Cold weather/water proof Clothing

I'm looking to invest in some cold weather/water proof apparel. Since most of you have been in the weather for some time, I'm looking for some advice for some clothing, waders, wet suit, etc. I want to be able to stay comfy and not all bulked up. Not looking to spend a fortune, but want it to do the job, say $200 if it's possible. Thanks for any advice.

Do you currently have any immersion gear?  I'll assume you're starting from scratch.

Up your budget to around $400-600 and you'll be getting into decent new gear.  $200 will be really hard to get by on unless you go used, and even then it'll be tough.

Most people here are using drysuits.  The most popular around here (and is what I have) is the Kokatat SuperNova Angler suit (though I think that's been superceded by a newer model ??).  That'll run you $480 with good shopping around.  If it is an obsolete model you might get lucky and get one on clearance for $350. 

You can probably save quite a bit with a wetsuit instead of a drysuit, but when it gets windy those get cold, quickly.  Wind breaker type gear over the top helps, but I went with the drysuit largly because of that.

Bottom line.  You are dressing for immersion, and that is life-saving gear.  How much is your life worth?

You could probably find waders and a dry top for around 200, that would be a pretty solid set of immersion gear.

Drysuits are pretty sweet but much more expensive. One of the best features of dry suits with relief zippers is being able to easily "relieve" oneself without taking off any layers. You do have to remember to close it though 

I totally agree with Micah.  I started off with waders... I will even admit - to my shame - that I made a go with no drytop.  I figured just my waders, my rain jacket and a snug pfd would do it... it is actually a great way to die.  Anyway, I paid a lot of extra money for my drysuit with a relief zipper so I could make a yellow rainbow from my kayak without having to go to shore.  Worth Every Penny!!!

I bought breathable waders (Froggtogg) on sale for $49 and a Goretex drytop (OS Systems) for $149. A pair of neoprene booties is another $40, and polypro / fleece / wool insulation layers will run $40 - $140 depending on how much you need. I had to outfit two people when I started, so I know how it adds up.

I've done the waders/splash top set up to this point and it has worked okay...I've been in the water plenty and it kept me pretty dry, but I never fully trusted the set up (especially in fast moving water).

I just purchased a Kokatat semi-drysuit and so far I love it.  The relief zipper is one of the best damn things ever invented; that aside, it also give me piece of mind and that is worth the extra $.  My waders and splash top set up cost between $200-$300 and the drysuit cost $500 from NSR, just FYI.  Also, I've heard a lot of good things about Kokatat customer service for suit repair and maintenance and that is worth a lot IMO.  Here's a link:

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=22532&pdeptid=1909

My personal opinion only. Waders are not a solution without a top that seals. To test my theory wear cold weather gear you'd use with your waders. Then jump in the shower and get drenched. Feel the weight. The weight will severely impact your ability to re enter your kayak. You won't sink even if your waders fill up with a pfd.  But pulling yourself up onto anything will be nearly impossible. I got on dry land and couldn't even hardly stand up. 

Watch the videos on YouTube when you search "kayak wader myth".   Haven't looked at all of them but I don't see any where someone re-enters a kayak after soaking a winter compatible jacket soaked in water or waders filled with water.  Personally I think you'd need to be Hercules. Even if you could get back on. I hope you weren't pushing the weight capacity because you are going to way a LOT more.

I know plenty of folks do it.  I don't think I ever will unless I can fish in shorts and a t shirt. 




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I've watched those videos where the full up the waders with water and I spent alot of time thinking about it. I think what you'd have to do is unclip the suspenders and let them droop to your waist and then perhaps you could get back in the yak.

The kokatat paddling bibs are basicly waders and you can get them with seen in socks and they mate to a dry top and reviews of the system are extremely good regarding swimming short distances and not allowing water in.

In the end though, instead of a coat and bibs, I got the angler dry suit for only one reason. The cordura reinforced lap to keep from getting tiny holes from hooks and the like. The advantages, from my view, is the ability to change your layering if you get too hot or cold with the bib/dry top combo.

In my case, I got lucky and was able to return my used once coat for a full refund. Just couldn't look past the non reinforced lap, and kokatat wasn't able to produce a pair with one...

I just watched a few of those wader myth videos. It's pretty interesting stuff. It appears that you would be reasonably safe with a dry top paired with neoprene waders and a belt. The video I watched the guy demonstrates neoprene vs pvc waders. I would not advise pvc...there is no flotation. The neoprene does seem to float better obviously and the belt does seem to allow less water to enter the neos. He wasn't trying to re enter a kayak though. He was just wading out from the shore. So I don't know, I'm torn. I could go the less expensive route and get some neo waders and a dry top...but then that brings up the question "Why put a price on your safety, blahblahblah."

The dry tops are designed to "connect" to dry pants (or the kokatat bibs).  They form a fairly water tight seal from what I have learned from research. The dry top  and neoprene waders won't seal the same and therefore, I would expect to leak.  Perhaps not excessively, but more than a dry top/dry bottom combination.

My long talk with a guy who does guided stuff out of Seward was good and his figuring between waders and complete suit was if you are concerned with coming off your yak.  I have an adventure island.  With the full trimiran setup, I have not yet found a situation where I was remotely concerned.  But as my previous post, I switched to an angler dry suit due to durability concerns as I tend to be a little... Well... Clumbsy.

I am terribly clumsy. I accept my inevitable entrance into the sea. I am really looking into getting a Kokatat or something similar...but the temptation of going the cheap route is hard to resist....but I like living and being dry sounds awesome too.

Yea, for me it was the realization I had dropped 325.00 on a coat and quality waders were gonna push it well over 550.00 and I could get the kokatat angler suit for 500.00

I don't want to make a too big a deal of this one point, but no immersion system is foolproof. Just after I joined this forum, one experienced member huli'd at Hobuk, and found out that he had left his relief zipper unzipped. Cut to the chase - after a near tragic experience, he came home and promptly sold every piece of kayak fishing gear he owned.

I am not trying to make any point here other than there are many aspects to being safe out there on the water.

I don't want to make a too big a deal of this one point, but no immersion system is foolproof. Just after I joined this forum, one experienced member huli'd at Hobuk, and found out that he had left his relief zipper unzipped. Cut to the chase - after a near tragic experience, he came home and promptly sold every piece of kayak fishing gear he owned.

I am not trying to make any point here other than there are many aspects to being safe out there on the water.

I will say it took me a few weeks after my incident to re-evaluate and look things over.  My incident wasn't that scary, but when I transposed the same huli to some of my more remote locations with swifter current, in winter....well it could have been ugly.

Not only did I purchase a semi-drysuit, but I made the hoops to help re-enter.  I chose to learn from my mistakes but I will say it made me think for a long time how safe is this kayak angling thing?  Once I considered everything, I realized this is a perfectly safe sport if you follow the basic safety requirements.

I know Alaska is different but after my experience, I try to always promote the use of a drysuit or semi drysuit.  It can get crazy hot in the summer, but I am ALWAYS surprised at how fast you cool off when you jump in the water.  Then I think...hmmm, dress for immersion? I don't have enough on..."

Yea, I am sure I'll start saving for the goretex paddling pants and dry coat for when it's nice in Alaska during the summer... If I had to pick one tho I think the semi dry suit is the way to go.