Review: NRS Phenom Dry Suit

In Montana, you can kayak 12 months out of the year—but let’s be honest, you probably won’t want to. The water’s freezing, there’s ice in the eddies, and the thought of getting wet is scarier than anything the river might throw at you. But if you’re serious about paddling, the essential piece of gear separating you from the river is a dry suit. For that, the Phenom Gore-Tex Pro Dry Suit from NRS is about as good as it gets.

The waterproofing is phenomenal—true to the name—no matter the situation: full submersions, rolling practice, surprise soaks… you name it. The water stays outside, where it belongs. But the standout feature is the neoprene cuffs over the gaskets. They help keep the gaskets dry, which then keeps your arms, elbows, and neck dry, keeping your whole body warmer and more comfortable. At the end of a paddling session, there are no flushes of water or slow leaks creeping into the dry suit. The neoprene also protects the rubber gaskets from wear and tear.

If you’re looking for a dry suit to help knock the dust off before runoff really kicks in, the Phenom is an excellent choice. It’s warm, dry, and comfortable—everything you want from high-quality piece of paddling apparel.

Available at nrs.com; $1,395.