Re-thinking my yak attire...

Ok so you all have me interested in this whole dry suit thing and want to know more about it like how difficult are they to put on/take off?  Are they like waders in the sense that you need a type of shoe or are they build in?  I hear he brand Kokatat a lot on here so that's where I've been looking and like what I'm seeing but am not sure whether to do a full on dry suit or dry pants with a waterproof coat, now I realize everyone will have their own preference but for me it would be something I'd normally only use out on the sound or larger lakes or as a means to keep warm in winter.  Looking around on Kokatat's site I liked the Hydrus 3L SuperNova Angler Paddling Suit for a whole suit but also saw and liked the Hydrus 3L Tempest Pants with socks... now I will admit that I was a skeptic of this whole dry suit thing at first but then after thinking about it and having had a couple pucker moments in various situations last year got me thinking about it so I wanted to ask people who have used them for their opinions...

I love my Kokatak Supernova semi drysuit. The neoprene gasket is the only way to go.  I can't even imagine wearing a latex gasket on my neck knowing what it does to my wrists.  My semi drysuit is comfortable enough that I wear as my rain gear/waders on ultra bad days when I am on the bank,  powerboat or even ice fishing. 

I own the Kokatat 3L Angler dry suit. I had to stretch the neoprene gasket for my thick neck.  They don't take long to break in.  Coming from someone who has braved the waters in tight fitting waders when it got cold, I wonder how I ever lived with out it.  Now I wonder if I would have lived had I fallen in with the waders.  Well worth the investment.  I'd suggest you get sized for one at Kayak Academy in Issaquah.  They can rent you one for the day for around $25.  Take it out fishing on Lake Sammamish and see what you think.

If you intend to do any kayak fishing in cold weather and/or cold water conditions, you want a full dry suit.  It will greatly increase your comfort and safety.  You can stay warm and dry in cold rainy weather, and if you go into the water in a full dry suit, you will stay warm and dry and will float like a cork.  Get a dry suit which is big enough so you can layer up lots and lots of clothing underneath it, so you can comfortably fish in cold weather; don't go for a stylish tight-fitting look.  Get one with built in dry socks; you can layer up polypro or wool socks under the dry socks, and your feet will stay warm and dry.  Dry socks are way better than ankle gaskets; once you have tried dry socks, you'll never buy a dry suit with ankle gaskets.  However, if you end up with a dry suit with ankle gaskets, you can get almost the same effect by wearing a pair of SealSkins waterproof socks under the ankle gaskets, with polypro or wool socks under the SealSkins.  You wear loose wet suit booties over the dry suit's dry socks to protect the dry socks.  Get the booties big enough so they won't be tight when you layer up a couple pairs of socks under the dry socks.  Get a front entry dry suit; rear entry dry suits are a major pain in the ass.  Get a dry suit with a pee zipper, so you can take a wizz while out on the water; they are absolutely worth the extra money, and you will regret it if you don't get one.  For information about how to pee while out on the water, see http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=11636.0 . Breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex is more expensive than non-breathable fabric, but is definitely worth the money, as you will get almost no condensation inside a breathable dry suit, even in cold damp weather.

If your neck gasket is so tight when you first buy your dry suit that your face turns red and your voice gets squeaky, you can stretch it out by putting a big can or bottle inside it overnight.  But don't stretch out the neck gasket too much; it will relax over time, and you don't want it to end up being floppy, as water can squirt inside a loose neck gasket if you get hit with big waves, such as when going in and out through surf. 

I often use a two piece dry suit (a dry top worn over dry pants) when whitewater kayaking, even when on multi-day river trips.  However, I am an experienced whitewater kayaker, and there is little chance I will take a swim while whitewater kayaking.  A dry top worn over dry pants or waders will protect you fine from rain and getting splashed, but it will not be waterproof if you take a swim.  So if there is a possiblity that you could end up in the water, I don't recommend using a two piece dry suit for kayak fishing.  On the other hand, a two piece dry suit will be dryer and safer than a pair of waders with a belt.

Latex gaskets are very waterproof.  I have always used latex gaskets on my dry suits, because I use my drysuits for whitewater kayaking and for snorkeling while speargunning for pike.  I don't want water to squirt in under my neck or wrist gaskets.  I have little experience with neoprene gaskets.  Talk to people who have used neoprene gaskets about how well they work if you end up swimming.  Latex neck gaskets deteriorate over time as a result of UV light, greasy skin, suntan lotion, etc., and they will eventually split and need to be replaced.  I've replaced many latex neck gaskets in 25 years of using dry suits, but have never had to replace a latex wrist gasket.  Neoprene neck gaskets appear to last longer than latex neck gaskets, but in my limited experience, neoprene neck gaskets don't keep you as dry as latex neck gaskets.

There are some less tangible benefits to using a good drysuit: 
- It doesn't matter what the weather is doing.  You are dry start to finish without any worry about cutting your day short due to leakage.
- It doesn't matter if you fall in so you never think about it. This frees your mind to focus on catching fish.
- There's only one piece to worry about.  It's big, it's bright, and you won't forget it on an early morning trip.
- You can layer as much or as little as you need to stay comfortable.
- It's much easier to take a leak when you have a relief zipper.  I have yet to find waders with a relief zipper.

