Dry suit vs. Dry Bib and dry top combo?

Looking to get cold water/weather gear. Specifically looking at either the Kokatat Hydrus Supernova Angler dry suit or getting NRS Sidewinder Bibs with an NRS Orion top. Most of my usage will be on the Columbia, and other lakes. With a possible trip to the ocean, but probably not too often. Suggestions? I have read most of the comments regarding suggestions on the Kokatat dry suits, and I am pretty sold on them if that is the way to go. But I do like the idea of wearing only Bibs in warmer weather, or to use for wading. Just might get more use out of the Bib and Jacket combo. As opposed to a one suit fits all strategy.

You know, we talk about this all the time.  It's the water you have to worry about, not the air temperature, and for cold water, one piece suits, whether a dry suit or wet suit, are generally considered the safest cold water immersion gear.

But if you look at the rules for safety equipment posted for the 2016 ORC, (http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=17857.0) there are options, and waders plus a well-fitted dry top were considered safe enough - and that's the closest comparison to the Sidewinder/Orion combo you're considering.

But really, you could get a Supernova AND buy a pair of good waders for about the same price you'd pay for the NRS gear (Redington Sonic Pro waders are on sale at Sierra Trading Post for $150 right now) and not have to wear your $500 "waders" into a rocky creek.   

I personally would be nervous with a two piece.  When you go over you can't just stand up.  All the work to right the yak and climb back in seems like it would break a seal somewhere and open the flood gates.

Does anyone have experience swimming in a bottom top combo?

I have a pair of Hydrus drypants, not bibs, that I wear in mild weather/mild water for kayaking, when it isn't warm enough to quickly dry you off and I don't want to spend the day with wet feet from launching. (Think Hagg lake in June. July-Sept is warm enough that it's a shorts and sandals deal. Happy to get wet on the way in/out and your feet dry in minutes.)

I do NOT consider it immersion wear, so it's strictly a lake/pond/small water deal.  I'll probably wear them at Coffenberry later this month even though temps will be lower, simply because it's a very small body of water and lots of people will be around.

I have worn them for wading. But bibs would be better in case you take a step into a hole that is deeper than your eyes told you. As waders, I DO prefer them over my waders since I find it easier/more comfortable to wear warm thick socks under a dry sock than deal with imperfect fitting neoprene booties. I also wear them on boat trips where I may need to step into the water as part of launching/loading a drift boat, etc. and also you don't need a relief zipper.

So yeah, if you wanna get them as waders because they are a drysock wader instead of neoprene, go for it. I would recommend a wading belt anyway, as you can cinch it tighter than the velcro tabs. Just know that at 5 bills, you could have gotten the kokotat or other  drysuit and it doesn't really solve your big water immersion gear problem, and you're still needing to spend a chunk of dough on the dry top itself.

It looks cheaper, but it isn't, really.

Looking to get cold water/weather gear. Specifically looking at either the Kokatat Hydrus Supernova Angler dry suit or getting NRS Sidewinder Bibs with an NRS Orion top. Most of my usage will be on the Columbia, and other lakes. With a possible trip to the ocean, but probably not too often. Suggestions? I have read most of the comments regarding suggestions on the Kokatat dry suits, and I am pretty sold on them if that is the way to go. But I do like the idea of wearing only Bibs in warmer weather, or to use for wading. Just might get more use out of the Bib and Jacket combo. As opposed to a one suit fits all strategy.

I fished all day in the rain yesterday, and my NRS drysuit soaked through, not a lot but it did. My legs got a little wet. When I can justify spending money I'll be switching to a Koatat!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have gone swimming in a wader/drytop combo. Both for practice and by accident in the ocean. You will get very wet inside if you fully turtle the boat. Not to the point of sinking especially if your pfd is on. I was in 68 degree water with 70ish degree air temp. and it wasn't a fun paddle home. In 40ish degree water and air you would be in trouble with the several mile paddle I had. The hydrus will keep you almost entirely dry through several surf crashes in a row(testing my thresher on a 4-5foot surf day) I haven't tested the hydrus in a real situation though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I started out with cheap breathable waders and quality NRS drytop.   This combo is still my backup if my Kokatat suit is off getting holes patched, or if I tear a gasket.  I used a waist belt on the waders, and another to clamp the drytop to the waders. 

Once upon a time I was dumped from my kayak while coming back to shore at PC from a rogue wave.  My kayak made it to shore without me as I floundered around in the ocean trying to swim it in.  Several more waves broke over my head as this was going on, but in the end I was hardly wet inside my gear.  I've been wetter just from sweat. 

Now, keep in mind that my results may have been different had I been skinny.  Having a bit of a soft pudgy center allows for the two waste belts to seal better. 

Really the main reason I switched to full drysuit was to have the option to pee while on the water with a relief zipper.

