Hobie Forums
http://www.hobie.com/forums/

Peddling Pants?
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=45001
Page 1 of 2

Author:  dugsdad [ Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Peddling Pants?

Starting to get a little chilly here in Wisconsin peddling my Outback in my swim suit and bare feet. Can anyone recommend some comfortable (and quiet) splashproof pants and boots? Particularly interested in experince with using with Mirage Drive.

Thank you for whatever feedback you may have.

Author:  RockyRaab [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

I have two pairs of those zip-off sport pants as fishing garb. Ideal for when I PEDAL my PA-14.

Author:  Grampa Spey [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Buy a pair of Kokatat Tempest Pants w/ socks to wear

Here in wino country/California. After Labor day, our temps at night often drop down into the 40's.

Since we like to launch our Yaks in the morning to beat the winds, the water can be rather nippy even in Sep/Oct. When your feet/socks/pants get wet, that lowers our enjoyment on the water for that day.

Buy a pair of Kokatat Tempest Pants w/ socks to wear while yaking or fishing and yaking.

If you want to start early in the season and then extend your yaking season in the fall early winter. This is the way to go. Your feet, ankles and lower legs stay warm and dry as the rest of your body waist down. No more wet butts and wet/cold feet when we wear our K's.

Some evil sadistic genius must have designed other Kayak pants without attached waterproof socks/feet. If your feet get wet while launching a yak, they will stay wet/cold the rest of the trip. So we went to the Kokatat Tempest Pants with the built in feet/socks.

Unless you have worn these before, you probably should go to a store which sells these Kayak Pants with w/feet. Then, have one of their good people help you to find the right size. After finding the K's that fit, you should try various sandals or boots to see which ones fit. I knew my fly fishing Korker Boots at home would fit and they did. I now use the Korker wading sandals.


My wife couldn't find a comfortable fit, and the Clavey sales rep suggested taking them to a shoe store or Big 5 and try on various feet gear. She took the kayak pants to a big 5, and found a wading sandal that fit over the K's socks with her feet in them. Her sandals and my Korkers have bottoms that help with mossy ramps, not eliminate the potential problem but help.

At that time we only owned a Hobie Oasis, and we knew that that our feet with her bigger sandals or my Korkers would not fit into the foot strap/strirups of the Hobie Mirage Pedals. So we took off the foot straps on the Mirage Pedals. It took us about 30 seconds to learn to use the Mirage Pedals without straps, and we haven't used the straps since then. Our legs and feet are more comfortable without the straps.

My wife puts on her Kokatat Pants at home and leaves them on until we get back home. I don't want to drive with my Korker big Footprints, so I put the Kokatats and Korkers on at the launch site and remove then after we get the Oasis back on its trailer. Or my Freedom Hawks back in my truck bed. When I yak/fish with my Freedom Hawks. I put the Kokatats on before I get into either yak. With the Freedomn Hawks, I do a standup entrance with one boot in the yak while holding the grab bar, and I use my oar to steady me in the water with my left foot in the water. Then, I shove off and step into the yak.

This brings some water into the yak, but I'm dry due to the Kokatats. With our Oasis, my wife gets in while I steady it. Then, I move the Oasis up with my vacant seat next to me, steady myself with an oar, straddle the yak and sit down and shove off. Either way with the K's I'm dry and warm. Without the Kokataks, my feet/socks/footgear would be wet and cold for the trip.

I 'launched' my new Freedom Hawk Pathfinder this way in the last week of February. I stayed dry and warm while other yakkers got wet feet and often wet butts. The air and water temp was in the 40's, and I was warm and dry.

I own several fly fishing waders, and the Kokatats have become my waders of choice when fishing Doran Beach and other areas where I don't have to wade deep as they are so easier to put on and take off. If I decide to beach my Freedom Hawks and wade and cast from the shore of a river or lake, the Kokatats work great as I step from the yaks onto the beach and back on the yaks.

Launching or bringing in the Oasis without the Kokatats can be a wet and cold time. The K's eliminate that problem. We use various Goretex and non Goretex jackets with our K's, which is an advantage over more expensive one piece Kayak suits. My wife might put in up to 3 tops into her storage area by her on our Oasis to stay comfortable throughout the trip. As the weather and temps change on our yak trips, we can change our clothing tops and our feet and butts stay dry with the Kokatats on.

Since I have 3 yaks, I keep my Kokatats, my life preservers, hats, gloves and jackets in the trunk of my Ridgeline. That way they are right there when I get ready to put the yak for the day in the water.

So find the yak or yaks you like or love, and then buy a pair of Kokatat Tempest Pants w/ socks/feet to stay dry and warm. Since they breath, it has to be a day over 95 degrees before I get uncomfortable.

