From: Jennifer Sass <sass.jen@gmail.com>
To: upper_yough_training_group@googlegroups.com
Sent: Saturday, September 8, 2012 6:49 AM
Subject: Re: cheat_training_group Cold Weather Gear
"One question. What is
"GMER"?"
-jen
Kokatat Gore-Tex Meridian Drysuit
On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 4:13 AM, David Ritchie <ritchiedavidc@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> "Is there an alternative to a $1000 GMER drysuit?
>
> I hate to say it, but in a word, "No".
>
> Full disclosure, I haven't taken the hit either. It's always "next year".
> That said, my basement is littered with tops (and dry pants) that are
> "pretty dry". The only pieces of gear that are ever truly dry are new pieces
> and Jenny's Kokatat shorty and GMER drysuit. Believe me, I know, it's hard
> to drop the hammer when every year you find tops X%+ off that are "good
> enough".
>
> ______________________________
>
> The bottom line is that nothing on the market has (yet) proven itself
> remotely close to the GMER's quality and record.
>
> Sweet may be a competitor in the near future but they're not there yet. It
> is my understanding that they have been re-branding their suits for
> Sandiline's pro team under the Adidas label for a awhile now but are also
> now selling them under the "Sickline" tag in Europe. Unfortuneately, they're
> more expensive than Kokatat, aren't proven in the retail market, and they
> don't have a stateside support infrastructure yet. Sweet seems to have an
> amazing material though and their dry-tops have thus far been performing on
> par with Kokatat. If they can match Kokatat's quality and support, their
> ergonomics and design extras like multiple dry-pockets could quickly earn
> them the top spot in coming years.
>
> Stateside? You're looking at IR, Stohlquist, Palm, NRS, Peak UK, Level 6,
> and a few others.
>
> Each make a great suit for light to moderate use, but I haven't seen any
> last reliably for 6+ seasons (2 years of East Coast year-round kayaking).
> Most, as you've experienced, honestly don't make it nearly that far.
>
> They primarily fail in the material department. The various fabrics used
> separate (delaminate), often imperceptibly, and that is when your elbow or
> back "starts soaking through". Or worse, the fabric is a cheap, treated
> getup and we all know how well spray on waterproofing products work. Fabric
> impregnation is a sad, sad thing. I'm not going to point out particularly
> bad brands...
>
> The second most common failure point is in the taping and/or stitching.
> "Precision taping" or "No Cross-Taping" is all the rage in the buzzword
> department, but it doesn't mean much if the tape doesn't stick. Under the
> tape, "double stitched" gets a lot of tag room but that doesn't mean much
> either if the gauge isn't thick enough and close/uniform enough to prove
> durable. Your suit has thousands of holes. Every last one of them has to
> withstand unbelievable temperature change, sheering forces, abrasion, and
> every other nature of frequent abuse.
>
> Several of the above mentioned companies have made enormous leaps in the
> last few years. Honest to god leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, I don't
> personally believe that they're quite there yet. IR's new Double D "four
> layer" retails for $940. I imagine they'll be selling it for $700-$940. Even
> if their four-layer material (I have two of their tops) proves to be bomber,
> I expect them to have issues with taping and/or stitching on their
> dry-suits. Dry-Suits are simply exposed to so much more abuse than a typical
> dry-top. I hope I'm wrong.
>
> This is a great time to decide for yourself with Gauley coming up. You'll
> get to hold most of the suits in your hands and check them out. Go handle a
> Kokatat top/suit and know that it is bomber and dry. Next go hold a Sweet
> top and check out their design. Then go feel the others. Check the stitching
> with particular attention to the uniformity and how it is terminated. Can
> you see glue leaching from any of the tape? Can you get a finger nail under
> the tape at any joints? Those are the weak (wet) points. Is $400 worth that?
> Is $400 worth being always dry and not buying a second suit until you've
> beaten the hell out of your first?
>
> ____________________________
>
> Long story short, Kokatat has a monopoly on Gore-Tex materials and has
> enjoyed the R&D benefits and experience that only a sole-source contract
> with the US Navy offers. Their shit is solid, known, and if it isn't, they
> fix it or replace it no questions asked (some may say to a fault).
>
> Jerry Stezar sent his ~5 year old GMER in a couple years back to replace one
> of his Gore-Tex socks. He had worn a hole in it. They called him up to tell
> him that his suit was delaminating and I shit you not, they sent him a brand
> new GMER. You know Jerry, ask him if there is an alternative to a $1000
> GMER.
>
> I apologize for the long email. I've just been wet and cold quite a bit with
> plenty of time to mull over the details. I've also been lucky enough to slip
> into some sweet, sweet GMER's over the years when it was prudent to do so. I
> really, really hate being cold...
>
> My take,
> Dave
>
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--
Jennifer Sass
Email: sass.jen@gmail.com
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