Gear Test and Review: Mustang Survival Hudson CCS Drysuit
“There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.”
This classic outdoor-ism is a truth that has a double meaning when paddling in cold and gnarly conditions.
After more than 25 years of year-round whitewater and ocean paddling, my tried and tested clothing choice for bad weather is a Mustang Survival Hudson dry suit. This one essential gear item has kept me safe and dry for three years of paddling in storms, surfing SUPs, whitewater canoeing in snow and cold, and offshore boat trips. I couldn’t think of an improvement, so I was skeptical when Mustang Survival said they were updating the Hudson and the women’s Helix. But after a couple of weeks of playing with the Hudson CCS 2.0, I can report that they somehow made this great dry suit even better.
To update the Hudson and Helix, Mustang Survival relied on more than 50 years of cold-water experience. Based in Vancouver, BC, Mustang Survival builds their dry suits in their own factory close to the Fraser River. This is also the home of the company’s R&D Waterlife Studio, a research lab, prototyping facility and test pool that is responsible for developing equipment, including dry suits, for military and emergency responders. The Hudson is a direct descendant of these efforts.
For the Hudson/Helix update, the designers were aiming for refinement, more than redesign. They adjusted the fit to be more ergonomic, which I found to be slightly baggier. This means the suit is easier to get on (no contortions required), there is more room for layering, and it fits better in a paddling position.
I never had any conflicts with the original seam placements, but some paddlers did, so they shifted the main body seam to reduce the chances of chafing. Thankfully, the knee pads are the same–a welcome durability and comfort feature, especially for adjusting boats on rocky shores or kneeling in a whitewater canoe–but the access port moved to the exterior, which means I can adjust them without opening the suit.
By trimming material in the suspenders, they made them less noticeable while paddling, without diminishing their utility. This makes putting on the suit easier and is handy when hanging out on land with the suit open. The final refinement: they moved the bicep pocket to the thigh where it’s easier to access when trying to stay upright in a boat.
The biggest change for me: my new suit swaps the silicon gaskets of my old Hudson for neoprene. The wrists slid over my hands easier and were more comfortable next to skin than the silicone, but just as waterproof.
At the neck gasket, CCS (Closed Comfort System) replaces the snug rubber. It’s a soft, flexible and loose material. Pushing my head through the CCS feels less like birthing and more like pulling on a sweater. In calm conditions, I left the neck gasket open to aid breathability. Pulling a bungy cord with one hand cinched it snug, and a toggle allowed me to adjust the fit. I did a full dunk in the surf to test it and didn’t feel a dribble down my neck.
Unchanged from the original Hudson is the access zip and fabric. The zipper is super long, running from just over the shoulder to the crotch, which opens the suit wide and eliminates the need for a relief zipper. The material is Mustang’s proprietary MarineSpec BP, a three-layer waterproof-breathable material specifically designed for salt water and submersion. In the seat and knees–the high wear areas–they add thick and tough 500 Denier Cordura. I’ve spent hours in the Hudson in pouring rain, jumping in and out of the water, without a leak. The new Hudson has a feeling of invincibility.
It is slightly heavier and bulkier than my original Hudson. It also doesn’t have a spray skirt tunnel, which would be handy for sea kayaking and whitewater kayaking, but would add more bulk.
Mustang Survival tests every dry suit for waterproofing and quality control before it leaves their factory. Yes, it’s pricey. But what I have learned from many years of wearing the wrong clothing for cold water paddling, is that there are no short cuts. The Hudson fits well, paddles well, keeps me dry when it matters and is built to last. My original still looks mint and the new one is built just as tough.
Made in Canada, with experience honed crafting dry suits for professionals, the Hudson is an easy product to trust. This fall when the weather looks bad, you will find me paddling in the Hudson.
This article was sponsored by Mustang Survival
Our pinnacle Made-in-Canada dry suits, the Hudson & Helix CCS just got a major upgrade! Designed for durability, tested for performance, and trusted by professionals—our full dry suit lineup keeps you dry and protected wherever the water takes you.