The link below will take you to reviews by other yakkers:

http://www.campmor.com/kokatat-tempest- ... ader-76062

Author:  islandspeed2001 [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

When it starts to be cooler weather and the water temp's drop down, I use various combo's to stay dry. Just because I live in FL, that doesn't mean it doesn't get cold here in North Florida,

If it's really cold, I have a pair of Simms Travel-lite waders that I wear a pair of flats boots over. While these are the most water-proof/fool-proof, I seldom wear them unless it is fairly cold.

Most of the time I wear a pair of waterproof socks that pull up over the calf of my leg. Since 99% of my launches are only ankle deep, these work well. I slip the same flats boots over these socks. My pants are a waterproof rain pant. I find these more comfortable to wear as the waders can become binding when bending your knees.

The main thing to keep in mind when it comes to cold weather clothing, is that you need to dress in layers. This gives the ability to add or subtract the number of layers. Nothing worse than being so hot that you start sweating. Sweat turns to wet clothes which is your worst enemy in winter.

Author:  dugsdad [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

All excellent tips. Thank you everyone!

The Kokatat Tempest Paddle Pants with Socks are exactly what I was after. I'm going to have to rely on the sizing chartas I haven't found a local retailer and will have to order online. Anyone have feedback as to the accuracy of their chart?

Thanks again. I really appreciate the help.

Author:  Thrashie [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

i have the kokatat tempest pants, awesome! used em last winter, ordered em from my hobie dealer....just be sure to talk to them about sizing as i am a 40" waist, and size 13" shoe, i actually had to order a size down from what i thought i needed to order..give kokatat a call, i'm sure they can help you (they did me when i spoke to em about what i needed to get) - 800.225.9749

wear with reg socks/sweat pants/whatever under, and i picked up a pair of Scuba Pro neoprene dive booties for shoes.

Author:  RockyRaab [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

Goldang, Grampa Spey...you really WERE peddling pants! LOL!


By the way, your link above comes up "broken." Here's a working one:

http://www.kokatat.com/products/bibs-and-pants/tempest-pant-with-socks-men.html

Author:  Grampa Spey [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants? BOL!

RockyRaab wrote:
Goldang, Grampa Spey...you really WERE peddling pants! LOL!

Grampa the peddling pant guy!

Thanks for the link.


By the way, your link above comes up "broken." Here's a working one:

http://www.kokatat.com/products/bibs-and-pants/tempest-pant-with-socks-men.html

Author:  Grampa Spey [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Good suggestion re calling up the Kokatat people re fitt

I tried 2 pair before I found my fit, and my wife went through several pair before she got the right fit.. I wear size 12 wading boots and Crocs and the socks had ample room for my big wide feet.

Thrashie wrote:
i have the kokatat tempest pants, awesome! used em last winter, ordered em from my hobie dealer....just be sure to talk to them about sizing as i am a 40" waist, and size 13" shoe, i actually had to order a size down from what i thought i needed to order..give kokatat a call, i'm sure they can help you (they did me when i spoke to em about what i needed to get) - 800.225.9749

wear with reg socks/sweat pants/whatever under, and i picked up a pair of Scuba Pro neoprene dive booties for shoes.

Author:  Chaz [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

Is the Relief zipper a worthwhile option fot the Kokatat Tempest Pants? I cannot find it online though Kokatat says they are available. Kokatat also makes a bib overall that,with the zipper, would replace my waders for stream fishing. Anyone use these?

Author:  Thrashie [ Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

no zipper on mine, I just pull em down a little when it's that time.

mine are XL size, I have a 40" waist, 32" inseam, and size 13 shoe if that helps judge size. and they are still quite roomy with pants and stuff on underneath.

Author:  dugsdad [ Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

Thanks again everyone. This is one of the best forums I frequent with everyone being so helpful and not flaming everyone for their contributions.

Author:  pdxfisher [ Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

I see a lot of folks here seem to like the Kokatat pants. I have not tried them, but I do sturgeon fish all winter long here in Portland. Some days I am out with the water temp around 40 and the air temp in the upper 30s. I just wear a set of Goretex waders, that I already own, and a semi-dry top. to be clear I also wear a lot of insulating layers underneath.

I am curious if anyone thinks there is an advantage of the Kokatat pants over regular Goretex waders. I feel like the waders work well, but perhaps I am overlooking something.

Author:  Grampa Spey [ Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A reply from the King of Goretex

My sons and I started using Goretex for fishing, hunting and just being outdoors decades ago.

Since then the Gore Tex has improved over the years, and it got better with each geneation.

I have the Simms Guide Waders with the Zipper, and they are great for cold steelhead fishing. However, they are too heavy for yaking.

I own a pair of Cabela's dry pants, the waist high type, I used them for wading on our local beaches and knee wading on my local river. They just are not as comfortable in a yak as the Kokatat Pants. So the Kokatats have replaced these waders for knee high wading on ocean beaches as well as in my yaks. Also, the K's are easier to put on and get out of.

