Paddling Gear...  
       
      Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
        Category:  General
       Forum Name:  Whitewater Forum
       Forum Discription:  Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
       URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10444
       Printed Date: 03 Nov 2025 at 10:08pm
      
 
  
      Topic: Paddling Gear...
       
      Posted By: wylddeuces2
       Subject: Paddling Gear...
       Date Posted: 31 Jan 2011 at 9:05pm
       
      
        
          
	
I have been shopping online and searching a good price on a drysuit.  Anyone
 looking, i strongly advise 
http://www.kayakacademy.com/pages/store/drysuitinfo.html... i got a new drysuit by Kokatat for just under $500. They have a lot of 
great stuff and good prices! No huge retail overhead is how they are 
able to keep their prices very competitive. 
  ------------- To each their own. If it makes you happy it cant be that bad, im happy for you! For what does matter...is what makes You happy!
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  Replies: 
       
      Posted By: Aquaholic
       
      Date Posted: 31 Jan 2011 at 9:38pm
       
      
        
          
	
I'm assuming that for that price its not Goretex? 
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      Posted By: dave
       
      Date Posted: 31 Jan 2011 at 10:56pm
       
      
        
          
	
Sounds like a Trops drysuit. Tropos by Kokatat is good stuff and a great entry level drysuit that will last you for years. Save the money for Gortex later when you know you will be staying in the sport.
  ------------- Nomad
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      Posted By: jella
       
      Date Posted: 01 Feb 2011 at 4:37am
       
      
        
          
	
kyle your picture cracks me up! 
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      Posted By: wylddeuces2
       
      Date Posted: 01 Feb 2011 at 5:39am
       
      
        
          
	
Am i gonna stay dry, thinking maybe i should rethink, or am i gonna tare it apart with my swimming being a newbie?
  ------------- To each their own. If it makes you happy it cant be that bad, im happy for you! For what does matter...is what makes You happy!
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      Posted By: jella
       
      Date Posted: 01 Feb 2011 at 6:13am
       
      
        
          
	
I would recomend getting a gortex drysuite.... They are well worth the money, and if you decided to sell it later- there are many people willing to buy a used drysuite.    and as a newbie, you will most likely be swimming a lot!
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      Posted By: PaddleGirl
       
      Date Posted: 01 Feb 2011 at 6:14am
       
      
        
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you should stay dry... at least for the most part.  mine is not goretex, is pretty old, and i just get a little damp in some places.  usually don't notice until i am changing my clothes.
   
i think it's time for an upgrade for me though. 
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      Posted By: Monk
       
      Date Posted: 01 Feb 2011 at 9:03am
       
      
        
          
	
I know NRS has a mixed reputation, but for ~$550 the Inversion is a pretty good deal.  I'm getting a little bit of early stage delamination, but I stay dry and it is fairly breathable.
  
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      Posted By: water wacko
       
      Date Posted: 01 Feb 2011 at 9:35am
       
      
        
          
	
Why Kokatat is tops in my book... I won't count the quality and durability of the suit and the cool color choices. I won't count the easy-in goretex booties, either. Hey, the pee-zip comes on every suit. Let's s ay all that stuff balances out between companies... Kokatat is number one because when I send my suit in, for a nominal fee ($35?) they pressure test the whole suit, patch all the holes, they even put new gaskets in if I need them. Year after year. $35. Can't beat it. 
 
 To make the gaskets last longer I use 303 so they stay slippery and I use bee's wax on my zippers, even works on old booty zippers.
  ------------- "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
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      Posted By: jella
       
      Date Posted: 01 Feb 2011 at 9:58am
       
      
        
          
	
OR you can get a but flap :)  for me, as a woman, I love it!!  and plus if you have to go number 2 you don't have to take off your whole drysuite!  Genius!   
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      Posted By: Aquaholic
       
      Date Posted: 01 Feb 2011 at 10:02am
       
      
        
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 Originally posted by dave
  Sounds like a Trops drysuit. Tropos by Kokatat is good stuff and a great entry level drysuit that will last you for years. Save the money for Gortex later when you know you will be staying in the sport.  
I second what dave said. First off I had no clue they offerd a lower cost suit that still breathes so why spend the big money when your still just getting into the sport. Kokatat makes good sh$t so i wouldnt worry about it tearing on swims. 
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      Posted By: Aquaholic
       
      Date Posted: 01 Feb 2011 at 10:04am
       
      
        
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 Originally posted by jella
  kyle your picture cracks me up!  Me too! 
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      Posted By: warlickone
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 5:37am
       
      
        
          
	
Gore isn't really necessary, the kokatat quality will be there.  Excellent choice.
 
