This is my first season with the Arctic Armor also. The first time I wore it I went snowmobiling. I had long underwear and light pants and shirt. I was comfortably warm, no air seeped in anywhere - great! Then I wore it getting the snowmobile/trailer hooked up, doing a lot of odds and ends and whatever with the temperature around 32. When I was done and got in the house, I was surprised to find I was soaked, especially above the waist! My shirt was wet and even my pants to some degree. Yes, the shirt and pants had a cotton mix and that's supposedly a no no with this suit.
I've had it out on the ice now a couple time. This past weekend temperatures were warm, around 30. I drove the sled out on the ice, drilled maybe 10 holes, cleaned them out and set up tip-ups. At that point my shirt under the coat was drenched. I had on just one layer, again probably the no no fabric cotton I believe. I've learned to take a change of clothes out on the ice, so I changed the shirt. I should have changed pants too as they were clammy feeling, but due to too many folks around and no shanty, decided that wasn't in my best interest. Jigging and tending tip ups the rest of the day, I was very comfortable now with the dry shirt. Again, this was a warmish 32 degree type day with no wind.
As mentioned in a previous post, and to reiterate, the suit is supposed to insulate against water. In being so, the material doesn't breath. It's intended to keep you afloat if you were to find yourself in the drink, and that it will do. One just has to learn how to dress under it. I think from now on, when I'm active like drilling holes, I'll take the coat off and wear something lighter then put it back on afterwards. It is comfortably warm on cold windy days however and worth having it for that reason and especially for it's floatation qualities, the main reason most people buy it. In colder temperatures, put additional layers on.
