ROCKPORT — Bob Holtzman wants to stay dry when he is out paddling his kayak. He doesn't need top-of-the-line expensive equipment for the extreme paddler; yet, he wants a good dry suit. So, he produced his own line.

"I was paddling on an early spring day," he said. "The water was still freezing, but it was really warm and sunny out. I was broiling in my heavy-duty wet suit. If I had fallen in, I would have been glad I had it. But since I wasn't falling in, I was thoroughly uncomfortable."

At Holtzman’s website, mythicdrysuits.com, dry equals warm. And that doesn’t have to mean expensive. Mythic Gear is named as such, because, the website says, “We just enjoy the myths of many cultures, and we think ‘Mythic’ reflects the spirit of adventure and the magic of nature that paddlers treasure.”

“When you're wet, you lose heat 25 times faster than when you're dry,” Holtzman said. “Whether you're actually in the water or just doused with spray, a drysuit will keep you warmer longer.”

Being cold and wet can lead to hypothermia, and a wetsuit does not keep one dry. 

“It can't keep you as warm, as long, as a drysuit,” said Holtzman.

So, he started a search for dry suits, but found that most options cost more than he wanted pay.

When others might have given up, accepting that such suits were not an option, Holtzman set his mental gears in motion. He, the self-described 'cheapskate,' wanted a dry suit, no 'bells and whistles,' that cost less than the watercraft he'd be paddling.

And, he also believed that there were other intermediate paddlers in the world seeking the same inexpensive, yet comfortable protection against the elements.

He searched Ali Baba, one of the world's largest ecommerce websites, which is based in China. Holtzman likened the site to Amazon or eBay. On this site, the sellers are primarily Asian, and especially Chinese. Instead of selling individual items, Ali Baba was originally set up as business to business sales with minimum bulk-quantity orders, which is where Holtzman's interest resided.

Holtzman explained his idea to a half-dozen manufacturers: ‘Take a basic dry suit design and pare it back as much as possible,’ he said. ‘Strip out everything that wasn't essential to price and functioning.’

From the quotes received, Holtzman eventually chose a Chinese manufacturer.

He imagined producing dry suits for a range of paddlers, including those paddling in conditions where they really need thermal protection, "but who just don't want to spend, or can't justify spending $600 to $1,000 on a dry suit."

He is also targeting paddlers who don't know a lot about dry suits.

Holtzman references recreationalists who buy $400 plastic kayaks.

"They're just out there to have some fun,” he said. “That's perfectly fine, but they ought to be able to paddle safely. You buy yourself a $400-$500 plastic kayak, and maybe a $25 paddle, and a $25 PFD. That kind of person is never going to buy a $600 dry suit."

Holtzman’s selling price of $250-$400 is unique because, as he said: "I am not trying to compete on feature, function, or technology. I just keep things simple."

Mythic Gear, is website says, offers, “North America's lowest-price drysuits for kayaking, canoeing, rafting and stand up paddleboarding. No frills: just good quality and great value. You can afford a drysuit! Stay dry, warm and safe. Paddle More. And Spend Less.”

Holtzman found an independent company to inspect the nylon suits before the shipments left the plant, and, in less than a year, has gone from idea to a full-fledged business.

Holtzman has no problem dunking his canoe on cue, and after bailing from the craft, he swam to shore and stood dripping on the shore. He was, from head-to-toe, drenched while standing in the mid-40 degree air temperature.

But inside the suit, his clothes remained dry, a feature that allows him to extend his paddling season an extra few months.

For more information on Mythic Gear, visit www.mythicdrysuits.com/. The images of local models wearing Mythic Gear suits on the website are captured by a local photographer.