warmest, dryest, most durable drytop?

[&d]

The old post says Kokatat, is there anything better?

[westfall]

OK, I'm glad this came up. I picked up a Stolhquist dry top with a breathable material inside. It worked well for a couple months but gradually got worse and worse. At this point I might as well be wearing a cotton T-shirt. This is all fine when the weather and water are warm but it's starting to get cold out.

I'm thinking about going back to a really inexpensive, non-breathable top like the old Kokatat that I had. I don't sweat anywhere near as much as my more expensive top leaks.

Does anyone know if there is anything I can do with the Stolhquist to make it stay dry?

[Phillips]

NRS should meet your criteria

[&d]

i dont know about nrs anymore, i bought the $250 model this april and by may iim only wearing it for the tunnel, end of june the neck gasket ripped, the seams are all in really bad shape now, although i dont notice that because of the neck :)

[lmaciag]

I haven't been too impressed with my NRS drytop. The material is not waterproof anymore (a nikwax treatment did not help). The stitching on the tunnel ripped early and I had to aquaseal and duct tape it. Two of my friends are having similar problems with the material. I'll be investing in a higher quality product next time.

Laurie

[zular]

Spend the $ and get a Kokatat gore tex top. You might end up replacing the gaskets eventually, but the top will last a while and keep you dry. Tip- about twice a season wash top with woolite and 303 your gaskets and the nylon-it's like putting sunscreen on your gear-it'll make it last much longer. I've had mine going on 7 years and easily hundreds of days on the water.

[tyaker]

this may not help much, but my OS systems top has gone for @ 5 years keeping me toasty. replaced the neck twice, no wrist replacement yet!!! Not sure if they're still around... anyone know?

[gh]

Hands down believe that Kokatat makes the best dry top available. I believe its the Rogue, the newer goretex one. Two seasons and doesnt leak a drop. Honestly would never consider buying anything else.

[GAtoCSU]

Kokatat Gor-tex is amazing. I hear good things about the new IR top as well.

[COUNT]

I got the nice gore-tex Stohlquist top about five years ago. I haven't used the Kokatat top, but I would highly recommend this one. It was 100% warm, dry, and bomber for the first four seasons. I had the neck gasket replaced once after the third season. This year I have been finding that I have massive amounts of water in my boat at the end of the day (i.e. more than a gallon). I think it is due to my drytop (doesn't seem to be waterproof anymore), though my skirt may be partly to blame, too (Snapdragon). Any advice? There is one tiny spot of stitching that needs work but the top is otherwise intact. Do I have to re-waterproof the entire top? Thanks in advance.

COUNT