ion 4mm Lobster, and the Mystic Supreme 5mm glove. They all have an ideal mix of warmth, durability, and dexterity. -Tucker
Perhaps sometime in the future Curtis. Our video schedule is already pretty full. You can find a breakdown of the differences in the Ocean Rodeo drysuits we sell at the bottom of this link... www.mackiteboarding.com/ocean-rodeo-heat-v3-drysuit/ -Tucker
Hey Johnny, For 2021 whatever is available. It's been a challenging year for neoprene stock and most shops struggle to have all sizes available let alone have multiple choices. The ideal "brand" of a suit is going to change from person to person based on their body type and how it fits the "model" of the wetsuit design. For me, I'm tall and slim so I tend to like Mystic and Manera. Ion, Neil Pryde, and Xcel tend to fit a bit wider frame, especially in their more affordable suits. -Tucker
This was filmed mostly in my home spots on the Great Lakes. Muskegon Michigan, Grand Haven Michigan, Frankfort Michigan & the sliders are Hood River Or. - Rygo
Thank you both, v helpful
As always, great content. Very helpful and appreciated. We too ride the Great Lakes, from the Canadian side. The hands, gloves, mitts issue is the weak link for us. Any insight into best options would be great. Your session only lasts as long as your hands do. Wth the travel restrictions, we plan on pushing our shoulder seasons as much as possible.
Warmest mitts? I'd say the Xcel Drylock 7mm mitts. I am generally fine with a 4-5mm lobster most of the winter as long as I stay busy. But the 7mm drylock mitts are about as warm as it gets. Even in subzero temps my hands are steaming when I get out of the water after a couple of hours.
-Tucker
We kite in Maine down to about 20⁰F. I use a Billabong 7/6 and wool socks under my 6mm booties. Also a thermos of hot water to pour into booties and gloves every 30min or so. I also use a wind layer over my suit. Some of the crew uses the mystic hoodie to. Any recommendations for keeping lines & kites from freezing?? ....other than a trip to the Caribbean 😅
@stuartjohnson3397 Lines and kites freezing can be a real safety hazard. You need to carefully evaluate the risk. If shaking the bar and lines doesn't free the ice forming, you should probably not be kiting. Most kiters here who ride in winter are good enough that their kite doesn't touch the water much, if at all. I appreciate your sense of adventure and do recommend a trip to the Caribbean if you can make it. If you can't, try Hatteras in the winter. It's super cheap, windy and not that cold.
Thanks for the video. I have been considering a Ocean Rodeo drysuit. Any recommendations there?
Is it comfortable to wear a thermal vest under a 4/3 suit?
What are your opinions on a 6/5 or 7/6 wetsuit? It is a contradictory subject in Poland, where some like 6 and 7 mm options, while others believe any wetsuit thicker than 5 mm should be banned, regardless of temperature. I've even seen some people wear battery-operated heater vests under a 4/3 wetsuit in single-degree temperatures. And occasionally drysuits being used.
I tend to rely on a good 6/4 for our icy conditions. A good 5/4 will do in most areas but it's nice to have that extra 1mm when there are ice chunks in the water. Obviously, it's subjective as well since some people run more hot/cold and stay more/less active on the water. -Tucker
nice, Netherlands here, aka frrrrreeezin' very very soon. Got an old dry suit, hardly used (so new but old), will try that too. Any opinions on dry suits?
Yes, drysuits are great when the waves are small or nonexistent. They allow you to regulate your temperature a little more easily. Kind of like an outerwear shell. You just dress for the conditions underneath it so you can use a drysuit in freezing to 50 degrees or so. If you are riding hard and get hot, you just sink into the water and cool off. Wetsuits are warmer in the water but start to cool off when exposed to wind and because of that radiator effect, they will cool down over time if you are not staying wet inside and keeping warm by riding hard. Personally, I ride drysuits in the winter on our inland lakes or when efoiling and spring when the lake is not so wavy. Lake Michigan tends to be pretty wavy any time there is wind in the fall/winter so I always go with a quality hooded wetsuit in those conditions. That allows me less drag if I need to make a long swim through heavy current. Also, you'll stay warmer during that swim because wetsuits insulate so well when underwater. We only sell Ocean Rodeo drysuits because we feel they make the highest quality product for the price.
Speaking of price, Drysuits tend to be more expensive but they also last a lot longer if you take care of them. I generally get 1-2 years out of a wetsuit but I can get 5-6 years out of a good drysuit.
-Tucker
@@MACkiteboarding Great & useful summary, thanks a lot for that
Windstopper jacket. Is It good for lower temp? You had one on at the end of the video.
yeah wondering that too
I saw you put gloves over sleeves, I usually do the opposite - put them under my sleeves in order to prevent water getting in. Is there a reason to put the gloves on top?
Hey Dragonfistbs, I typically do the gloves under sleeves too. Guess I just carry that along from my surf past. I do know that some kiteboarders do put gloves and boots over sleeves to reduce the dreded rollup that can happen when water jets underneath when riding or on a fall.
-Tucker
Hey Rygo - if riding boots, do ever line with socks on for extra warmth? i Stayed clear of the idea thinking the socks will get caught up / snag and gather badly when pushing each foot in to the boot, making uncomfortable... but as the water gets colder, maybe not as uncomfortable?!?
Hey Ven,
Tucker here. Personally, I sometimes use thermal socks (not neoprene) inside my boots. It adds an extra thermal layer and is far more comfortable than packing your boots with extra neoprene. The Solite fire 8mm are the ticket for maximum warmth in crazy cold conditions. My 5mm do the trick for most of the winter but when I'm walking out on ice, it's the Fire 8mm that I choose.
-Tucker
@@MACkiteboarding thanks for the tip Tucker, couldnt quite see how neo would work - this makes much more sense - cheers! Doug
@Ryan Goloversic Thanks again Rygo, lost a big toenail so switched to pads for a bit - bit of lack of reviews on ratchet based pads and their pros and cons... just in case you thought worth reviewing?
Hi what gloves and boots do you use?
Hey Mark,
Most of our team has migrated from the Xcel Drylock boots to the Solite boots in 5mm split or 8mm round. Crazy warm and comfortable. Heat moldable too. The 5mm split do the trick for most winter days but when it's subzero, there is no replacement for the 8mm Fire boots.
It's a mix bag here at the shop for glove/mitt use. The Xcel Drylock 7mm mitt is unquestionably the warmest mitt we sell but it sacrifices some hand movement and can be too warm if it is not subzero. Personally, I find the best options are NP Armorskin 3mm glove, Ion 4mm Lobster, and the Mystic Supreme 5mm glove. They all have an ideal mix of warmth, durability, and dexterity.
-Tucker
Hey there. Drysuit comparison?
Perhaps sometime in the future Curtis. Our video schedule is already pretty full. You can find a breakdown of the differences in the Ocean Rodeo drysuits we sell at the bottom of this link...
www.mackiteboarding.com/ocean-rodeo-heat-v3-drysuit/
-Tucker
What brand?
Hey Johnny, For 2021 whatever is available. It's been a challenging year for neoprene stock and most shops struggle to have all sizes available let alone have multiple choices. The ideal "brand" of a suit is going to change from person to person based on their body type and how it fits the "model" of the wetsuit design. For me, I'm tall and slim so I tend to like Mystic and Manera. Ion, Neil Pryde, and Xcel tend to fit a bit wider frame, especially in their more affordable suits.
-Tucker
What's the spots in this video?
This was filmed mostly in my home spots on the Great Lakes. Muskegon Michigan, Grand Haven Michigan, Frankfort Michigan & the sliders are Hood River Or. - Rygo