HOW/KAYAK SHED/NWKA Drysuit fundraiser

Have these been intentionally designed to look as if they came off the deck of the USS Enterprise? 

As a relative noob to the board/the PNW, would you all say that this should be considered essential equipment for anyone heading out in the salt?  I took a few trips out around Commencement Bay last Summer sans drysuit (after several years of going without in coastal CT); however, I feel like I did get a few strange looks for my neighboring boaters.  And, if this is something that I should probably invest in, is this a good price?  In all honesty, it seems a little steep (for a father of three with a wife that pays attention to these types of things)

To buy my size on kayakshed.com (XXL) it would cost me $660 and one of these (with custom graphics) would only cost me $605, so yes, they are a great price.  If I didn't have 2 drysuits already I'd be all over this.

They used to make these in red, but no one would buy them because everyone knows the red guy never makes it back alive!  Just Kidding. 

Wow those logos are awesome!!.  If I didn't have one already, i'd jump on getting one.  You can't really put a price on safety sometimes... Are these Gortex by any chance??

They're a generic version of Gortex. I think Yaktrap had a post a few years ago about the differences. Apparently the difference is notable, but the non-Gortex does breathe somewhat. The Gortex Kokatat drysuits are a significant notch up in price.

I have both the Hydrus and Gore tex suits. I love them both for different reasons. The Gore tex has greater temp range. I wear it from the 20s thru until it's about 70-ish, then I peal and go with something other than a drysuit (if practical). The Hydrus is great for a temp range of mid-30's until about 60-ish. Since it doesn't breath as well it gets too hot and during long days in freezing weather it doesn't move enough moisture away from the skin and I get colder than I would in Gore tex. However the Hydrus is cut with a lot more room for bulking up or just moving around. The Gore tex is cut with a more shall I say "athletic" figure in mind. So it gets a bit constrictive if I've been indulging in my favorite malty beverage a bit too much. It's also a tougher fabric I don't worry much about when I'm doing stupid things like wrapping braid around my arm. Price is also consideration, but cost aside that's my take on the two.

And, if this is something that I should probably invest in, is this a good price?  In all honesty, it seems a little steep (for a father of three with a wife that pays attention to these types of things)

It is worth noting that you are in fact paying a small premium up front for a top brand. However, I have personally never heard anyone say a disparaging word regarding this manufacturer. They take excellent care of you post sale. Warranty, repairs, testing etc. When you purchase a Kokatat product buyers remorse is pretty...pretty low. (That last sentence to be read in Larry David's voice.)

I like the new blue color! Before you burp it you can say "hey look at me, I'm Veruca Salt."

There are other options in wetsuits that cost a bit less, and using a discount coupon, you can find them for a bit less online. 

But I'm happy to pay that little bit more for one of these because it benefits Heroes on the Water.  It's still a great discount price over retail.

1 large in tangerine, please.

There are other options in wetsuits that cost a bit less, and using a discount coupon, you can find them for a bit less online. 

But I'm happy to pay that little bit more for one of these because it benefits Heroes on the Water.  It's still a great discount price over retail.

1 large in tangerine, please.

Thanks for the support guys. I believe last year's benefit helped us purchase two new boats for HOW. The results are this,

Wow those logos are awesome!!.  If I didn't have one already, i'd jump on getting one.  You can't really put a price on safety sometimes... Are these Gortex by any chance??

They're a generic version of Gortex. I think Yaktrap had a post a few years ago about the differences. Apparently the difference is notable, but the non-Gortex does breathe somewhat. The Gortex Kokatat drysuits are a significant notch up in price.

I have both the Hydrus and Gore tex suits. I love them both for different reasons. The Gore tex has greater temp range. I wear it from the 20s thru until it's about 70-ish, then I peal and go with something other than a drysuit (if practical). The Hydrus is great for a temp range of mid-30's until about 60-ish. Since it doesn't breath as well it gets too hot and during long days in freezing weather it doesn't move enough moisture away from the skin and I get colder than I would in Gore tex. However the Hydrus is cut with a lot more room for bulking up or just moving around. The Gore tex is cut with a more shall I say "athletic" figure in mind. So it gets a bit constrictive if I've been indulging in my favorite malty beverage a bit too much. It's also a tougher fabric I don't worry much about when I'm doing stupid things like wrapping braid around my arm. Price is also consideration, but cost aside that's my take on the two.