Peeing is an important advantage.  Unless the waders had a relief zipper, I would not even consider them an option.  But, I am getting old (thankfully) and I am pretty sure the first thing that wrinkles up and shrinks with age is the bladder. 

My two on the water options for fishing are:

drysuit - ocean, Columbia River, and Tillamook Bay.  Why, the water is cold and in these locations I am a long way from shore. Also, any winter fishing, fishing in the rain, or the Willamette Springer fishing if it is cold. 

Convertible quick drying pants: https://www.amazon.com/White-Sierra-32-Inch-Inseam-Convertible/dp/B005H848NA When it is warm on the Willamette, certain spots on the Columbia (non-B10) in the summer and early fall, Nehalem Bay when the weather is nice (I am never too far from shore, and it is warm when I fish there).

When wearing these, I am usually wearing sandals or water shoes and I wade in with them on. They are usually dry within 10 minutes (or less) of getting on the kayak. You do need to be careful. When you swing your legs in they scoop up water which will, if not allowed to drain, immediately flow due south to the nether regions giving you a little shocking surprise if you pedal your yak.

In the summer, you can keep wetting them (with water from whatever water body you are in, not the alternative) and this helps keep the sun off an keep you cool.

I personally would be nervous with a two piece.  When you go over you can't just stand up.  All the work to right the yak and climb back in seems like it would break a seal somewhere and open the flood gates.

Does anyone have experience swimming in a bottom top combo?

Just about every whitewater kayaker...  They were meant for short immersions, where you'll be out of the water quickly, but they may have been improved since way back then.

I fished all day in the rain yesterday, and my NRS drysuit soaked through, not a lot but it did. My legs got a little wet. When I can justify spending money I'll be switching to a Koatat!

And this may be the most important comment.  If water can soak through NRS fabric technology, you may as well wear your 501's...

Your choices add up to nearly $800.  You can get a Kokatat Hydrus 3L Supernova Angler's suit for less than that and be much more safe in the waters you plan to target.  Shoot, for that kind of cash, you can get the new Kokatat Gore-Tex Supernova Angler's dry suit, which I would get if my Hydrus version were more than a year old...

Convertible quick drying pants: https://www.amazon.com/White-Sierra-32-Inch-Inseam-Convertible/dp/B005H848NA When it is warm on the Willamette, certain spots on the Columbia (non-B10) in the summer and early fall, Nehalem Bay when the weather is nice (I am never too far from shore, and it is warm when I fish there).

When wearing these, I am usually wearing sandals or water shoes and I wade in with them on. They are usually dry within 10 minutes (or less) of getting on the kayak. You do need to be careful. When you swing your legs in they scoop up water which will, if not allowed to drain, immediately flow due south to the nether regions giving you a little shocking surprise if you pedal your yak.

   Velcro straps or rubber bands around the ankle will eliminate the scoop affect.  Then once in your yak, you can remove the "clamp" and get on with your day. 

I'm moving to Olympia, Washington from California in 2018 and want to kayak fish the Columbia for salmon.  Is this new Kokatat offering the best "buy it once and be done with it" choice?  It's the goretex version.  MSRP $829. https://kokatat.com/product/supernova-angler-dsugsa    Also, Rawkfish likes Next Adventure in Portland (nothing against that) but is there a quality "one stop shop" closer to Olympia to get Hobie kayak, trailer, accessories, PFD, and clothing?  I'm collecting knowlegable recommendations so I can just go into the shop and hand them my list. 

Thanks for the great info! What got me interested in this idea was a video I came across:



This got me interested in the versatility of a bib and jacket combo. Also, having an item with a hood seemed like a nice feature in the rain...however some would argue that it is a risk for getting hung up on things. After looking again at the NRS bibs, they don't feature a tunnel like Kokatat bibs do, to get a good seal between the jacket and bibs. But from what most are saying here, is that keeping it simple adds to versatility, safety, and dryness by going with a dry suit.

I do believe both the Kokatat bibs and NRS bibs have relief zippers. As far as cost, that was another issue I was looking at. But in the aspect also that if I did buy a slightly more expensive dry suit, say the Gortex version of the Supernova, which would be on par cost wise as a jacket/bib combo, would I use a dry suit as much as the jacket/bib combo throughout the year? However, it seems that since the weather here in the PNW slights to the cool side more often on top of the cold water... the dry suit seems to get more merit ; ) Takes  me a while to understand these things!

And don't forget the NWKA discount at Outdoorplay and Next Adventure.

I just ordered the Hydrus 3l angler suit from outdoor with discount for 530 ish bucks shipped.  I came from using a 2 piece as well.  In my opinion I should have started with kokatat.  Super dry(lake tested).  Relief zipper is a must IMO.  I'm also more relaxed because I feel safer in the one piece(maybe all in my head.).  Also would recommend at least the hydrus3l as the starting point for kokatat drysuits for the better warranty.  Just my opinions:-)