waders

[fishinwrench]

Expensive waders last longer because you take better care of them.  Turn them inside out to dry, roll them up neatly, and all that nonsense.   If you pamper those 80.00 Hodgeman/BPS/Cabela's affordable waders like that then they'll last quite awhile too.

[joeD]

I don't know you shawncuz. I don't know how you fish or how often or your financial situation or anything for that matter.  You asked a question about inexpensive waders. It was answered.  Tell your wife you're spending $600 on waders because they'll last .

[snagged in outlet 3]

I have a pair Hodgeman's that are at least 12 years old.  I bought them from their bargain barn for like $50.  Fit great no leaks yet. 

I do turn them inside out and take care of them only because they'll stink if you don't.

[Haris122]

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Expensive waders last longer because you take better care of them.  Turn them inside out to dry, roll them up neatly, and all that nonsense.   If you pamper those 80.00 Hodgeman/BPS/Cabela's affordable waders like that then they'll last quite awhile too.

Judging from the reviews of some of the more expensive brands, I suppose it happens from time to time to them as well, but I got some Bass Pro ones that cost me like 120 in late November, and despite taking care of them, 5 trips or so in, over the course of 3 months, they started leaking on one side like no one's business. Which really kind of sucks when you spend an hour and a half or more driving someplace to go wading, only to find that out. Now on the flip side, I've had some cheap Cabelas that for the most part I just kept carelessly in the car, that cost me like 100 or so, and they're still pretty decent about 2 years now. Though I do suspect they're also leaking slightly. So, I don't know. Maybe the moral of the story is, it's good to have some form of backup waders if you go that far, especially if you go cheap on them.

[Haris122]

Quick question, how can someone tell if their waders are lightly leaking as opposed to just me excessively sweating or something, from the extra layers under the waders. I went yesterday pretty much all day, and I feel like my pants were too damp afterwards to be sweat. Yet at the same time I did have two layers under the waders, they weren't leaking noticeably, and in addition I've only had these waders for half a year and about 7 or so trips.

The type of waders in question are the breathable Cabelas Instinct Accelerator boot foot waders. I really like them, but if they are leaking I want to see if they will bother to fix it somehow while still relatively new, cause I doubt 300 dollar waders should leak within half a year.

[fishinwrench]

Was one leg noticably wetter than the other?

Being a little damp when you take them off is just a fact of life, all breathable waders transfer a bit of moisture through them after they are broke-in good. Standing in fast heavy water vs. standing in slow/still water will make a noticable difference.  My favorite pair has a right leg seep below the knee but I just put up with it, it's not enough to throw me into hypothermic shock or anything. I don't even notice it until I take them off, and the damp spot drys out in 15 minutes. 

They say that if you spray them down with alcohol that the leaky spot will be easy to find because it will be the last spot to dry.  Makes sense but I've never tried it.

[Gavin]

As FW said, spray with isopropyl alcohol from the outside then look inside. If in STL take them to Hargrove's they will troubleshoot & fix them for you for a small fee.

[Haris122]

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Was one leg noticably wetter than the other?

No, both were about the same, and it was pretty much all along the pants, not restricted to any particular spot, or particularly worse in any spot that I know of. Didn't bother me when I was wading, but the ride back afterward, it was definitely getting chilly, without the waders on anymore.

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If in STL take them to Hargrove's they will troubleshoot & fix them for you for a small fee.

If they are leaking, I was first going to take them up to Cabelas in hopes of them fixing it for free, seeing how it's only been 6 months. But it's good to have alternatives. What kind of ballpark figures we talking about for the small fee?

[Gavin]

You would have to ask Tom or Craig. Would take to Cabela's first, see if they will exchange for a new pair....If they want to ship back, I'd go to Tom because your turnaround time will be quicker.

 

[tjm]

So, how do you keep the sand and pea stone out of those separate boots?

I haven't bought new chest waders since about the time Simms started in business,  but back in my younger days I surely preferred boot foots and canvass. Opened this thread because I'm getting tired of wet wading and thought I'd look at what there is out there these days.