The Wing Group, already a powerhouse in marine and outdoor gear with brands like Wing Inflatables, Mustang Survival, and FabTek under its umbrella, just scooped up Kokatat—the California-based legend in premium paddle sports apparel and kayaking gear. This isn’t your average corporate merger; it’s a strategic power play in the water-adjacent outdoor space, where Kokatat’s drysuits, PFDs (personal flotation devices), and paddling essentials have long been the gold standard for adventurers braving whitewater, sea kayaking, or backcountry floats. Headquartered in Arcata, the brand’s acquisition by Wing signals a consolidation trend in niche outdoor manufacturing, potentially streamlining supply chains amid rising costs and tariffs that have squeezed smaller players.
For the 2A community, this move ripples beyond paddles and neoprene. Think about it: paddle sports gear like Kokatat’s isn’t just for yoga-on-a-kayak types—it’s mission-critical for backwoods hunters, anglers, and off-grid explorers who pack heat on every waterway trip. Reliable drysuits mean staying alive in hypothermia-inducing rapids while concealed-carrying a sidearm for bear country or sketchy encounters. Wing’s portfolio already dominates survival flotation (hello, Mustang Survival vests that double as emergency beacons), so expect cross-pollination: imagine integrated holsters in PFDs, modular paddle attachments for retrieving slung rifles, or even Wing’s inflatable tech adapted for quick-deploy floatation during a portage with a long gun. In an era of increasing waterway restrictions and eco-regs pushing shooters toward private lakes and remote rivers, this beefs up the gear ecosystem for armed outdoorsmen, ensuring high-quality, American-made options don’t vanish into overseas consolidation.
The implications? Consolidation like this could stabilize prices and innovation for 2A-aligned adventurers, but watch for Wing to push sustainability angles that might irk traditionalists—Kokatat’s already green-leaning. Still, it’s a net win: more robust supply for those float-plane hunts or SHTF bug-outs by canoe. If you’re rigging a kayak for the backcountry with your AR pistol, keep an eye on Wing’s next drops—they might just paddle the industry toward better 2A utility.
