Open Forum: Kokotat 3 layer Gore vs NRS event drysuit
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Kokotat 3 layer Gore vs NRS event drysuit

Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: The Class Room
Forum Name: Open Forum
Forum Discription: Discuss and Share your expertise on products or technique
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6394
Printed Date: 05 Oct 2025 at 1:13pm


Topic: Kokotat 3 layer Gore vs NRS event drysuit
Posted By: Powhoundus
Subject: Kokotat 3 layer Gore vs NRS event drysuit
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 7:39am
In market for new drysuit. Suits seem similar in retail price / features, NRS claims eVent more comfy... could get the Kokotat much cheaper though... not sure what to do ..advice?
 
 


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Take care,
Wes



Replies:
Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 8:06am
I've never had a problem with Kokatat. They are the standard.

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"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman


Posted By: H2Ohta
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 8:10am
Both are great suits. The NRS suits are all coming with latex booties now vs. the gortex booties. Unless you like clammy feet go with the Kokatat but you should double check on the type of booties that the NRS comes with.

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H2Ohta


Posted By: tradguy2
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 8:14am
I can't speak to the construction of NRS but I can tell you the eVent is a much more breathable fabric than Goretex.  Keep in mind that once the DWR on your suit wears out and the face fabric "wets out" the breathability of your suit (regardless of what fabric is amde of) will be very poor so the advantages of eVent only last until then.  James did not give me the name fabric fanatic for nothing. 

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... preparing for a river beating!     


Posted By: jblum
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 3:25pm
I feel like we have this thread every few months when someone is looking to justify the added expense of investing in Kokatat Gore-tex this or that.

Buy Kokatat, then you won't have to buy another one in a year or two.  There is a reason you see lots of old school kokatat gear on the river:  It lasts and works well longer than anything else.  Ask anyone who paddles one, most people would buy it again.  Kokatat also has great repair service and guarantee on their stuff if you wear it out (my first drysuit lasted more than 200 river days, and 100 more after a $50 repair/ water testing).

It IS more expensive, but so is any Gore-Tex anything.  North Face Goretex jacket is $350 while the REI Equivalent is $200, same story.  Buy the Kokatat, you'll be glad you did.


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JHB


Posted By: Tobin
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 4:18pm
Blah blah blah.  Buy a Palm.
  You know your going to destroy it in a year so why spend the extra for something that will be replaced in 2 years.


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Sure?


Posted By: jblum
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 4:23pm
Touche Tobin...  you know if you stopped being such a nice guy and letting everyone else use your gear, it wouldn't get destroyed so fast...  You know, its better to take it off using the zipper, not the surgical scissors;  they last longer that way...  =)

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JHB


Posted By: Tobin
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 4:31pm
Oh, DAMN,  its game on now buddy! 
   I'm gonna tell Ambre on you for that one. 
 It's not like she likes you anyway!   


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Sure?


Posted By: Tobin
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 4:35pm
Oh and 17 to go.
  I figure when I hit a grand I am going to change my name to just Tobin.  I am way to old to be new.
 


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Sure?


Posted By: James
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 6:10pm
Just a quick fact from the peanut gallery.....

I have had my Kok. Meridian for 4 years. It is just now ready for its first patch.

3 Neck Gaskets, 1 Wrist, and courteous amounts of Zip Lube and 303.

Kok is the bomb... now others may be just as good, but I have not tried them. I do know what my kok has been through though.

J


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Posted By: justin
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 9:22pm
The one person I know that has a palm has problems with the zipper.


Posted By: ashleygoesdisco
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2008 at 9:35pm
Buy a Kokatat. I've been in the NRS prototype. I wouldn't buy one. Kokatat is MUCH more comfortable. And Gore-Tex works. And their customer service es bueno.

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Ashley Duffus
Well behaved women rarely make history.
www.naiyadays.blogspot.com


Posted By: dragorossinw
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2008 at 8:08am
Keep your eyes out for Nookies new Dry Suit in the works.  I am psuhing them to make a latex free version too.  The non latex gaskets on their dry tops last 4x+ longer then latex and don't give you the grape head effect, and are just as www.nookie.co.uk/products/index.htmy.  

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Tony Z
dragorossinorthwest@yahoo.com
www.nookiekayaking.us
www.dragorossi.com
www.donkeyfIip.com


Posted By: tradguy2
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2008 at 6:46pm
To Summaraize:
eVent: the most breathable
Kokatat: the best construction and customer service
Goretex-time tested and the most expensive
 


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... preparing for a river beating!     


Posted By: Jkinsman
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2008 at 10:53pm
I am really not for one or the other but I have had experiences with both.

Took a winter Grand Canyon trip a couple of years back and 6 people on the trip bought brand new Kokatat Gore Tex suits. All but one of those suits had major leaks by the end of the trip from wear between the legs. Some had leaks only 6 days in the canyon.

These people were bummed. Sent back to Kokatat and nothing but the run around from customer service.

My wife, who had one of the suits, sent it back and after 6 weeks with kokatat they sent it back and said 30 days on the Grand Canyon is excessive wear and they wouldn't warrentee it. We still have the suit with holes along the seam of the inside of the legs.

The one person who had an NRS suit was comfy and dry and had no problem.

Also someone said the NRS suits have latex booties. All the suits I have seen from them recently had some type of breathable material for booties.

I would like to try the Palm though, since they seem to make a nice suit.

Just my two cents





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