I have wetsuit for the wife and I when we go jetskiing. If it was a winter bug out, I was thinking of grabbing those. They are VERY warm - wet or dry, they are available (I already have them) and I have a winter vs. summer bag that gets attached to our bags that provide carries that are seasonal specific. Just looking for thoughts.

I am not very familiar with wetsuits. I am wanting to pick out some good waders for fly fishing. Something to keep me warm. What are they made out of? Is it neoprene? Forgive my ignorance on the wetsuit and drysuit difference. I've just not dealt with either.

I guess that they would be better than nothing, but they would not wick any water at all, and when you take them off you would be very damp.

The funny thing is that I went into a North Face store looking for a new jacket. The store employee showed me one that I tried on, and I could not stand it. It felt too much like a wetsuit.

I used to work outside, in all kinds of weather, and my hands really suffered in the cold. I couldn't use thick insulated gloves due to the loss of dexterity, and thin leather "OJ Simpson" gloves seemed to make my hands colder instead of warmer. Then I bought a cheap pair of wetsuit type gloves at WallyWorld. I had pretty good dexterity, and altho my hands got wet, they stayed warmer than with any other gloves I had tried. BUT, I had the luxury of a car with its heater on full blast waiting for me when I was done with whatever crisis was going on at that particular time. I am not sure how they would work long term. Maybe one of you SCUBA diver/snow boarder types could maybe do a test for us...

They are neoprene. And all of you are right as far as not wicking away water. I was thinking of use being if you know that you would be in snow or cold water (ie: having to walk to meeting point), water or snow being major obstical between the here and there. I do have Gortex / fleece extreme cold weather gear in my winter bag. Like I said, just getting input. Keep it coming.

Let me start by saying that I have been a certified diver since 1990. As a base layer a wetsuit would not be a great idea. Up here in VT (read cold water) I dive in a 5mm Farmer John type suit that is easy to get into, but if nature calls I have to take the WHOLE thing off. Not a good idea in the winter. If you were bugging out to a fixed bug out point that you have prepped it could come in handy if you were going to spear fish or have somereason to stand in cold water. This would probably be one of the last things I might grab on the way out the door.

I'd scratch them off my list of things to have unless I was going to be doing an overwater flight or something like that, and even then there are better options.
In my experience, if you're not wet while wearing a wetsuit, you're sweating. I don't really want to do that, because at night in Wyoming, I'd imagine it'd get pretty cold, and if you're all sweaty, you'd be in trouble then.

As far as packing them up goes, mine's a Farmer John style, and it's anything but compact. Plus, like someone else said, if you've gotta go, it's gotta go. Then you'd REALLY be cold! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

If you get wet in a wetsuit, then when it comes off, as it will eventually, you're going to be freezing bigtime. Plus, once the nice, warm, insulating water drains from them, they can get chilly.

Just some thoughts from a cold-hating Florida boy. I've never messed with snow extensively, so you'd know more than me.

Staying warm,
Kyle

This is why I like all you folks. You give honest, well thought out answers to questions even as stupid as mine. After reading all your answers I have made a descision to leave the wet suits alone until we go out and play. Didn't think about going to the bathroom, wetsuit freezing or any of the other fine points that you all have shared.