TROPOS or GORTEX

[gannon311]

lost my dry top .need some input.with so many i don't know what to get.i know kokatat is probably the best but can't spend 400$

[okieboater]

Tropos may be made by Kokotat - but do not assume it will work as good as Kokotat goretex.

Unless Tropos has been improved a bunch in the last few years - my personal experience with it has been bad. Might as well go for a much cheaper option and get wet due to less breathability.

I have not found anything as good as kokotat gore tex. After the bad experience with Tropos, I went ahead and bit the bullet and got a Kokotat Gore Tex dry suit and have really enjoyed it. Expensive but worth the money.

On dry tops, I just look for the best deal I can find on a national known brand.

Having said that, I had a kokotat gore tex dry top that I wore for years and it always worked. Lately if I can get more than a couple years out of the other brands I am using now, I am happy.

My take is the decision is up to each of us. Pay the bucks and given normal care, Kokotat will last for years of excellent service. Or, pay less but expect to replace the garment every few years and put up with less than excellent but maybe still pretty much ok performance.

My last deal was on a Stohlquist dry top. worked ok for the first season, second season it started wetting out, I did the revivex and dwr treatment thing, that worked pretty good and after not much use it is wetting out again.

Right now I am looking at a new dry top myself. Maybe some of the year end sales will have Kokotat Gore Tex at a discount.

Bottom line is most of the time you get what you pay for.

[rickyrod]

Kokotat 400$ but a lifetime warnty. had mine a year and it's like new. the NRS stuff nowere near the gear KKT is.

[mgood]

Just pointing it out- NRS has some top of the line stuff, but not all of their stuff it top of the line (a recent conversation I had with Rusty). I've got the NRS motion soften shell jacket (http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=2566" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), and its pretty good stuff. Its not quite goretex, but has a fleece lining and is waterproof (can't really complain much) with gaskets. Kokotat does make some top of the line stuff, but NRS has a few products that come pretty close and definitely win out in the price range.

[rickyrod]

NRS has gr8 stuff for the price but the mystery material they use on the drytop tunnels begin leaking due to wear to the top layer and that hapens with normal use, so buy one every two years or spend the same once for life or atleast till you outgrow the KOKOTAT .

[BooF4FooD]

would check out the new bomber gear tops... http://bombergear.com/2009_2/product.php?id_product=47 lots of detailed info there as well

[gannon311]

thanks forthe input.think it will be kokatat or bomber gear.