One of my primary missions with this platform is to encourage more and more people to get out on the water. And once you're a paddler at heart, I want your experiences to be as enjoyable, comfortable, and safe as possible.
As we shift out of the summer season, it becomes extra important to talk about appropriate gear for the cold, because when the temperatures drop, hypothermia becomes a real concern. This is a preventable danger that still results in tragic deaths every year.
Both dry suits and wetsuits work to stave off the cold, but wetsuits are not particularly comfortable, which can deter some people from using them (including me!). Dry suits, on the other hand, check both boxes: safety and comfort. So today, I'm reviewing the Mack Daddy of dry suits, the NRS Axiom GORE-TEX Pro. It's not cheap, but it packs a lot of benefits. Let me tell you more about it.
ABOUT THE NRS AXIOM DRY SUIT
The NRS Axiom is made with 3-Layer GORE-TEX PRO. The 3-Layer Gore-Tex makes the Axiom a waterproof, windproof, breathable, and durable dry suit. It has a front-entry YKK Aquaseal zipper, with a protective flap. Latex neck and wrist gaskets are protected with over-cuffs that have drain holes.
The Axiom Dry Suit has a 5-inch-wide Neoprene waist overskirt to fit over your kayak's spray skirt. A Cordura Panel at the interior of the ankle protects against abrasion. The Axiom Dry Suit has a splash-proof zippered chest pocket. The Axiom has a “relief” zipper down below for…you know what. And finally, it has integrated GORE-TEX socks.
Axiom Dry Suit Price: $1,295 (USD)
A dry suit had better fit well and do what it's designed to do when you spend good money on it. In order to thoroughly test both criteria, I suited up with the NRS Axiom for a surf session on the good old Ottawa River. Here's my breakdown from head to toe, or rather, toe to head!
Do you wear socks in a dry suit?
One of the first assets I noticed about the Axiom Dry Suit is that the built-in socks give you options. The built in dry suit socks are made with GORE-TEX PRO fabric. This fabric is both waterproof and breathable. The built in socks removes the need for additional socks. They are also sized generously enough so that you can incorporate additional layers on a colder day. I have size 10 feet and still had plenty of extra room.
Another nice design feature is that the socks go up to the upper calf, which allows for long booties (without that pesky bunching). Usually when I throw on a dry suit, I also reach for my NRS Boundary Boots. All of this is protected by the outer shell which rolls down and stays in place because of the elastic/silicon cuffs.
How long should a dry suit last?
Aside from your kayak/canoe/paddle board, a dry suit is probably the most significant investment you will make as a paddler. If it's built well and you treat it right, then I consider it to be a lifetime purchase (more or less). With something like the Axiom Dry Suit, I could tell from the feel/design that it has exceptional durability, and should last for many many years.
How important is the dry suit zipper?
If you're going to spend good money on a dry suit, get one with a relief zipper! Even in cold conditions, you need to stay hydrated if you're paddling for a while. But it's a double-edged sword because nature tends to call more often when there's a nip in the air. This simple zipper makes it so that you don't have to struggle in and out of your dry suit every time this happens. And yes, the women's model has a drop-pant (i.e. a zipper in the back) instead.
Do drysuits keep you warm?
Dry suits can keep you warm in any kind of cold-weather paddling. The overskirt is specifically designed for kayaking. The overskirt is used to create a double tunnel. The spray skirt from the kayak goes underneath the skirt on the dry suit. This connection then synches down and is ‘velcroed' in.
This arrangement is especially important for rougher conditions, and/or when doing rolls. The skirt overlap on the Axiom Dry Suit is nice because it isn't bulky and so if you're not using it (like say as a canoeist or stand up paddle boarder), then it won't get in the way.
How does a dry suit zipper work?
The NRS Axiom has a front-entry YKK Aquaseal zipper. This makes it so much easier to get in and out of the dry suit. I've tried models with the back-zipper and it makes me feel like I'm doing yoga at the start and end of the session (nothing against yoga, but I'd rather just get paddling).
Easy zippers
No dry suit is simple to zip up, but relatively speaking, the Axiom is pretty darn straightforward. The YKK Aquaseal is made of plastic. This means it won't rust when exposed to saltwater. And top marks to the chest pocket zipper for not only being a helpful storage area, but also being accessible while wearing a lifejacket. It's those little things, you know?
How tight should a dry suit neck seal be?
When I put on the NRS Axiom dry suit, the neck and wrist gaskets were snug, but not too tight. This is exactly what you want because latex gaskets will naturally stretch a little over time. You can artificially stretch or even trim gaskets, but don't be too quick with this approach. If you have allowed for a good break-in period and then want to proceed with some alterations, check out this video, or this article for further assistance.
Do you sweat in a dry suit?
Dressing appropriately for a paddling session depends on both the air and water temperature. At certain times, and in certain places, these two variables can be out of sync, which makes for tricky decisions. I think it's smart to err on the side of overprotection. If you end up being wet for a long time, hypothermia won't grab hold. I tested the Axiom Dry Suit on a cool fall day, but in a place where the water was still quite comfortable.
Overdressed but happy
I was overdressed, but even though I was working hard in the whitewater, I never felt like I was overheating. This speaks to the breathability of the suit, and shows the importance of investing in quality gear. Staying dry is one thing, but you don't want to soak yourself from the inside out by sweating up a storm. Based on this paddle test, the GORE-TEX PRO fabric used by NRS certainly seemed like a solid blend of waterproofing and breathability.
Dry suit fit
I'm 6-foot-2, long in the legs/arms, and right about 200 pounds. The XL in the Axiom Dry Suit was a perfect fit. This was a nice surprise since dry suits are usually either too short for my monkey arms, or too baggy when I size up to compensate for length. In this particular XL, I had enough volume to add warmer clothes underneath, but I also wasn't swimming in it when I only had basic layers on.
Taller people might look elsewhere
You may want to look for something even larger, if you are interested in this dry suit and are any taller than me. I think that if I was any longer in the limbs, the dry suit would have started to pull as I leaned forward, or reached out my arms.
You ideally want a good range of motion without having a sloppy fit. A slightly heavier person of about my height would still be ok since I had generous volume to work with. Hopefully my build/sizing is a helpful reference for you to work off of. You can also check out the sizing chart here. Otherwise, just a reminder that the gaskets should initially fit snug, but not tight. They will stretch a little bit through regular use.
NRS Axiom Dry Suit Review
So two thumbs up on all fronts for the NRS Axiom Dry Suit. I know it's a pretty penny, but a high-quality dry suit is an important, life-long investment for any committed paddler. Stay dry, stay comfortable, and don't become one of those needless hypothermia statistics.
Pay attention to the weather and water conditions, and bust out your dry suit whenever you even suspect you might need it. Plus, the better you dress, the more you can extend your paddling season.
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And that's really the continued goal of PaddleTV and In4Adventure – get people excited and informed so that they have a great time out in nature, and out on the water. Check out more paddling gear or stories and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletters to stay informed. Cheers!
Take a free online safety course for canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddling (SUP), brought to you by the American Canoe Association and the U.S. Coast Guard: https://americancanoe.org/education/resource-library/paddlesports-online-course/
