Kokatat
In 1971 Kokatat began making paddle sports apparel and gear in Arcata, CA. Our founder and president, Steve O’Meara, recognized from the start that keeping production local was necessary in order to control quality and continually develop the finest and driest paddling apparel in the world. Today, over 90% of our annual revenue comes from the sales of products handmade in our Arcata factory (now 196 employees strong) and by our local and regional manufacturing partners. Yes, we do source items in Asia. But, only for products that do not have scalable infrastructure here in the US and to support our environmental commitment to Gaia® PVC free flotation foam for all our life vests, available exclusively through our Asian manufacturer. All Kokatat products are manufactured to our exacting quality standards, developed by paddlers for paddlers over 49 years. All our products are backed by a lifetime guarantee against defects in manufacturing or materials* and our repair service facility inside our Arcata factory is unsurpassed in our industry for customer satisfaction.
Kokatat FAQ's
- Who is going to be doing Kokatat servicing in the UK?
Ant from Hot Melt Kayaks is now the official UK Kokatat Service Centre. This means you can still get your drysuit fully water-tested, patched, and have seals replaced by an experienced, Kokatat-trained technician right here in the UK.
You can contact Ant directly via his website, or if you purchased your Kokatat gear from us, we’re happy to help arrange the service for you.
- Do you still offer warranties and support for Kokatat gear?
Absolutely. As an official importer, all Kokatat products purchased from us are covered by their manufacturer warranty. If you have any issues, we’re here to help—just get in touch!
- I want a Kokatat product not listed on your website, what should I do?
If you're looking for a Kokatat product that we don’t currently list, get in touch with us! We’ll be happy to discuss ordering it for you, subject to US stock availability. Please note that we can only import ISO-approved PFDs, so some items may not be available—sorry!
- Can I place orders for custom drysuits with you?
Yes, you absolutely can! Just let us know and we can get things organised for you. For advice on the different custom options from Kokatat, check this helpful video:
- Why doesn't Kokatat have any products utilising Gore-Tex material in it's 2026 product line-up?
A good question and one we think warrants a more detailed explanation. So, we have come up with a blog to answer this one: