Kokatat is AWESOME!

While laundering my dry suit this winter, I noticed that the inside liner seemed to be tearing.  I contacted Kokatat, they issued me an RA number and told me to send it in for evaluation; if it was a warranty issue then the repairs would be free, otherwise it was $20 + shipping to have it patched.  I just heard back from them:

"
...
We found a warranty issue with your suit.  The suit has delamination occurring in the lower half of the suit.  This qualifies you for a warranty replacement which means we are going to give you a new suit to replace yours. 

Before I can do that I just need:

1. A choice of what suit/size/color.  It is possible to upgrade but the difference would have to be paid.

2. Address verification.

3. What percentage of the time do you use the suit in salt water?

4. What percentage of the time do you use the suit in fresh water?

5. How often to you launder your suit per month?


You can call in this info or reply by email.  Let me know if you have any questions.
...
"

So...I'm getting a brand new suit.  Seriously, these guys are awesome! 

Same thing happened to me with a dry top about 5 years ago, I beat it to pieces and they gave me a new one. Now I'm a regional ambassador with Kokatat. I've learned a lot about their products but the one thing that still impresses me the most is how they stand behind every stitch of what they make. Wouldn't it be a great world if every company did this.

Always good to see that kind of stuff!  Nice!

I've learned a lot about their products but the one thing that still impresses me the most is how they stand behind every stitch of what they make. Wouldn't it be a great world if every company did this.

Amen Brother!

I sent mine in recently too for general servicing (and it seems the feet have some pinholes or something).  Haven't heard back from them on it yet, so I'm hoping they either fix it or treat me similarly if there's a delam.

I sent mine in recently too for general servicing (and it seems the feet have some pinholes or something).  Haven't heard back from them on it yet, so I'm hoping they either fix it or treat me similarly if there's a delam.

Not sure when you sent it in, but when I did they said it was a two week lead time.

That's what they told me too.  I think it was supposed to have arrived there 2/23 (have to double check tracking to be sure) so I figure I should hear by the end of this week.  If I haven't heard back by the beginning of next week I'll call them.

Main thing is I just want the suit back in time to hit the coast for lings the weekend of March 21.

I sent my suit in a few weeks ago to get checked out and they called me yesterday to ask if I wanted it shipped back. They were unable to repair the suit. The zippers failed the pressure test and aren't covered under warranty (tropos supernova angler suit). I'm bummed, I've heard all the great feedback about their warranty and it turns out they can't help me. This isn't the news I expected to get back from kokatat.

I'm not sure how the material around the zippers started to break down, or how I could have prevented that. I always hung it up after use and it never stayed exposed to the sun.

Launder your suit?  Does that entail more than occasionally rinsing it out with soapy water and hanging it upside down to dry?

Launder your suit?  Does that entail more than occasionally rinsing it out with soapy water and hanging it upside down to dry?

I always washed my suit and hung it up. I never could get the smell of sturgeon slime out of it. I usually hosed it off after use and hung it up to dry.
Aside from the wrist gaskets blowing out, I feel like the suit should have lasted longer than a few years.

Launder your suit?  Does that entail more than occasionally rinsing it out with soapy water and hanging it upside down to dry?

I always washed my suit and hung it up. I never could get the smell of sturgeon slime out of it. I usually hosed it off after use and hung it up to dry.
Aside from the wrist gaskets blowing out, I feel like the suit should have lasted longer than a few years.

That's a stone cold bummer. You fish a lot more than I do so I can't compare usage/lifespan. Can you go into more detail about what is failing on your suit? I'm just curious so that I can try to figure out a way to avoid similar issues. I just re-lubed my zippers for the first time since I bought it and I'm really glad I did - much easier to operate now (I used the silicone-based lube provided with the suit).

Launder your suit?  Does that entail more than occasionally rinsing it out with soapy water and hanging it upside down to dry?

I always washed my suit and hung it up. I never could get the smell of sturgeon slime out of it. I usually hosed it off after use and hung it up to dry.
Aside from the wrist gaskets blowing out, I feel like the suit should have lasted longer than a few years.

I have given my Kokatat dry suit a a good solid clean at least twice a year.  However, I always fresh rinse and hang/blow dry after every salt trip.

What I have found to really clean the stink and slime off is to pour several buckets of the hottest water your tap can produce into a cooler.  Then mix in a few caps of non detergent soap (Nikwax is good stuff).  Open all the zippers and thoroughly dunk the suit in the hot soapy water and burp as much air out of the interior as possible.  I then add a layer of Reflectix insulation over the water and press it down with a bucket and close the lid on the bucket.  About every hour or so, I would open up the cooler and scrub on the stained areas with a soft bristle brush and then put it all back under water.  Do this for about 6 hours.  I have even left it over night in the cooler (forgot about it) and was shocked to find the water still very warm in the morning.  That warm/hot water really helps break down and loosen the nasties. 

