Kokatat Watersports Wear

 

Thanks to Kokatat for not only providing me with a variety of new and great paddling gear each of the past few years but for also making me a Kokatat supported paddler.

 

I love their Gore-Tex Expedition Dry Suit. It protected me from cold and rain on my Newfoundland trips in 2006 and 2007, on my Iceland circumnavigation in 2007 and on the first half of my New Zealand circumnavigation.

Standing in the cold water all day teaching rolls, there is nothing better than the Gore-Tex Expedition Dry Suit! With one or two layers of fleece underneath, I stay dry and warm even during a long day on the water.

When I perform rolls in frigid water, say, during a Greenlandic competition or during a rolling demonstration, I wear the Gore-Tex Expedition Dry Suit underneath my Greenland style tuilik and remain as dry as a bone.

 

If you want more ventilation and are not likely to swim, the Gore-Tex Tec Tour Jacket combined with the Gore-Tex Deluxe Boater’s Pants is the best choice.

When the weather and water warmed on the second half of my New Zealand expedition, I used the Gore Tex Tec Tour Jacket.

I’ve also gotten plenty of great use out of the Gore-Tex Deluxe Boater’s Pants, especially when paddling my surf ski in cold water when my legs are nearly always wet.

 

Another valuable piece of Kokatat gear that I’ve used on all of my expeditions is the Gore-Tex Paclite Storm Cag. I find it particularly useful to when I stop for lunch since it’s like a one-(wo)man-tent. The Gore-Tex Paclite Storm Cag is spacious enough to cover everything you already have on, including your PFD. It’s easy to put on and acts as a great windbreaker. I’m continually amazed how much warmth that thin additional layer creates. I put it on during my night paddles in Iceland and New Zealand as I found my core temperature often dropped during a long paddle after the sun went down. In addition, I’ve used it to warm up (for me or a partner) once I’m back in the boat after a wet exit, or as a backup for a spray deck.

During my New Zealand circumnavigation and for the upcoming Australian trip, I wore the Ronin Pro PFD. It’s easy to put on with the front zipper, fits comfortably and has plenty of pockets and loops to add the safety gear you like. The Ronin Pro PFD worked great for me. And it came in BLACK! What a relief!

For the 2008 season I ordered the Surfskin Pants, the short sleeve Gore-Tex Paclite Knappster and the Gore Tex Anorak. I’ll write about this gear after I try it out!