Neoprene thickness - or not?

Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
marketing ploy.

Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
marketing ploy.

Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
marketing ploy.

Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
marketing ploy.

Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
marketing ploy.

Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
marketing ploy.

"Dr. Yak" <DrYak@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:nnEWd.43851$755.1046@lakeread05...
> Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
> either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
> between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
> marketing ploy.

IS it a case of more thickness = more warmth though? I accept what you say
regarding perfect insulators and perfect conductors which of course neoprene
is not. Is the thermal conductivity of neoprene such that doubling its
thickness makes an appreciable difference to any one individual, or do we
need to quadruple the thickness?

However what is more important - the thickness of the neoprene or the ease
(or otherwise) with which water flows through your suit? A 3mm suit can be
worn with comfort if it is a tight fit. An equally-tight fitting 7mm suit
may be so restrictive of movement that a less snug fitting is required in
order to be practical. Water flows through it more easily, and so the
greater warmth afforded by the neoprene is lost simply because more heat is
lost that way. A hood worn with either would help, partly because it reduces
losses from your head but also partly because it discourages water entering
the suit around your neck. Given all of these counfounding factors, is the
thickness of neoprene THAT important?

Without having any real data as regards the metal-lined suits I too am of
the opinion that they are marketing ploys. I can see how they may even be
colder than suits without metal.

Ken

"Dr. Yak" <DrYak@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:nnEWd.43851$755.1046@lakeread05...
> Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
> either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
> between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
> marketing ploy.

IS it a case of more thickness = more warmth though? I accept what you say
regarding perfect insulators and perfect conductors which of course neoprene
is not. Is the thermal conductivity of neoprene such that doubling its
thickness makes an appreciable difference to any one individual, or do we
need to quadruple the thickness?

However what is more important - the thickness of the neoprene or the ease
(or otherwise) with which water flows through your suit? A 3mm suit can be
worn with comfort if it is a tight fit. An equally-tight fitting 7mm suit
may be so restrictive of movement that a less snug fitting is required in
order to be practical. Water flows through it more easily, and so the
greater warmth afforded by the neoprene is lost simply because more heat is
lost that way. A hood worn with either would help, partly because it reduces
losses from your head but also partly because it discourages water entering
the suit around your neck. Given all of these counfounding factors, is the
thickness of neoprene THAT important?

Without having any real data as regards the metal-lined suits I too am of
the opinion that they are marketing ploys. I can see how they may even be
colder than suits without metal.

Ken

"Dr. Yak" <DrYak@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:nnEWd.43851$755.1046@lakeread05...
> Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
> either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
> between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
> marketing ploy.

IS it a case of more thickness = more warmth though? I accept what you say
regarding perfect insulators and perfect conductors which of course neoprene
is not. Is the thermal conductivity of neoprene such that doubling its
thickness makes an appreciable difference to any one individual, or do we
need to quadruple the thickness?

However what is more important - the thickness of the neoprene or the ease
(or otherwise) with which water flows through your suit? A 3mm suit can be
worn with comfort if it is a tight fit. An equally-tight fitting 7mm suit
may be so restrictive of movement that a less snug fitting is required in
order to be practical. Water flows through it more easily, and so the
greater warmth afforded by the neoprene is lost simply because more heat is
lost that way. A hood worn with either would help, partly because it reduces
losses from your head but also partly because it discourages water entering
the suit around your neck. Given all of these counfounding factors, is the
thickness of neoprene THAT important?

Without having any real data as regards the metal-lined suits I too am of
the opinion that they are marketing ploys. I can see how they may even be
colder than suits without metal.

Ken

"Dr. Yak" <DrYak@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:nnEWd.43851$755.1046@lakeread05...
> Your examples of making no difference would be true if neoprene were
> either a perfect insulator or a perfect conductor. It is somewhere in
> between, so more thickness makes more warmth. Metal line suits are a
> marketing ploy.

IS it a case of more thickness = more warmth though? I accept what you say
regarding perfect insulators and perfect conductors which of course neoprene
is not. Is the thermal conductivity of neoprene such that doubling its
thickness makes an appreciable difference to any one individual, or do we
need to quadruple the thickness?

However what is more important - the thickness of the neoprene or the ease
(or otherwise) with which water flows through your suit? A 3mm suit can be
worn with comfort if it is a tight fit. An equally-tight fitting 7mm suit
may be so restrictive of movement that a less snug fitting is required in
order to be practical. Water flows through it more easily, and so the
greater warmth afforded by the neoprene is lost simply because more heat is
lost that way. A hood worn with either would help, partly because it reduces
losses from your head but also partly because it discourages water entering
the suit around your neck. Given all of these counfounding factors, is the
thickness of neoprene THAT important?

Without having any real data as regards the metal-lined suits I too am of
the opinion that they are marketing ploys. I can see how they may even be
colder than suits without metal.

Ken