Kokatat Idol Dry Suit

Anyone try these suits and have input?

Did not get positive or negative feedback so I'll give it a trial run. Bought 25% off from Backcountry.  Should be testing it out in a  week for Cook inlet.

I ordered one from Outdoorplay, as BC didn't have any size Large's left.  I plan on posting a thread once I get the suit, as well as some of the other kayak gear I've ordered recently...

Looking forward to the reviews. Considering getting a small drysuit to get my kids out in bigger water.

Just received my Gortex Kokatat Idol Dry Suit a couple of weeks ago. It's been too hot to even try it on.

I'll be curious to see how it works for you.  It's definitely interesting. Love my hydrus 3l angler but it's not gore tex. it's a lot cheaper though.   I'd be curious to the latex neck gasket vs neoprene as well as the ease of the two piece zipping.

Redbeard, how big are your kids? I could only find the supernova youth drysuits. The material seems a lot thinner. Of course by the time it wears out, my kid won't fit in it.

Redbeard, how big are your kids? I could only find the supernova youth drysuits. The material seems a lot thinner. Of course by the time it wears out, my kid won't fit in it.

They're both 11, on the smaller side. I remember Lee had success putting his kid in an adult small; I was thinking about going that direction.

Yup. I have a youth large. Still big for my skinny ten year old son but his head barely fits through the neck gasket.  Adults small is the next step. I have an adult medium I'm going to try and fit my daughter 13 into.

I'll be curious to see how it works for you.  It's definitely interesting. Love my hydrus 3l angler but it's not gore tex. it's a lot cheaper though.   I'd be curious to the latex neck gasket vs neoprene as well as the ease of the two piece zipping.

I'll likely cut out most of the rubber neck gasket for my fat neck.  The neoprene one on the Kokatat Angler has served me well but my feet get cold in the winter.  I've tried everything from wool socks to gators underneath.  Even Hand Warmers on occasion.  SOT fishing keeps my feet exposed.

[/quote]
I'll likely cut out most of the rubber neck gasket for my fat neck.  The neoprene one on the Kokatat Angler has served me well but my feet get cold in the winter.  I've tried everything from wool socks to gators underneath.  Even Hand Warmers on occasion.  SOT fishing keeps my feet exposed.
[/quote]

  Brad --- --- I too hate cold feet. And I have some sciatic issues that keep my feet old all the time . So I got some NRS Boundary booties that show a lot of promise. 5mm thick with decent support--- so far I like 'em.
http://www.nrs.com/product/2308/nrs-boundary-shoe

 You might want to give them a try.

  Mark
 

I'll likely cut out most of the rubber neck gasket for my fat neck.  The neoprene one on the Kokatat Angler has served me well but my feet get cold in the winter.  I've tried everything from wool socks to gators underneath.  Even Hand Warmers on occasion.  SOT fishing keeps my feet exposed.
[/quote]

Stop yer whining. I keep offering to build you that custom SINK with internal foot warmer and you keep saying no.

I'll likely cut out most of the rubber neck gasket for my fat neck.  The neoprene one on the Kokatat Angler has served me well but my feet get cold in the winter.  I've tried everything from wool socks to gators underneath.  Even Hand Warmers on occasion.  SOT fishing keeps my feet exposed.

Stop yer whining. I keep offering to build you that custom SINK with internal foot warmer and you keep saying no.
[/quote]

No, you said you wanted to put my feet "between two pillows".  Not interested.

I've got a Kokatat suit  and you'll have to cut the neck gasket and perhaps the sleeve gaskets also. It's easy if you use a plastic jug that approximates you neck size.  I sliced about an inch off with a razor knife going around a handy depression in the plastic jug.  The wrists are often too tight also and should be addressed or you'll find the blood has been cut off to your hands.  There are newer, front entry suits that provide easier entry but with the back entry you are putting your vulnerability behind you.  They can be a pain but as I recently found out when I pearled my Yak while surfing it in at South Beach, you don't want water getting into your suit while you're getting tumbled in the surf.  It was a great test for my first sea trial and I wanted to put myself and my Hobie through some take off and landings.  The only other possible answer for ocean fishing would be wearing my 4/3 wet suit or 5/4 which I wear while Stand Up Paddle surfing.
Ona Snow

Suit is prepared and ready to go. Worked zipper lube in and worked the zipper a few times. Stiff but we'll functioning. Placed a Tuberwear bowl in the neck gasket to stretch for a few days. Will invest in a new pair if neoprene socks and be on the water September 10th for a full trial.

Here's my breakdown.  It took a while, even with a liberal zipper lube coating for the waist zipper to not require a heavy effort. It took 3 days of stretching the neck to make the latex gasket comfortable to wear. The only negative was wet waistline on self rescue procedure. I will attempt again with heavy zipper wax worked into the zipper as a seal.