Last year, I bought a set of William Joseph chest waders with the inflatable built in life preserver you can fill by blowing air into them or pull the red er tag for flyfishing from my Freedom Hawks. Like most Wm Joseph products they are well built, but in my area, too much heat retention in the chest area. I save these waders for Shad Fishing which is early summer with cold and fast water. Each Shad season the American or Sac river claim the lives of several shad fishers trying to wade the fast/high/cold waters.

Again the K pants due to ease getting into and comfort in the yaks have replaced the WMJ waders.

As noted previously, my wife puts her K Pants and sandals on at home before we leave. She keeps them on unless it is really hot even on the trip home. I don't want to drive with my Korker wading sandals, and I put the K Pants and Korkers on when we get to the launch site and remove them after I get the yak out of the water to go home.

I have used the Korker wading boots with the interchangeable soles for years due to the ease of getting into and out of the boots with the adjustable Boa tighteners on each boot. I bought a pair of the Korker open toe wading sandals and they work well with the beach and landing and launching. However, so many of our areas have broken glass and other potentially sharp dangers, I will be buying the New Korker's wading shoes with protected and enclosed toe ares with the felt or nonslip replaceable soles.

In summary:

1: The K pants are easier to get on or off than any of my fly fishing waders.

2. The K's wide adjustable waist band with the Velcro is very easy to secure or release versus the wading belts on waders.

3. The K's to me are so comfortable that I forget that they are on, even with good/expensive high quality fly fishing waders, comfort is not a word I would use with them.

4. The K's handle the changes in air temp and water temps very well to keep me dry. They breath very well.

The one Con of the K's: The built in feet are designed for several sizes, so there is lot of material dwn there. My wife had to take her K's to the local Big Five to Find a pair of sandals that fit over the K's feet. I have used the Korker boots for years and know to buy them a couple of sizes bigger than normal so that was not a problem for me.

The K's seem to be very durable. I will be starting my 3rd year later this fall, and they are in good shape. I don't baby them. After they dry off which is fast, I throw them into the trunk of my Ridgeline with my Korkers and PFDs. That way they are ready for a quick trip. In the fall/winter when things don't dry off as fast, I toss them into the Simms Taco Bag for waders /boots, and let them hang out and dry. Then, I throw the Taco Bag with the K's and Korkers into my trunk. The Simms Taco bag allows wet items to dry out and has been voted one of the best products for fly fishers.

The site below shows the Taco Bag and has good review from a fly fisher, who works at Leland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAJj2J4bojY

I get the feeling that you are a lot like me. I buy good things. I don't abuse them, but I/we don't baby them. Which is why I like Hobie Mirages, Korker boots and sandals, Sage fly rods, Simms products and my K pants
.
pdxfisher wrote:
I see a lot of folks here seem to like the Kokatat pants. I have not tried them, but I do sturgeon fish all winter long here in Portland. Some days I am out with the water temp around 40 and the air temp in the upper 30s. I just wear a set of Goretex waders, that I already own, and a semi-dry top. to be clear I also wear a lot of insulating layers underneath.

I am curious if anyone thinks there is an advantage of the Kokatat pants over regular Goretex waders. I feel like the waders work well, but perhaps I am overlooking something.

Author:  pdxfisher [ Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peddling Pants?

Thanks for that response Grampa Spey! It sounds like you have found the paddling (pedaling) pants to be quit comfortable. I use a variety of clothing options based on the season instead:

Summer: shorts and sandals or water shoes

Early Fall: long pants from columbia that shed water pretty well and water shoes.

Fall: long pants from columbia + possibly rain paints and water shoes + neoprene wading socks. Warm days it is usually shorts with rain paints. Splash water on self if getting hot.

Winter: Goretex chest waders and felt soled boots. Usually I am struggling to keep warm (many layers). I use the cheap Hodgeman waders (wait for a sale) since the sturgeon tend to poke holes in them. I also like waders since they tuck way up inside my dry top and thus seem safer. If it is sunny and I get warm I either splash water on self or sit side saddle and dip my legs in the cold water to cool off.

Spring is like fall in reverse.

I guess with the pedaling pants I could use them late fall, winter and early spring, but I am not sure I would necessarily increase my comfort level over multi-pronged solution I have now. I already own a rain suit and waders for shore fishing anyway. The Hodgeman waders I have last for about 5 years of use outside the kayak. I find them to be pretty comfortable when it as it gets colder. If I was starting out and only kayaked I think I would be tempted to get the paddling (pedaling) pants. However, I think that overall improvement in comfort over what I presently use does not warrant the cost to own yet another piece of equipment.

I mean really, if I wanted to be super comfortable would I be out in the rain all day in 38 degree weather sitting in a kayak in 40 degree water :)

Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/