Drain and thorough rinse a few times to get all the soap off.  It will SHOCK you how nasty the water is before the first rinse. 
Then hang the suit up on my "Hangair" dry suit hanger that has a waterproof fan in it.  I also put a clip on vehicle air vent air freshener below the fan.  This blows a nice scent inside the suit as it drys. Nothing like "New Car" smell in your dry suit.   

This last cleaning I did, I retreated it with the Nikwax DWR (Durable Water Repellent).  Other than a few stubborn Kraken spit stains here and there, my suit works and smells like new after two years.  And water beads off it like new again. 

Launder your suit?  Does that entail more than occasionally rinsing it out with soapy water and hanging it upside down to dry?

I always washed my suit and hung it up. I never could get the smell of sturgeon slime out of it. I usually hosed it off after use and hung it up to dry.
Aside from the wrist gaskets blowing out, I feel like the suit should have lasted longer than a few years.

I have given my Kokatat dry suit a a good solid clean at least twice a year.  However, I always fresh rinse and hang/blow dry after every salt trip.

What I have found to really clean the stink and slime off is to pour several buckets of the hottest water your tap can produce into a cooler.  Then mix in a few caps of non detergent soap (Nikwax is good stuff).  Open all the zippers and thoroughly dunk the suit in the hot soapy water and burp as much air out of the interior as possible.  I then add a layer of Reflectix insulation over the water and press it down with a bucket and close the lid on the bucket.  About every hour or so, I would open up the cooler and scrub on the stained areas with a soft bristle brush and then put it all back under water.  Do this for about 6 hours.  I have even left it over night in the cooler (forgot about it) and was shocked to find the water still very warm in the morning.  That warm/hot water really helps break down and loosen the nasties. 

Drain and thorough rinse a few times to get all the soap off.  It will SHOCK you how nasty the water is before the first rinse. 
Then hang the suit up on my "Hangair" dry suit hanger that has a waterproof fan in it.  I also put a clip on vehicle air vent air freshener below the fan.  This blows a nice scent inside the suit as it drys. Nothing like "New Car" smell in your dry suit.   

This last cleaning I did, I retreated it with the Nikwax DWR (Durable Water Repellent).  Other than a few stubborn Kraken spit stains here and there, my suit works and smells like new after two years.  And water beads off it like new again.

For fish and other gross smells, just do a 10 minute rinse with an enzyme-based wetsuit/drysuit cleaner. It works really well and is easy and fast. I use MiraZyme, but there are others too. Has gotten the lingcod puke smell out of my wetsuit and my drysuit.

Launder your suit?  Does that entail more than occasionally rinsing it out with soapy water and hanging it upside down to dry?

I always washed my suit and hung it up. I never could get the smell of sturgeon slime out of it. I usually hosed it off after use and hung it up to dry.
Aside from the wrist gaskets blowing out, I feel like the suit should have lasted longer than a few years.

That's a stone cold bummer. You fish a lot more than I do so I can't compare usage/lifespan. Can you go into more detail about what is failing on your suit? I'm just curious so that I can try to figure out a way to avoid similar issues. I just re-lubed my zippers for the first time since I bought it and I'm really glad I did - much easier to operate now (I used the silicone-based lube provided with the suit).

I found that the silicone based lube that comes with suits works, but not for much more than one or two salt trips with a rinse after.  What I have reverted to is a carrying an extremely cheap Tea Lite candle with me in the chest pocket.  Just pull the candle out of the metal base and toss the wick first.  Then just close the zipper, and run the candle up one side and down the other.  After that, just open and close the zipper a few times and all is good.  Makes the zipper a breeze to work, and wax is water proof and has to wear off, not wash off.  Also does not attract sand.

I sent my suit in a few weeks ago to get checked out and they called me yesterday to ask if I wanted it shipped back. They were unable to repair the suit. The zippers failed the pressure test and aren't covered under warranty (tropos supernova angler suit). I'm bummed, I've heard all the great feedback about their warranty and it turns out they can't help me. This isn't the news I expected to get back from kokatat.

I'm not sure how the material around the zippers started to break down, or how I could have prevented that. I always hung it up after use and it never stayed exposed to the sun.

How long have you owned the suit? The supernova angler doesn't come with a lifetime warranty like the hydrus 3l angler does.  I'd be surprised if they didn't offer a new suit at a discounted price.

Also from another post I don't think using hot hot water to wash would be a great idea. It would probly promote delamination. Per kokatat instructions it is OK to wash in the washing machine but I only on the gentle cycle.