which drysuit

If any members of NorCal uses a drysuit, what brand do you have?  Drysuit or semi drysuit?  Where did you purchase your suit?
I didn't seem to get any traction on my Alibaba drysuit post so I'm reaching out again to the membership.  How about it?

I noticed most are using kokatat, nrs, and moo recently did a review on the brand he went with.

https://youtu.be/rdgnha1Sj1s?si=2KHsBBMGJLwUw8vd

This is the one I use:

https://www.calkayak.com/nrs-spyn-fishing-semi-drysuit.html

It looks like it’s on sale right now. I purchased it at  Oakland CCK Brooklyn Basin. I’d recommend checking them out that way you can try it on first. I’d also recommend you get some zipper lube to keep them zippers smooth and snappy.

Kokatat SuperNova Angler semi-dry here.  The choice of Kokatat was a blend of laziness and familiarity as I had worn Kokatat dry suits all day long while operating small boats for a living.  I decided to give the Hydrus fabric a try over GoreTex and I'm happy so far.  The semi-dry is nice because the neoprene neck seal is a lot more comfortable than a latex one.  I haven't noticed a bunch of water intrusion in my self-rescue drills, either.  I do clean it after every trip out (re-don it when I get home and spend time with the spray nozzle and some gentle dish soap if necessary).

Still researching but thanks for your input.  As in the "Alibaba thread" I'm still concerned with warranties as well as returns.  I might have to go with the name brand suits for future warranty needs.  I thought I did that in 2017 with Stohlquist "lifetime warranty" and now they don't even make suits anymore.  Thanks again.

Sam

I just bought another Kokatat angler Gortex. My first one lasted 6 years of moderate use. Changed the wrist gaskets twice, and repaired a hole on my own from a gaff puncture.

Early on I completed two surf zone classes where you basically get pummeled by wave after wave. Only about a tablespoon of water came in through the neck collar on both occasions.

Earlier this year a sea lion flipped me out of the kayak when it grabbed my dangling fish. No water entered then. A few months ago I bought a new kayak, and practiced self rescue. Also, the seating area of this kayak has you sitting in puddle of water. At the end of the day I noticed there was a small leak in the crotch area.

I decided to send it to Kokatat for repairs. They notified me that it was unrepairable, and offered me a 40% discount on a new one, and a refund of the repair fee. I would recommend a Kokatat.

Outdoor Play has sales on dry suits fairly often, and Mustang is running a 40% discount on some of their suits. Good luck with your search.

Thanks Mark for the info......seems like Kokatat is the name I've heard most regarding satisfied customers.

Here's what my suit looked like while I was testing it........more holes than the Titanic!!!

That's quite a test method. How does it do in real-life testing, while worn in water?

That's the test method that they used at the dive shop on El Camino last year when they tested this suit and determined it unrepairable, and I've seen this method in several Youtube videos.
With this method it is under pressure so an actual leak will be somewhat slower. 
I was at Berryessa a week or so ago and when I retrieved my boat and waded into the water I was made abundantly aware that the feet/legs leaked a little.  Until I can replace my suit I thought I'd spray the interior of the suit with DWR and hope it seals it a little more. 

Interesting. I guess I never considered the method for a bench test for a dry suit.  Nice work!

I use Kokatat. Their warranty/repairs/customer service is unmatched IMO. I sent in a few suits last year for testing and repairs/gaskets. The highest end suit had the material delaminating (it had small bubbles forming) which is why I had sent it in. Free replacement no questions asked.

Kokatat SuperNova Angler semi-dry here.  The choice of Kokatat was a blend of laziness and familiarity as I had worn Kokatat dry suits all day long while operating small boats for a living.  I decided to give the Hydrus fabric a try over GoreTex and I'm happy so far.  The semi-dry is nice because the neoprene neck seal is a lot more comfortable than a latex one.  I haven't noticed a bunch of water intrusion in my self-rescue drills, either.  I do clean it after every trip out (re-don it when I get home and spend time with the spray nozzle and some gentle dish soap if necessary).

The same as Tedski, these have been the more comfortable option for me, being that they make a gigantic size and the neoprene neck seal is far more comfortable than the latex on my wide neck.

Thanks for all the responses.....I think I'm sold on a Kokatat brand suit over the unknown Alibaba suits.  I have put enough DWR on my suit to get through the season without a replacement but this fall I'll pull the trigger on a new one.
Thanks again for all the feedback.....that helped me with my decision.

Sam

I rock a semi dry kokatat suit. It makes fishing so much more comfortable and enjoyable. Tough bullet to bite since they’re pricey, but worth every penny. After fishing i just pop right out of it just how i started the day, nice and dry.