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By riverrunner from Maine on 09/30/2009 Pros: Breathable, Comfortable, Dries Quickly, Durable Cons: Hard To Put On Or Take Off Best Uses: Colder Water, Paddling Describe Yourself: Competitive Athlete Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Paddled several rivers, and it doesn't get much better
By WW kayaker from Philadelphia, PA on 09/23/2009 Describe Yourself: Enthusiast Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: Other reviews remarked on the sizing; they weren't kidding. I am a 110 lb. woman who wears a size 2. The small was ridiculously small. What a struggle to try it on, and then really hard to get it off! What a workout! Must have been made for a child. Too bad; I could have used a new shortie drytop.
By paddler from San Jose, CA on 08/22/2009 Pros: Breathable, Dries Quickly, Durable Cons: Chafes Or Itches, Hard To Put On Or Take Off, Kills your neck, Too Hot Describe Yourself: Casual Athlete Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend Comments: I tried on this product and it would not come in addition the shoulders were to small. this really stink. Maybe it can keep water out but in can also strangle you.
Tunnel and gaskets run very small By flatlander from Kansas on 04/16/2009 Pros: Breathable, Dries Quickly, Durable, Repair material included Best Uses: Boating, Colder Water, Paddling Describe Yourself: Enthusiast Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: This is a very good quality shortie at a great price for ANY dry top. Side-entry chest pocket is still accessible w/ PFD on, and tunnel has nice grip material so it doesn't slip off your skirt. It was not any more difficult to get on and off than any other dry top I've owned.
Bonus - a swatch of fabric repair material is included, which means you'll be able to get a few extra sessions out of this jacket.
I give 4 stars for overall quality/construction, but beware of sizing. It's accurate with regards to chest/shoulders, but the gaskets and especially the tunnel are very small. I'm a 5'7", 125lb female and although the chest/shoulders of the small fit me well, the tunnel was even smaller than expected (coming from a woman who has had to buy guys' dry-tops in the past, which usually don't accommodate hips) and the gaskets would need to be trimmed too much for my comfort, even with my small arms and neck! I went with the medium - it's bulkier in the torso, but the tunnel and gaskets fit perfect with no trimming.
By Paddler from Hudson River, NY on 08/23/2008 Pros: Breathable, Dries Quickly, Durable, Easy To Put On And Take Off Best Uses: Boating, Paddling Describe Yourself: Competitive Athlete Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: So the sleeve gaskets are nice, but the neck is so tight i started loosing circulation to my head....one trim off the first line took care of that completely and now feels like a normal gasket. Had to cut out the stupid bungee thing for the inner skirt because it found a way to get between me and the backband every time. After some changes, its awesome...most breathable top i've ever owned....h2no is tha [*].
By btta from davis,ca on 08/03/2008 Best Uses: Boating, Colder Water, Paddling Describe Yourself: Weekend Warrior Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Very nicely built, the same high quality one would expect from Lotus, however, the size run small. I wear everything in Medium and so I got a medium. It turns out to be too small, I can barely move in it. It was tight and uncomfortable. I had to return it, which makes me sad because I wish they had Large available. I would recommend this only if you order a size larger than you normally wear.
By hbomb from Amherst, MA on 07/10/2008 Pros: Breathable, Comfortable, Dries Quickly, Durable, Easy To Put On And Take Off Best Uses: Colder Water, Paddling Describe Yourself: Weekend Warrior Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: This does what it is supposed to, keep you warm and dry without impeding motion. The fabric sheds water easily and dries very quickly. Expect the neck gasket to chafe some and be very tight - gaskets dry out over time (this is not a brand new product and gaskets do not all fit the same). So, if chafing/tightness is a problem, buy some latex gasket conditioner to treat the gaskets with before and after use.
Seems I chose the wrong size By Drytopless Jack from Scranton, Pa. on 04/03/2008 Describe Yourself: Weekend Warrior Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: My first drytop. Typical [...]Lotus Designs high quality. Unfortunately I chose a medium, which turned out to be way too tight. Tried it on late the other night. If all drytops are half as difficult to put on, I'll just stick to wetsuits. It was only the thought of seeing my wife and teenage son doubled over with laughter as I called for help with the thing stuck half over my head with my arms extending upward that forced me to gut out the ten minute extraction struggle. Hopefully my nose should straighten out in a few weeks. One thing for sure, no water would ever get by these gaskets. A high quality product however, but try ordering a size or two larger.
By K-ker from WI on 03/25/2008 Pros: Breathable, Comfortable, Dries Quickly, Durable Cons: Hard To Put On Or Take Off Best Uses: Colder Water, Paddling Describe Yourself: Weekend Warrior Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: For the price it is an excellent deal. The latex gaskets are a bit tight and low riding on the biceps, natually they want to sit in the elbow but once in place they keep you really dry. I wore it last weekend on the Ocoee, about the only person in short sleeves (65 degrees with 45 or so water) It kept me extremely dry and hugs the skirt better than my long sleeve drytop. Except for the skirt tunnel it can be shaken out to dry and it is ready to go again.
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