Dry Suit Questions

I've been wanting a dry suit for a few years but haven't pulled the trigger.  It's time.  I do a good deal of cold water fishing, mostly with buddies but often solo in FW in winter (34-50F water - lake, river), so interested in best options for that application, plus winter SPB/SFB sturgeon and general ocean fishing.

Would be interested to hear about others experience and opinions on the various options, especially our pro-staff members.

I was looking at the following dry suits (prices listed online).
1) NRS Extreme Relief Dry Suit ($523)
2) Kokatat T3 Supernova Angler Paddling Suit ($640)
3) Kokatat Gore-tex GFER ($955)
4) Kokatat Gore-tex Meridian GMER ($1065)
5) Kokatat Gore-tex Expedition ($1165)

A few specific questions.

1) How does the Tropos (3 layer) on the Supernova compare to Gore-tex in terms of water-proof, durability?  Is one clearly better?  Significant cost difference - what's the trade-off in performance or safety? 

2) Do the Tropos and Gore-tex suits maintain waterproof when sitting in a wet seat all day like in the P-15? I guess I could use the Mooch trick of wearing a pair of rain pants over the suit to help if this is an issue.

Interested to hear opinions.  Thanks brothers!

For what we do on a regular basis, I don't think you need the Meridian or the Expedition.  The Expedition is way overkill.  The Meridian has a "skirt tube" which only applies to SINKs.

The $995 for a Gore-tex GFER sounds high.  It should be closer to $800.  I have that suit and it's a good one.

The Supernova Paddling Suit is not a Dry Suit, which is why it's called a Paddling Suit.  It has a neoprene neck.  To me, it's a comfort thing.  I don't have any problems with a latex neck, so I prefer a full Dry Suit.

I can't comment on the NRS as I have no experience with them.

I fully endorse the Kokatats, but full disclosure, I am a Kokatat Ambassador.  However, I bought my GFER long before I joined the Kokatat team.

-Allen

My Stohlquist b-pod suit has a neoprene neck, but is sold as a "dry suit". Haven't been in the water yet with it, but it would be hard to imagine much, if any, water entering there. Maybe over time it will loosen more than latex? I find the neoprene neck barely comfortable, latex, I think, would be a bit too much for myself.

The warmest days I've been so far were in the upper 60s. Plenty comfortable with a polartek liner and seemed to breathe very well.


Ben

The warmest days I've been so far were in the upper 60s. Plenty comfortable with a polartek liner and seemed to breathe very well.

I posted the following comments on the other thread, but I find it worth repeating here.

I wear a full drysuit, including latex gaskets on the wrists and neck.  I wear a full body paddling liner (Polartec one piece).  And I am normally prone to overheating, but not in this outfit.  What do/did I do to maintain comfort?  I bought a good breathable drysuit (Goretex) and I use a neck accessory ring to provide a little relief at the neck.  I only use that when it is warm and flat out.  I rarely get uncomfortably hot in weather to 70 degrees.  I occasionally pour water on myself for relief, and some have suggested just going for a dip if you get hot but I can't bring myself to jump in.

I personally believe the overheating thing is overrated.

-Allen

John, Thanks to the NCKA AOTY 2009 I won the Kokatat T3 SuperNova. For months I let it sit on the shelf wondering if I would ever find the need to use it.....along came winter and now I can't go without it. In December Lake Tahoe was NEGATIVE six degrees one morning at launch time. I wore wicking under garments along with  fleece pants and top and was very comfortable. Sturgeon fishing is a dream in that suit even with water pouring over the side while anchored in three foot wind waves I stayed dry. Yes, the suit is very dry even after sitting in a wet saddle all day.

The only down side is once the sun comes out the suit tends to get warm. It's very tempting to unzip the top and pull the shoulders down but if someone went into the water with the "top" down it would be real dicey. I have taken the chance and removed the fleece and zipped back up and that's done the trick. It's a tough act to get the suit open enough to remove clothing. Usually I do one sleeve at a time...leaving the other on so if need be I can simply pull the one back on. The relief zipper is a dream. The lack of a hood was a concern at first but with all the different hats, caps, and balaclava in my arsenal it is not an issue.

Later this week we plan another river drift and at the end of our day I plan on doing a little "testing"of the suit. I plan on getting in the water and checking my maneuverability in still water and maybe in a little current. My concern is the drag caused by all the material. The suit can be burped (open the neck gasket and let the air out) but will it act like a winged parachute suit? I will post my results later.

All in all between my paddling suit and the gel filled YakPad I have never been more comfortable on the water. For me a pair gets two thumbs up!

We're working with Kokatat in the background to have a full complement of demo suits available at our AOTY ceremony.  That way you can try them all out, jump in the water, do some self rescues, and get some real world experience in them.  The date is still TBD, but we have to decide soon.  It's likely to be early March.  We'd also like to have some on-the-water clinics for you to participate in.  Stay tuned for more information.

-Allen

My big head would never fit in one of those latex neck. I wonder if Kokatat makes
neoprene with Velcro adjustment paddling suit. I already have the Tempest pants
and Jacket combo but would like a one piece with the neoprene instead of latex.


Jedmo

jed the palm one (that we all seem to have) has latex wrists and a neoprene neck....give one a shot.

My big head would never fit in one of those latex neck. I wonder if Kokatat makes
neoprene with Velcro adjustment paddling suit. I already have the Tempest pants
and Jacket combo but would like a one piece with the neoprene instead of latex.


Jedmo

First I really appreciate the info in this thread, I might even get pushed up out of the FJ to a dry suit,

As for squeezing the head thru the neck and hands and ankles thru tight seals, , I've used a variety of lubes, but plain old talcum powder or baby powder works great if you don't want to be left wet like a liquid lube,

Of course, for your head, don't forget to be careful of the eyes, then there's that funny look you'll have til you dust the excess off.

I've been using the Kokatat T3 Supernova Angler Paddling Suit for over a year now and very happy with it.   Sometimes I wear a light jacket outside the suit so I can take it off when the sun was hot or dipped my feet into water and that cool me down too.

Chadrock has a nice drysuit that he bought online for $350. I reccomend wearing a pair of hardcore rei moutainclimbers wool socks underneath. Otherwise my heels get cold from being in the water all day. I also wear a pair of keen sandals 1/2 size larger on the outside.

I too have been considering a drysuit.  I am thinking of the Kokotat Angler suit and the GFER.  I like the more durable materiel on the thighs of the Angler suit.  However, the warranty on the Angler suit is only 2 years.  The warranty on the GFER is lifetime.

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated.

Anybody out there have any experience with the NRS drysuit?

I have taken the chance and removed the fleece and zipped back up and that's done the trick. It's a tough act to get the suit open enough to remove clothing. Usually I do one sleeve at a time...leaving the other on so if need be I can simply pull the one back on.

Allen is an OTW Acrobat!  He can do ANYthing otw!     I just got the kokatat pants and they are sweet as everyone knows.  FisHunter said he had the NRS paddle/dry top and he said it corroded away in less than a year.  You might get what you pay for and the extra bucks will probably be worth it in the long run.

  FisHunter said he had the NRS paddle/dry top and he said it corroded away in less than a year.  You might get what you pay for and the extra bucks will probably be worth it in the long run.

it was 2 yrs old and it was the cheapest splash jacket they carry......the lower sleeve/cuffs must have rotted from multi-day salt trips.