Is it really possible to kill two birds with one stone? Well Kokatat have finally achieved it! Thanks to their innovative waist entry system, the new Kokatat Idol drysuit can be split in half and used as a dry cag for the summer months!

Having faced some fairly intense scepticism, with even my closest friends believing that I would drown, I have gathered a few FAQs which I will now attempt to answer:

At first I thought that the zip and the screw which seals it closed would be uncomfortable and would get in the way, but the opposite was true. The system is perfectly designed to sit between the top of the back-band in your boat and the bottom of your spraydeck and I don’t feel it at all when I'm on the water.

Starting the zip off does require a bit of a knack but it doesn't take long to get used to it and then you realise the possibilities that it opens up:

Boating abroad and regretting last night’s dinner, or feeling particularly nervous before that big drop? Just drop your kegs and deal with it! No need to strip your kit when you’ve got this kind of easy access!

Irritated by the dangly arms left behind when you strip down your top half for lunch? No dangling to be seen in the Idol!

Feeling restricted by your front or rear entry zip? The Idol's flexible and well-placed zip means that it feels just like wearing a cag!

Most importantly, I have conducted some thorough and incredibly scientific tests and can confirm that it is actually completely dry!

Exactly the same as it is as a drysuit but with wetter legs. The Velcro flap, which protects the zip whilst in drysuit mode, folds all the way under when in cag mode and helps to prevent damage to the zip. The screw fitting is also part of the trousers, rather than the top, so the cag stays super streamlined.

At £959.99 from Canoe and Kayak Store, the Kokatat Idol is not a cheap option, but after my initial reservations, I have definitely come to the conclusion that you get superb value for money:

• The Idol is backed by Kokatat’s legendary lifetime warranty and reputation for outstanding customer service
• You get a dry cag and a drysuit
• The design and fit leaves you feeling so unrestricted that you’ll feel like you’re naked boating in the Alps

Overall, I’m absolutely smitten with my new Kokatat Idol drysuit. The only real downside is that it makes me want to swim!

I had never before seen the point in dry trousers until my famously leaky brand of dry suit decided to become very very leaky. I bought the Sandiline Freeride Extreme Dry Trousers as a temporary solution before I plucked up the courage to invest in a new drysuit. I am now contemplating sticking with this cag, trouser combo for good! Here are ten reasons why:

The four-layered fabric keeps your legs dry but remains breathable so that you don’t get a sweaty bum.

The knees and bum are reinforced with cordura so that you can sit and kneel on spiky things. 

They have enough room around the knees and bum for ease of movement, without being too baggy.

The waist band feels super secure, with its strong elastic and sticky Velcro. This does a great job of keeping the water out and I’d imagine it would also help to prevent hernias, although I haven’t done sufficient research in this area to make a guarantee. 

If you want your legs to look as sexy as this, then the Sandiline Freeride Extreme Dry Trousers are clearly to way to go! ;-)