I Know This Is Random But...

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Wet suit and flippers etc. Wet suits are worn to keep people warm and they work well.

I had a thought. Would they work in a snow storm?

I doubt many would use flippers, a facemask and a snorkel, but in theory, would it work? The flippers may grip in the snow... The facemask will stop snow going in ones eyes, and the wetsuit will keep people warm? Or is it best just to use a coat? Probably less likely to be noticed.

But it is a thought.

Possibly? There are probably some people out there crazy enough to try it...

It might work ad catch on.

Yes. I know that because the people who make them get impossibly hot while handling them. They work for all environments and not just water.

If I understand correctly, a "wet" suit keeps its wearer warm by allowing a layer of water between the wet suit and the wearer's skin.  This layer is then warmed by the wearer's own body heat.  The effect seems to be good only above a certain temperature range.

Math Problem: John puts on a rubber onesie, seals it off at the wrists, neck and ankles, fills the interior with water, and then stands outside in -10°C weather.  Assuming that John's initial body temperature is 37°C, how long before John's bum freezes and falls off?

My understanding is that it works like a space blanket, by trapping and reflecting back the heat generated by the wearer.

Wikipedia's article on wet suits goes into much greater detail.

Didn't know a dry suit was a thing. Probably the better choice anyway.

I thought it was something about the layer of water that gets into the wetsuit between your body and the suit is warmed by your body and the wetsuit keeps that heat in somehow. So I think they have to be in water to be effective for thermal protection.

That said can most people just float in a wetsuit? I did get to wear one once in the ocean, if anything I had trouble staying under water long enough to see much of anything. Of course it was only snorkeling so the goal wasn't go get that deep anyways. I certainly was not at all worried about drowning since I didn't have to do anything to stay afloat.

Yes, a dry suit is what came to mind when I read the first post.

I think that it would be more effective and less costly to simply wear a number of layers of conventional clothing such as fleeces and jumpers etc with waterproofs on top.

As for flippers, I am clumsy and un coordinated enough in shoes, Im likely to do myself a mischief trying to walk anywhere in those. In the snow.

This is why I would say No - unless Maybe the person/suit was wet and the temperature was above freezing. Then maybe.

Otherwise a dry suit would be way better as you can layer up warm clothing underneath it as insulation. Drysuits are waterproof so you stay dry. (I own one, it's just super old and the replaced cuffs have also worn out.. might buy a new suit come Spring.)

But overall I would Not choose a wet suit to stay warm in freezing temperatures UNLESS I was going to be underwater, then maybe a thick Winter wetsuit would be Ok. Scuba diving is more of a Fall & Winter activity here, because the water is clearer with higher visibility w/o Summer Sun growing algae blooms. Water temperatures in the ocean aren't much colder in the Winter than Summer, especially deep down.. and neither is there much change in light - it's dark. So, people dive in the Winter as well as at night sometimes. And they can do it in a good Winter wetsuit instead of a drysuit - just depends how hot someone's body runs, too. My older brother is pretty warm-blooded and can dive in a wetsuit whereas skinny minnie people with no bodyfat may all opt for drysuits for cold water.

But I would not choose a wetsuit to try to keep warm above the surface in freezing temperatures - maybe as a last resort it might be better than being naked to wear a wetsuit and try to stay dry vs get wet, but it most certainly wouldn't be my first choice.

Isn't a dry suit just called a suit?

No. It's called a drysuit. It's a thing just like a wetsuit is - only not nearly as common Because they're significantly more expensive.

It is for watersports OR diving like a wetsuit is. Mine is meant for surface watersports like surfing - or kiteboarding in my case. Diving ones are different as they're meant for being deep underwater & may have attachments for scuba equipment - I'm not entirely sure. Surface ones cost less money (but can still be nearly ~$1000) and are designed for more freedom of movement vs. diving ones that are meant for deep water pressure and swimming about with flippers and scuba gear on.

I did not know that.

Now you know!

Mine is an O'Neill branded one. It's sort of a.. woven synthetic nylon fabric. It has taped seems inside. The wrist and ankle cuffs are rubber. They dried and cracked and I bought replacements and rubber cemented them on. I didn't maintain them with a proper oil and they've been ruined. I MIGHT replace them again. The neck cuff is neoprene, but forms a seal - I don't think it can easily be replaced at all. It's old and loosened up, so the last time I wore it a couple years ago after I put it on and "burped," the air out of the suit, I wound one or two wraps of electrical tape around my neck to snug it up and make it water tight. There's one large zipper across the shoulder blades to get in and out of it. There are internal suspenders to hold it up when you have it half on on the beach with your torso popped out of the back zipper and the top half of it folded over in front of you. Mine also has some small slices from carbon fibre fins that I sealed with a special rubber cement. You can wear sweatpants and a t-shirt + sweatshirt underneath of it to layer up for winter use - your clothes stay dry from the water outside and only get damp from perspiration.