I LOVE my Supernova Angler!  You can wear it with wading boots, sandals or booties.  Just make sure your footwear is large enough to allow for proper layering without constriction.  Tight shoes make for cold feet.

-Spot- 

I'd suggest you get sized for one at Kayak Academy in Issaquah.  They can rent you one for the day for around $25.  Take it out fishing on Lake Sammamish and see what you think.

Both good ideas!  I didn't know you could rent them anywhere... and it would give me a good excuse to go fish on Sammamish

They are pretty easy to take on/off once you get it figured out.

Get one, you will not regret it.  After you have one, you'll wonder WTF you were thinking not having one.  I know I do.

I have had my bomber gear hydro bomb for almost  2 seasons and its a less expensive full drysuit. I love it  no matter what you decide, a drysuit is a must and you will not regret your purchase


-Rodney-

Also, since Gore Tex's patent expired in 2007, there's a lot of newer fabrics on the market that cost a whole lot less. Check out Stohlquist's line as well. In addition to the EZ, AMP and Elvis suit, Stohlquist is about to release the new super breathable "Swift Suit" for just over $900

http://www.stohlquist.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107&Itemid=20

There are some less tangible benefits to using a good drysuit: 
- It doesn't matter what the weather is doing.  You are dry start to finish without any worry about cutting your day short due to leakage.
- It doesn't matter if you fall in so you never think about it. This frees your mind to focus on catching fish.
- There's only one piece to worry about.  It's big, it's bright, and you won't forget it on an early morning trip.
- You can layer as much or as little as you need to stay comfortable.
- It's much easier to take a leak when you have a relief zipper.  I have yet to find waders with a relief zipper.

I LOVE my Supernova Angler!  You can wear it with wading boots, sandals or booties.  Just make sure your footwear is large enough to allow for proper layering without constriction.  Tight shoes make for cold feet.

-Spot-

x2   I also love my Supernova 3L with relief zipper!  really great to jump into the water with it on and not get hit by the cold water...

they are great at keeping rain out!  I just layer under them for temperature and ignore the rain and wind. 

I did get too hot a couple times pedaling hard in sunny 70F weather, a few times I just unzipped across my chest and vented for a few minutes while resting at the river bank....I was also able to remove an upper layer while on my kayak by unzipping, pulling my head and arms out, removed a long sleeve pullover leaving just my thin base t-shirt, and then back into the arms/head, zip up and back to fishing.   cheers, roger

Jammer, ya beat me to it.

and yeah don't forget to get it large enough to wear a good layering system underneath. otherwise, when you do go in, hypothermia wins anyway.

For those of you that currently own the Kokatat 3L Angler dry suit, I am currently looking at purchasing this dry suit. Have anyone that currently own the Kokatat 3L Angler dry suit has the neoprene neck collar been an issue as far as you getting wet when getting dumped in the surf. So far I have remained vertical when going through the surf but I know it will be just a matter of time. This has been a very timely topic. I just love this forum .......

I own the Kokatat 3L Angler dry suit.  Granted, I haven't gone overboard in my PA but I fish in the elements this time of year and have remained bone dry.  The neoprene neck is super comfortable.  I've never owned a rubber gasket dry suit but I'm told by white water paddle folks that the neoprene does a great job at keeping you dry and comfortable.

For those of you that currently own the Kokatat 3L Angler dry suit, I am currently looking at purchasing this dry suit. Have anyone that currently own the Kokatat 3L Angler dry suit has the neoprene neck collar been an issue as far as you getting wet when getting dumped in the surf. So far I have remained vertical when going through the surf but I know it will be just a matter of time. This has been a very timely topic. I just love this forum .......

Going out, no.  Coming back in, you can get water down the back of your neck if you spill and don't dismount at a good angle.

That said, I would not recommend a latex gasket just to avoid a few ounces of water at the end of your day.

For those of you that currently own the Kokatat 3L Angler dry suit, I am currently looking at purchasing this dry suit. Have anyone that currently own the Kokatat 3L Angler dry suit has the neoprene neck collar been an issue as far as you getting wet when getting dumped in the surf. So far I have remained vertical when going through the surf but I know it will be just a matter of time. This has been a very timely topic. I just love this forum .......

Going out, no.  Coming back in, you can get water down the back of your neck if you spill and don't dismount at a good angle.

That said, I would not recommend a latex gasket just to avoid a few ounces of water at the end of your day.

Just for grins, I put mine to the test on a warm day by snorkeling for about 20min.  I did get about a cup or so of water into the suit thru the neck.  It seemed like 90 percent was from the initial burp.  Once it had vac packed onto me I didn't notice any additional leakage.

These suits have a Velcro tensioner on the neck seal.  I usually tighten this down in riskier situations and loosen it back up for general fishing.

-Spot-