Kokatat set to roll out three new PFDs in 2018

July 17, 2017

Comfort is key in two life vests for rec paddlers and one for angling

ARCATA, California – Kokatat, with a long history of groundbreaking innovations in paddling gear, will embolden its award-winning line of life vests in 2018 with three new PFDs.

The three new life vests place a premium on combining safety and comfort. Two – the Proteus and the Naiad – are designed with the recreational paddler in mind, while the Leviathan will set the new standard for kayak anglers.

“These three new life vests not only add more depth and breadth to our current line of PFDs, they move the entire category into a realm where comfort becomes a major selling point,” said Jeff Turner, Sales and Marketing Manager at Kokatat Inc. Key to increasing the wearability, said Turner, is the supple Gaia® PVC-free foam panels that are ergonomically tailored to allow for easy movement.

The three life vests, and other new paddling gear from Kokatat will be on display in Booth 32055 at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show being held in Salt Lake City later this month

Here’s a more detailed looked at the new PFDs:

Proteus PFD

Kokatat’s most comfortable life vest ever, thanks to soft, Gaia® PVC-free foam that’s cut and sculpted into body mapped, floating panels. Each foam panel is precisely slit to provide adaptable and ergonomic fit, wrapping the torso in secure comfort. A soft 100D stretch polyester envelope finishes off this high-back recreational life vest, with fleece-lined hand warmer pockets for the colder days. MSRP is $119

Naiad PFD

Styled for female recreational paddlers, this high-back life vest features articulated, body mapped panels that accommodate a woman’s natural curves. The flexible Gaia® PVC-free foam panels are cut to allow the Naiad to wrap the paddler in comfort and security. With the soft texture of the durable 100D stretch polyester fabric, the Naiad makes comfort a priority. An added feature: The fleece-lined hand warmer pockets. MSRP is $139

Leviathan PFD

The ultimate kayak fishing life vest, the Leviathan has 14 pockets and multiple fixture options allowing anglers to carry lures, tools and gear wherever they choose. This high-back, performance, recreational life vest features body-mapped Gaia® foam panels contoured precisely to allow the life vest to wrap the torso in a secure fit. Fleece-lined hand warmer pockets are a bonus for those chilly days. MSRP is $159

About Kokatat Inc.

Kokatat has been manufacturing paddling gear in Arcata, California more than 45 years. At a time when many technical apparel brands were moving manufacturing offshore, Kokatat continued to invest in infrastructure in the United States. Kokatat founder Steve O’Meara was committed to the development of the finest and driest paddling apparel in the world and recognized the need to control and continually evolve the development of our dry wear. In the early days, Kokatat worked closely with W.L. Gore & Associates, makers of GORE-TEX®, to refine the sewing and sealing techniques required for full immersion suits and tops. Today, our hands-on approach to manufacturing continues to set the standard in paddling apparel. Into the water with Kokatat! Learn more at www.kokatat.com.