 Even gore dry suits aren't totally dry.  Pretty close.  I get water in under my wrist gaskets and sometimes through the neck gasket, so even if the gore is dry, I can get wet through the gaskets.  But, it's ok.  It's a water sport, right?
 
 Before they made gore dry suits, everyone used coated nylon which didn't breathe at all.  This worked well.  Yours will be better than the best thing available ten years ago.  You'll be fine in it.
 
 Jim
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      Posted By: mokelumnekid
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 10:08am
       
      
        
          
	
I have the Kokatat Tropos 'TMER' drysuit with bootiies and the spray-skirt apron, relief zipper, that I got used (but it was like, barely used, virtually new) for $425., and so far so good. Swam in the Sky in it on a very cold day a few weeks ago and it was great. In fact have done practice swims in it. When I'm done boating, I step out of it with my tuxedo on and walk straight into the casino, just like James Bond!
  Next time I'll get the GoreTex just because, but for my first dry suit, I'm a happy camper , esp at that price-point.  
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      Posted By: Aquaholic
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 8:45pm
       
      
        
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 Originally posted by warlickone
  Gore isn't really necessary, the kokatat quality will be there. Excellent choice. 
  Even gore dry suits aren't totally dry. Pretty close. I get water in under my wrist gaskets and sometimes through the neck gasket, so even if the gore is dry, I can get wet through the gaskets. But, it's ok. It's a water sport, right? 
  Before they made gore dry suits, everyone used coated nylon which didn't breathe at all. This worked well. Yours will be better than the best thing available ten years ago. You'll be fine in it. 
  Jim  I'd recomend going to a smaller gasket size if your taking on water thru the gaskets.
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      Posted By: jzgold
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 9:52pm
       
      
        
          
	
Originally posted by jellaOR you can get a but flap :)  for me, as a woman, I love it!!  and plus if you have to go number 2 you don't have to take off your whole drysuite!  Genius!    
  I've always wanted the butt flap, I wonder if there are any woman's dry suits I could fit into?? 6'1? 
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      Posted By: mokelumnekid
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 9:55pm
       
      
        
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Can ya get a butt flap and a relief zipper? Let er rip baby!
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      Posted By: jella
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 10:19pm
       
      
        
          
	
 
Originally posted by jzgold
Originally posted by jellaOR you can get a but flap :)  for me, as a woman, I love it!!  and plus if you have to go number 2 you don't have to take off your whole drysuite!  Genius!    I've always wanted the butt flap, I wonder if there are any woman's dry suits I could fit into?? 6'1?   
 You have no idea how awesome it is!!!
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      Posted By: jella
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 10:19pm
       
      
        
          
	
and I'm sure you could totally find it!!!!
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      Posted By: jella
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 10:20pm
       
      
        
          
	
Joe who are you?  Do i know you?   
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      Posted By: jella
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 10:22pm
       
      
        
          
	
dude... Dry suite all the way. gortex.... and freaking but flap!
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      Posted By: jella
       
      Date Posted: 02 Feb 2011 at 10:23pm
       
      
        
          
	
hahahaaa!  I'm sure you can get both... Just a little extra money, just like the extra pockets you can get too!  Totally worth it! yeah baby!   
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      Posted By: wylddeuces2
       
      Date Posted: 03 Feb 2011 at 5:50am
       
      
        
          
	
gortex drop seat $840 (thats with 10% off for picking up instead of shipping) 
  http://www.kayakacademy.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?search=action&category=DSW0&keywords=all
 
  ------------- To each their own. If it makes you happy it cant be that bad, im happy for you! For what does matter...is what makes You happy!
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      Posted By: wylddeuces2
       
      Date Posted: 03 Feb 2011 at 5:51am
       
      
        
          
	
they also offer 15% off for accessories.
  ------------- To each their own. If it makes you happy it cant be that bad, im happy for you! For what does matter...is what makes You happy!
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