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KOKATAT HYDRUS 3L TEMPEST WOMENS DRY PANTS WITH SOCKS REVIEW

23/6/2016

4 Comments

 
After searching through multiple brands to find women-specific dry pants, I finally found the pants I had been looking for: Kokatat Hydrus 3L Tempest Women's Dry Pants with Socks. How do these pants perform? I tested them out on a 15 day northern river trip this summer.

Kokatat Hydrus 3L Tempest Women's Dry Pants With Socks
Price: $189 USD
Sizes: S-L
Colour: Gray
Weight: 450g (small)

Features:
Hydrus 3L is Kokatat's waterproof-breathable fabric.  The fabric extends past the legs and adds socks as one factory seam sealed unit . The neoprene waistband is tall and has velcro to adjust fit.
 
Pros: The best part about these pants is that they are women's specific. There aren't too many companies that make a women's specific drypant, but Kokatat does. Smaller sizes and women's specific features are why these pants stand out.

The drypant material allows for freedom of movement. When wearing some other brand's pants, I feel like I'm wearing heavy snowpants. In contrast, the Kokatat pants are unrestricting, lightweight and flexible.

The attached socks are an amazing addition which makes cold water wading a breeze. In and out of a boat multiple times a day, my socks were 90% dry. The fabric dries quite quickly after use. I wouldn't even take an hour before the pants were bone dry.

The durability of these pants is good. They stand up to tough abuse and are worthy of their price tag. I would definitely give them a thumbs up.

Cons: The fabric used in these pants is SLIPPERY. So much so that while kneeling canoeing, I would slide off my seat forward and have to re-position myself multiple times an hour. Thigh straps will also slide down these pants fairly easily which is annoying.

They only come in one colour- a mocha beige. It would be cool to have more colour choices.

Best Uses: Whitewater canoeing, kayaking and rafting. Flyfishing as well.
4 Comments
Carol K link
20/5/2023 04:39:00 pm

I'm wondering how these do in a swim? Does the waist, with PFD, tight enough to keep water out? Looks like we have a big water year, so swims will probably happen.
Carol K
Dagger Dimension - WW OC2

Reply
Krista Petrie-Wallace link
20/5/2023 05:07:28 pm

Hi Carol -

These dry pants won't keep you dry in a swim as water will get in over the top. They will keep you dry from the waist down in water though. I use a full on drysuit in most riskier whitewater paddling and use these for paddling when I need to get into a boat in cold water conditons or more mellow paddling as a splash layer. I wore them everyday for my 15 day Wind River canoe trip and I wore them this week when teaching canoeing and needing to wade into hip deep water.

Reply
Carol K link
26/5/2023 03:51:34 pm

Hi Krista
Thanks for your reply. I have a drysuit, but am on a Selway raft trip first part of July, flows highish and cold. Was hoping to not bring it, I knew that these bottoms would keep me dry from splashes. In the unlikely event of a flipped raft and swim, would it be a worry if these could fill up with water? My old pair didn't have built in feet, so wasn't a concern. Sorry if my initial question wasn't clear enough.
Thanks again!
Carol

Reply
Krista Petrie-Wallace link
30/5/2023 08:41:27 am

Hey Carol -

I have never experienced the pants filling up from the top. I am sure it would be harder to swim but also think it would take some time to fill up so you may be to shore before it feels like an anchor. It's a risk for sure as they will fill up with the socks. I think it will come down to the likelihood of a swim and if you want to risk it.

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    Canadian gal hooked on pursuing outdoor adventures, testing outdoor gear, and a passion for outdoor education.

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