The Gear Shed - IR Aphrodite Drysuit Review

3-layer waterproof/breathable shell with 100% PCW recycled polyester face fabric treated with C6 DWR (durable water repellent) finish

• Fabric Weight: 215g/m²

• Waterproofness (mm h₂o): 30,000

• Breathability (g/m²/24h): 4000

• Rear YKK® AquaSeal® clamshell entry zipper

• Booties and ankle cuffs reinforced with abrasion resistant Devil's Club 3-layer 240g/m² nylon taslan face fabric

• Latex neck and wrist gaskets with neoprene over cuffs to aid in dryness and gasket preservation

• Adjustable webbing belt to keep your suit snuggly on your hips

• Weight: 3.5lbs (56oz)

• Retail Price: $1,259.00

Immersion Research Aphrodite Review

I was a little hesitant the first time I pulled out the Aphrodite drysuit to try on. I liked the theory of the design, but it was much more aggressively cut than anything I had ever used so I was concerned about movement limitations. Once I got it on however, I was able to move and perform so well I stopped thinking about wearing a drysuit. It quickly won me over and has since become my go-to piece of gear. This is the first suit that I have actually been stoked to use as it seems like every other women’s drysuit has had a catch as to what we had to give up in order to stay warm, but the Aphrodite is the first drysuit that has thoughtfully considered what will work for women paddlers on the water.

For reference, I’m 5’4, 125 lbs, athletic build with bigger shoulders. I wear a size small Aphrodite and cut the wrist gaskets for a more comfortable fit.  

Ideal Uses

Rafting or kayaking in cold conditions. Generally, for whitewater however you could use this for other cold paddling sports. I wear this drysuit late Autumn through late Spring.

How is the Aphrodite Designed for Women?

The Aphrodite features a new clamshell entry point design which is the first drysuit I feel is thoughtfully designed for women. The drysuit zips almost in half but does not fully zip apart; instead, the fabric around the belly keeps the suit together. This allows the ability to unzip the sides and trunk for a completely versatile women’s self-relief system –without the leakiness of a total two-piece design or thumb abrasion of a drop seat. It’s essentially the only ergonomically true women’s relief system on the drysuit market. You can pee without worrying about it getting in the drysuit, having to strip off all your gear, or carry extra accessories in your pfd. It’s super quick and easy to use so you can get back to paddling.

How exactly does it work? The zipper sits above the hips and layers under the jacket. There is a waist buckle rather than a pull string to keep the fabric secure. Once zipped, pull the ends of the clamshell toward your belly button and buckle in place. Don’t cinch too high or you will have to re-cinch to allow room in the knees to sit in the raft. The zipper is out of the way when you’re in the water, and most importantly not causing knuckle abrasions or bulk around the waist. Also because the jacket sits a little higher than other suits it actually allows better access to a waist throw bag with less snag on the Velcro tabs. Additionally, the Aphrodite doesn’t need Velcro on the ankles because of the strong taper. The wrist gaskets are pretty tight with extra ribs as they are meant to be cut and customized, as is recommended on the site.

Is the Aphrodite comfortable?

The Aphrodite is a super comfortable drysuit: there is space where you need it and not where you don’t. This suit like most of Immersion Research’s drysuits has a really slim cut as they reduce a lot of the excess fabric that most other drysuits have, particularly through the legs and hips. It has plenty of flex room to move and paddle without feeling like you’re in a clown outfit. While I wouldn’t consider it tight, I would recommend streamlining your layers for a better fit.

The only time the Aphrodite has been uncomfortable is when I have less layers on the waist zipper can curl in the back causing uncomfortable pressure. This is easily fixed by pulling the zipper tab tighter on one side of the clamshell reducing the slack in the system.

How is the Aphrodite Drysuit in the water?

The aggressive cut is really great when it comes to being in the water. It doesn’t cause excessive drag, and I am able to wade and swim with ease. Additionally, I’ve found that portaging is easier as I’m not needing to manage loose fabric when I move up and around rocks. Having reduced fabric also means body heat is more efficient. The polyester is made of 100% recycled water bottles and is hydrophobic rather than hydrophilic, so I stay much warmer in this suit than my nylon drysuit which tended to “wet out” over time. The Aphrodite does a really great job of insulating against the cold while still remaining breathable.

I have noticed it does tend to retain more air inside if not burped correctly. I recommended doing this in the water before you cinch the belt, otherwise the waist buckle can actually create two chambers in the drysuit, and since the only zipper is above the buckle there is no other way to burp the legs.

How tough is the IR Aphrodite?

I’ve worn this drysuit in all kinds of conditions and have been impressed with how well it held up against tears. They did include an extra layer of nylon taslan fabric on the feet and seat to protect against abrasion, but this part of the suit seemed to get pinholes more easily. The material seems almost too thick in places and the fabric ends up folding creating visible creases. I worry that makes it actually more prone to pin holes rather than less prone. The socks in particular are really stiff so they will inevitably have some of these folds as you fit them into your shoes. With that said, I do run a lot of bushy California creeks year-round, so I tend to be harder on my dry suits than an average boater, but both my R2 partner and I had pinholes develop in the socks of our IR drysuits first.

Important Considerations for this Drysuit

• This may not be the best introductory drysuit for those unfamiliar with technical gear as it takes a little longer to take off than other entry systems I’ve used. The clamshell allows the wearer to pull off the jacket like a hoodie except it’s attached to the front of your pants. While it only takes a few more seconds before you get your head out, it may feel a bit claustrophobic to some and you wouldn’t want to tear a gasket panicking.

• Because the sock fabric is so stiff, I had to size up my river shoe even with just a pair of light fleece socks underneath. Alternatively, you may consider taking the insert out of your shoes for more space. 

• Additionally, because the sock fabric is pretty stiff, you’ll want to make sure there aren’t any “dents” in the toe box before you put on your shoes or there will likewise be painful pressure on your foot.

• I recommend sizing down if you are in between sizes. Their sizing chart could use some feedback as there is a lot of overlap. For reference, I wear a small in both Kokatat and IR; I ordered a medium in my previous suit and while it fit pretty well, the gaskets were much too large and let air into the suit.

• If you’re super curvy this drysuit may feel too snug in the legs, so I would recommend trying one on first.

• It’s a bit awkward if you have your drysuit half on due to the clamshell design. It doesn’t tie well around the waist and will drag if just left down. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning. On warm days you may want to wait to put on your drysuit until you are ready to get on the water.

Is the Aphrodite worth it?

Absolutely. The Aphrodite is the most comfortable and highest performing women’s specific drysuit that I’ve used, and it still maintains a lower price point than several competitors. It’s a much leaner design with room where it counts: knees and shoulders are unhindered for full flexibility, and the reduced material means reduced drag. The material is thicker and, in my experience, warmer than a nylon drysuit, but the ultimate holy grail of this drysuit is its women’s specific relief system which makes it so easy to pee and get back to paddling. This is kind of the race car of drysuits. It’s form fitting, looks great and performs really well, but it’s also not without its quirks. It seems to get pinholes, particularly in the socks more frequently, but regular care will help slow normal wear and tear. Overall, I really love the Aphrodite drysuit and I highly recommend it especially if you boat in the winter regularly. 

Take good care of your suits: flip the jacket inside out, fully unzip and hang to dry. Wash off any dirt and rocks (and clean out your sandy river shoes). Wipe the gaskets with gentle soapy water and rinse. When storing, keep it out of harsh sun or damp conditions as much as possible. Take good care of your drysuit and it will take great care of you!