+1
I have the Hydrus 3L Supernova suit and it is reinforced at the knee and thigh for fishing.  The suit is much more comfortable to wear all day than I had expected.  But when paddling hard (Slayride!) it can get damp inside.  Didn't help that it was raining near horizontal all morning at the '15 Slayride.  Didn't think much of the rain at the time with all the wind...

Some day I'll step up the extra $3-400 or so for a GoreTex suit for colder days.  If I didn't have one of these Angler suits already I'd order one here.

Wow those logos are awesome!!.  If I didn't have one already, i'd jump on getting one.  You can't really put a price on safety sometimes... Are these Gortex by any chance??

They're a generic version of Gortex. I think Yaktrap had a post a few years ago about the differences. Apparently the difference is notable, but the non-Gortex does breathe somewhat. The Gortex Kokatat drysuits are a significant notch up in price.

I have both the Hydrus and Gore tex suits. I love them both for different reasons. The Gore tex has greater temp range. I wear it from the 20s thru until it's about 70-ish, then I peal and go with something other than a drysuit (if practical). The Hydrus is great for a temp range of mid-30's until about 60-ish. Since it doesn't breath as well it gets too hot and during long days in freezing weather it doesn't move enough moisture away from the skin and I get colder than I would in Gore tex. However the Hydrus is cut with a lot more room for bulking up or just moving around. The Gore tex is cut with a more shall I say "athletic" figure in mind. So it gets a bit constrictive if I've been indulging in my favorite malty beverage a bit too much. It's also a tougher fabric I don't worry much about when I'm doing stupid things like wrapping braid around my arm. Price is also consideration, but cost aside that's my take on the two.

+1
I have the Hydrus 3L Supernova suit and it is reinforced at the knee and thigh for fishing.  The suit is much more comfortable to wear all day than I had expected.  But when paddling hard (Slayride!) it can get damp inside.  Didn't help that it was raining near horizontal all morning at the '15 Slayride.  Didn't think much of the rain at the time with all the wind...

Some day I'll step up the extra $3-400 or so for a GoreTex suit for colder days.  If I didn't have one of these Angler suits already I'd order one here.

Yup I totally agree, for anyone looking for a dry suite, this is a great one.  Wearing a dry suite, I sat in the rain for an hour and also took a dive at Hagg Lake; it kept me completely dry. 

I'm thinking of one for spring!

Any idea what the time frame is on this group buy?  Money due date, expected delivery date and the like?

I'm in the market for a drysuit.

Any idea what kind of warranty the suit carries? Additionally, does anyone have experience send these suits to kokatat for patching?
In my recent dealing with kokatat, I was informed that since CA ban'ed aquaseal, the patching service of their none gore tex suits where affected.

That's a good question.  I don't know the answer but I can't think of a reason why they would not have the same lifetime warranty given for any other Hydrus 3L Supernova drysuits.

In your recent dealings with Kokatat, did you ask them how they will honor their warranty in California - because Kokatat would know.

I'm not sure but I believe the Hydrus suits have a limited warranty (2 years) but the GoreTex suits have a lifetime warranty. This doesn't cover everything but as mentioned above most people have had a positive experience with Kokatat's customer service.

http://kokatat.com/warranty-repairs/

I had the wrist gaskets sized up on my wife's suit and the whole experience was fine. Later I had hers sent in to get a hole patched and again it was a good experience. Neither of these were "warranty" repairs, but they did check the suit over and do a pressure test, etc. as part of the service.

I'm not sure but I believe the Hydrus suits have a limited warranty (2 years) but the GoreTex suits have a lifetime warranty.

Direct from Kokata's website -

THE KOKATAT WARRANTY
All Kokatat products are fully guaranteed to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship. Products found to be defective will be repaired or replaced at Kokatat’s option. Repairs due to normal wear and tear, accident, abuse, etc., will be made for a reasonable charge. Latex gaskets are not covered by the Kokatat warranty. There is a 2 year limited warranty on all TROPOS suits.

Tropos is Kokatat's 2-layer fabric. The suits for this are the Hydrus 3L (3-layer) which does carry a lifetime warranty.

Let's be a  little realistic here - it's not you're turning 97 and you got the suit when you were 45 lifetime warranty. You can expect about a 10 year lifetime from the suit.

Thanks for the clarification! I didn't understand the difference between Tropos and Hydrus.

Measuring Instructions....

To figure out which size, I want to take my measurements, and correctly. I see Hips, and Chest, but and it says "widest point". But what if your widest point is your belly/gut ? Is that the chest measurement, the hips measurement, or is it covered under "girth" ?

Thanks, and keep the wise cracks to a minimum, please !