Dry Fashion’s Aqua Top

Before every rowing tour at the coast, I think about the best clothing for a four-hour rowing tour on the sea. Not always an easy task, especially in autumn. You have to face high waves, splashes, and your buttock and back get wet. Last year I wore a wet suit – a neoprene suit. It was a bit bigger than I needed it, because I wanted freedom for my arms while pulling through. And a better blood circulation than I would get with a tight one. But it turned out that I’m not a big fan of neoprene suits in rowing boats, even though I had enough space for my arms. The suit chafed on my thighs and pinched my hips.

At this years tour on the Baltic Sea close to Kiel I tried a simple layering technique: a rain jacket and two T-shirts. In the summer I bought the Aqua Top, especially for a trip like this.

My layers: 1 short-sleeved T-shirt, Aqua Top and a thin rain jacket.

I did the first check of my clothes after about 2km. After we found moderate waves – between 1-1.5 m high – I took my rain jacket off. Hardly any seawater, but a lot of sweat. So I decided that I don’t need the jacket any longer and packed it in the side compartment of our Co4X. The Aqua Top turned out to be a really good decision. The fleece lining kept me warm – almost too warm for the weather on the Baltic Sea in October. But the best part was: the PU coated outer membrane kept headwinds and splashing water off. So I was not only warm but also dry.

Drybags in action

Of course I don’t know how these t-shirts would have behaved in really bad weather. For moderate water  and weather conditions at sea, an Aqua Top alone or with a t-shirt is appropriate and sufficient. After all, there are no abrasions!

Especially for stormy or rainy weather, I also recommend the Wigglefish Drybags to keep your personal belongings dry!