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leaking waders


Greg

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Anyone had any sucess repairing breathable waders? My BassPro breathables are leaking somewhere in the Lt calf area. Not sure if it is the neoprene or the breathable material or the connection between the two? Or is it better to just bite the bullet and buy a new pair? They are about 18 months old. I'm a little disappointed in them. I've tried to take good care of them........

thanks,

Greg

"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it" - Koos Brandt

Greg Mitchell

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I had/have the same problem with a pair of breathable White River Waders. it seems my leak was at the seam of the bootie to the leg. I hate them. But I guess we got what we paid for. I have tried repairing them on several times with no luck. I bought a set of LL Beans neoprenes and I love em! This spring I will have to get a new set of breathables and I will more then likely go with a pair of Simms.

I have had Hodgeman, and got a pair of Orvis (they were my fathers) but they all have leaks that I cannot seem to fix. so i am chucking them as well.

You are so stupid you threw a rock at the ground and missed.

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Guest Jim Traylor

Have had some success with the UV patch stuff. Then put another patch on top of it. If it is at the seams it's pretty tough to fix but perhaps they will replace them.

Jimmy T.

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Hey Greg.

I had a pair of 3 year old Hodgman waders that started to leak in the lower leg area. I emailed customer service at Hodgman and explained that although the waders were 3 years old they only had about 75 days of fishing on them. I told them there was no visible sign of trama and they seem to just leak because of "workmanship". They told me to send them in and sure enough about two weeks later they called and apologized and let me know they sent out a new pair. The new pair were the new style of wader that they were selling at a higher price than I paid for the old style. Be honest and give them a chance to satisfy a customer. You never know.

Snagged.

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I had a similar problem with a pair of Bass Pro Waders after only 18-24 months of use. After a couple attempts at repairing them, I asked the guy in the fly shop at Bass Pro. Maybe I am lucky, but the guy claims they stand by their products and gave me a brand new pair! Check your local Bass Pro to see if the policy is honored there.

Fishinghabit

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Thanks for the info/suggestions. I think I may try to take them back. Even though they are past the warranty period (1 year) I don't think they should have started leaking after 18 months and approx 70 fishing trips/days.

I've never had a pair of wader last more than a year or 2. I'm sure the 3 and 4 hundred dollar waders out there are better but I just refuse to pay that much.

Greg

"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it" - Koos Brandt

Greg Mitchell

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  • 3 weeks later...

Gentlemen,

About a year ago I was shopping for a pair of waders for my teenage daughter and found the Orvis inexpensive breathables in ladies size fit her great. Then, before making a final decision on where to buy them, I was told by Bass Pro in Springfield that their warranty is not dependent totally on the manufactuer's standard warranty. The BPS policy (at least it was then, and I'm sure it still is) is a LIFETIME "customer satisfaction" warranty/promise.

Therefore, as they explained to me, if for example the warranty for Orvis or Simms waders (they carry both, along with their own private brand) is one or two years it doesn't matter if you are not satisfied with the performance of the product.

So, if you have a wader you purchased from BPS that you are not satisfied with you should be able to take them back and exchange, upgrade or get a refund.

My opinion (like noses, everyone has one).........there are no waders/boots as good or better than Simms. You just can't go wrong.

Hope you find this helpful.

Bill Butts

Springfield MO

"So many fish, so little time"

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My wife bought me a pair of Simms waders for christmas. I've used them a couple of times and they work well. They are really not any more comfortable than the Bass Pro waders but hopefully they last a lot longer. Simms warranty seems impressive. One disappointing thing is that there are no attached gravel guards on the model I have (lightweight gore-tex). That kind of seems like a no brainer. The separate gravel guards work fine but that is just one more thing to do to get ready and to remember to pack........

I still plan to take my Bass Pro waders back and see what they will do. Just haven't had time yet.

Greg

"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it" - Koos Brandt

Greg Mitchell

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My wife bought me a pair of Simms waders for christmas. I've used them a couple of times and they work well. They are really not any more comfortable than the Bass Pro waders but hopefully they last a lot longer. Simms warranty seems impressive. One disappointing thing is that there are no attached gravel guards on the model I have (lightweight gore-tex). That kind of seems like a no brainer. The separate gravel guards work fine but that is just one more thing to do to get ready and to remember to pack........

I still plan to take my Bass Pro waders back and see what they will do. Just haven't had time yet.

Greg

Greg,

I thought the same thing years ago when I bought my Simms, after having the attached-gravel-guard-style waders. I would never buy the attached style again.

Here's why.

The key for gravel guards to work the absolute best is to get them as snug as possible around your lower leg and boot. Therefore, it is important to stretch the neoprene around as tightly as you can. Obviously, everyone's legs and boots are a little different in size. Over a period of time, depending how often you use them, the neoprene gradually loses some of its elasticity and it becomes more and more difficult to get that good snug wrap. At that point it is best to replace them. About $30 for the Simms.

My Simms Guideweights are just about to see their 5th anniversary and there is a lot of wear left in them. However, my gravel guards probably should have been replaced this past year, and will be soon.

I encourage you to take advantage of the individualized fit benefits vs. the convenience factor.

Good Fishin'

Bill Butts

Springfield MO

"So many fish, so little time"

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