By will from Homer, Alaska on 7/17/2008

I wrote a review earlier today about the Kokotat drysuit in which I said that the suit does not have a chest pocket as advertised. After submitting the review my wife found the chest pocket and key lanyard inside the neck closure! she's so helpful at finding things! That's why I keep her around. Anyway, if you use my earlier review please delete the sentence in which I erroneously claim that the suit does not have a chest pocket...
thanks and sorry for the error

By Will from Homer, Alaska on 7/17/2008

I wear this drysuit in forty degree Alaska waters while kayaking. It is a little hard to get on but that is true of all drysuits. Once on it keeps me warm and dry. Without it I would not have the option of practicing rolling skills or surfing because I would constantly be afraid of falling into very cold water.

The suit may seem expensive but it is essential for safe cold water paddling. One thing- this suit does not have a chest pocket as advertised on the EMS site. Also if you haven't used a drysuit before the neck gasket will seem too tight- Do Not Try to cut it Bigger as that will cause it to split open when you stretch it! Eventually it will stretch out a bit- put it on a plastic coffee can for a few days if you need to stretch it. And if latex bothers your skin look for a paddle suit with neoprene neck closure. Sometimes I wear a light polypro turtleneck and pull a bit of it up under the neck gasket to prevent chafing on the throat.

The zippers are very hard to operate (my wife keeps me around just to open and close her zippers!) because they have to be water tight. It is essential to get that last half inch tightly closed so get a front entry zipper that you can see and close yourself. And you definitely want the extra relief zipper cause it takes some time to safely get this suit off. Get some zipper wax to keep them lubed- I like Zip Tech from AquaSeal. And never get sand on the zippers.

Like all Gore-tex you have to keep the cloth clean for it to work. So be careful about getting mud on the suit. The seams are sealed with seam tape which eventually can wear out and leak- especially in the booties. To extend the suits life try to minimize the amount of time that you walk around in it and don't get sand in your boots. Chafing from walking eventually wears the seam tape loose. Seam tape and latex gaskets can be replaced by Kokotat.

If the suit seems too hot you are probably wearing too much underneath it. If I don't intend to roll or swim I dress for the air temp. If I anticipate a roll or swim I dress warmer for the water temp.

Kokotat makes a cheaper Tropos suit which is good for occassional use but it'll wear out quicker. They also make a higher end Meridian suit with a skirt tunnel. But for all around use it is hard to beat this mid-level suit.