I recently purchased my first drytop and when I took it out paddling i ended up with a nasty rash around my neck when i was done. To solve this problem i was thinking about buying an NRS mystery storm hood. Would the water still get in through the stormhood even though the inner neoprene is beeing closed off really tightly? Is there another way to solve this problem?

My brother has this problem occaisonally, apparently putting a small amount of vaseline on teh affected area works, and I dont think it affects teh seals on your cag at all either

sweet thanks

[quote:d9798106af="RobMoffatt"]My brother has this problem occaisonally, apparently putting a small amount of vaseline on teh affected area works, and I dont think it affects teh seals on your cag at all either[/quote:d9798106af]



Petroleum products on latex gaskets is a no-no. Vaseline will dissolve your latex. Instead, use a product intended for use with latex, like 303 protectant or something silicone-based. I find that a 'well oiled' gasket reduces any chafing I experience.

Use whatever works on your skin afterwards, but don't put vaseline on your gasket- that will degrade the latex gasket, cause it to either fail or irritate your skin even more or both.

[quote:45c11c845d="robmeister"]ITo solve this problem i was thinking about buying an NRS mystery storm hood. Would the water still get in through the stormhood even though the inner neoprene is beeing closed off really tightly?[/quote:45c11c845d]

odds are good that it would- the seal might be pretty good between the latex and the hood, but any water that makes it into the hood will just be funnelled down your neck. What's more, you could just be trading a rash caused by your gasket for a rash caused by your storm hood- and it's also likely that in some cases you'll have the problem of having the hood come out from under the gasket.

[quote:45c11c845d="robmeister"]Is there another way to solve this problem?[/quote:45c11c845d]
Before you go and buy a storm hood, first get a tube of 303 protectant and soak a bunch of that into the latex gasket- this will make it feel oily and will reduce your rubbing/chafing.

There's also the possibility that you're allergic to latex- in that case, neoprene is your next-best material for a gasket.