Thoughts on SuperNova Angler Semi-Dry Suit?

I talked to Kokatat today and...

The good news:
Kokatat is going to warranty my drysuit, and I'll get a brand new SuperNova Angler gore-tex.

The bad news:
That model is out of stock, and they don't expect to have any more for 12 to 14 weeks.

Looks like I'll have to bring my FJ wetsuit out of retirement...

Hahaha, I waited too long to decide and now it's OOS.  I opted for the same SuperNova Hydrus 3.0 again.  I figured if it fails again, it's their material not Gore-tex, and would be easier to warranty in the future.  Besides, I don't plan to use it much, so why upgrade 

Looking forward to going orange now...

Looking forward to going orange now...

They only have red and "sand" in gore-tex. I reluctantly went for the red as it's more visible. But, the thing I don't like is that it'll make me look like those expendable guys in the landing party on Star Trek...

To me, The best benefit of a dry suit is day 2.  A lot of my fishing/crabbing is on multi day camping trips so I am putting the suits on for several days.  It’s never fun putting a cold damp wetsuit on in the morning.

Looking forward to going orange now...

They only have red and "sand" in gore-tex. I reluctantly went for the red as it's more visible. But, the thing I don't like is that it'll make me look like those expendable guys in the landing party on Star Trek...

That's an issue, but after awhile you will get used to the stares.

Looking forward to going orange now...

They only have red and "sand" in gore-tex. I reluctantly went for the red as it's more visible. But, the thing I don't like is that it'll make me look like those expendable guys in the landing party on Star Trek...

I got my Gore-Tex Supernova Angler suit in May 2017 as a warranty replacement for my Hydrus 3.0 Supernova Angler suit, which had delaminated badly after 2 years of use. The Gore-Tex suit was much lighter, and it was great for 4 years. I sent it in for a leak test in January 2021, and was told it had minor delamination, and would be replaced under warranty.  Unfortunately, Kokatat was out of stock of both Gore-Tex and Hydrous 3.0 dry suits, and would have to make me a replacement suit, which will not be ready until mid April. 

So for anyone thinking of sending in their Kokatat suit in for a leak test, I suggest holding on to it until Gore-Tex and Kokatat ramps back up their manufacturing capacity.

I'm curious of what your care regiment is for your gore-tex suits.  In the USCG, we used Kokatat Gore-Tex dry suits and we'd get 6 years out of the fabric quite easily.  Our regiment was 303 on the latex seals about once per week, fresh water rinse and hang dry after any time they got wet, wash periodically with Nikwax Tech Wash followed by TX.Direct.  We'd store them rolled up rather than folded.

I'm not saying anyone is mistreating their suits and Gore-Tex delamination is just the nature of the beast, but I wonder if longevity could be extended with a different care routine.

interesting. fisherman can be a sloppy stanky bunch 

So for anyone thinking of sending in their Kokatat suit in for a leak test, I suggest holding on to it until Gore-Tex and Kokatat ramps back up their manufacturing capacity.

Good advice. I only wish that it had come a month sooner...

I'm curious of what your care regiment is for your gore-tex suits.

I rinse thoroughly ASAP after I get off the water, wax the zipper on occasion, and always hang it up to dry/air out. I never rolled it up for storage.

One winter, I left it hanging outside too late in the year, and it got a fair bit of mold inside (very damp up here in the hills during winter). I tried all of the things Kokatat recommended, but could not get rid of the mold stain. I sent it in, and they said it was no problem, just purely cosmetic, but I'm wondering if that might have been a factor.

Anyways, the model I had zipped all the way apart into a separate top and bottom. Kokatat seemed to have big plans for that approach, although it clearly did not pan out. The first time I sent it in, after just 1 season, they replaced the zipper under warranty. I liked that style---the bottom by itself was not useful, but the top was. There were lots of complaints about the zipper in various reviews, though.

Super nova Tropos I believe is the low end dry suit I have.  Absolutely abused it over the years, some gentle cycle washing, not rinsed for days or weeks, replaced cuffs twice, laminate started to ripple, eventually tore, I keep taping up the laminate with tear aid and seal up exterior holes or rips with marine goop.  I still feel protected in it and might just drive it into the grave without worrying too much about it's care cuz I'm already careless.  If I get a new one I may size up because a perfect fit is a stretch on getting the neck over my head. Otherwise love it and have gotten use to the unbreathable fabric exterior.   FWIW

Super nova Tropos I believe is the low end dry suit I have.  Absolutely abused it over the years, some gentle cycle washing, not rinsed for days or weeks, replaced cuffs twice, laminate started to ripple, eventually tore, I keep taping up the laminate with tear aid and seal up exterior holes or rips with marine goop.  I still feel protected in it and might just drive it into the grave without worrying too much about it's care cuz I'm already careless.  If I get a new one I may size up because a perfect fit is a stretch on getting the neck over my head. Otherwise love it and have gotten use to the unbreathable fabric exterior.   FWIW

madman! enjoy that brisket   

Super nova Tropos I believe is the low end dry suit I have.  Absolutely abused it over the years, some gentle cycle washing, not rinsed for days or weeks, replaced cuffs twice, laminate started to ripple, eventually tore, I keep taping up the laminate with tear aid and seal up exterior holes or rips with marine goop.  I still feel protected in it and might just drive it into the grave without worrying too much about it's care cuz I'm already careless.  If I get a new one I may size up because a perfect fit is a stretch on getting the neck over my head. Otherwise love it and have gotten use to the unbreathable fabric exterior.   FWIW

Have you trimmed your neck seal?  Also, your maintenace technique is giving me flashbacks to the coated nylon drysuit saunas that we had before we were spoiled with gore-tex.

Super nova Tropos I believe is the low end dry suit I have.  Absolutely abused it over the years, some gentle cycle washing, not rinsed for days or weeks, replaced cuffs twice, laminate started to ripple, eventually tore, I keep taping up the laminate with tear aid and seal up exterior holes or rips with marine goop.  I still feel protected in it and might just drive it into the grave without worrying too much about it's care cuz I'm already careless.  If I get a new one I may size up because a perfect fit is a stretch on getting the neck over my head. Otherwise love it and have gotten use to the unbreathable fabric exterior.   FWIW

Have you trimmed your neck seal?  Also, your maintenace technique is giving me flashbacks to the coated nylon drysuit saunas that we had before we were spoiled with gore-tex.

Tedski brah!  Neck is neoprene...wicking undergarments and I mostly overdress so unless I’m seasick I welcome the sauna.  Oh how nice to hang my feet in da wattah.  The worst is paddling far and sweating then drifting in cold weather.  This thread has me looking at gore-tex and I cannot find a decent color in large anywhere.  I sent an email to nrs to alert me when a 3.0 hydrus in ocean is available.  I was wondering if women’s would fit with the drop back and figured I could have elimination options but those are out of stock as well.  They’d fit if I wore the pdf underneath.

Super nova Tropos I believe is the low end dry suit I have.  Absolutely abused it over the years, some gentle cycle washing, not rinsed for days or weeks, replaced cuffs twice, laminate started to ripple, eventually tore, I keep taping up the laminate with tear aid and seal up exterior holes or rips with marine goop.  I still feel protected in it and might just drive it into the grave without worrying too much about it's care cuz I'm already careless.  If I get a new one I may size up because a perfect fit is a stretch on getting the neck over my head. Otherwise love it and have gotten use to the unbreathable fabric exterior.   FWIW

madman! enjoy that brisket   

My brisket technique was a touch firmer than I had hoped but the flavah’ broke da mout’.  Pork tenderloin was ono as well.  Easter feast fo’ shua.  Love Easter!