Wader Recommendation

[BilletHead]

37 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

I need new duck hunting waders too. Drake is trash from what I hear. Not surprised. I am hearing the Simms Tributaries are a solid deal. 

    The Simms camo waders with boot foot for waterfowl will be next wader purchase. Will be down the line when I save up. May use my current fishing waders some this year but hate the idea of using fishing wader boots for that. Got three years out of my llbean camo breathable boot foot waders. Hope for one more season at least. I always use breathable for waterfowl and layer up for weather conditions.

 BilletHead

[Gavin]

Have been wearing Simms gore-tex on winter floats/ fishing trips for 25 years. Why cut corners on comfort? The cheap ones do not last as long.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

53 minutes ago, jdmidwest said:

Most goretex waders are generously cut above the ankles.  The neoprene booties are to fit a boot.  Everything above wears like pants.

That becomes my issue.  My feet are very swollen.  Just curious if there is an option for customization, without breaking the bank.  

[jdmidwest]

Stocking foot waders run large at the foot.  Its the boots that take up the slack.  They are sized larger to allow for foot + neoprene bootie.  They shrink after wet and dry.  Boot fit better after you wet them.  I tend to like cloth or cordura boots vs leather when wading with stocking foot waders.

Boot foot waders tend to run a little large, extra socks or thicker ones take up the slack.  They seldom lace up tight.  Less ankle support.

Stocking foot waders tend to come with booties only, boots and laces optional.  You can size them accordingly.  Find a shop that lets you try them on for size.  I have wore them with croc's in the summer.

Don't know how much swelling you have.  My work boots get tight at the end of the day sometimes, but never too much to loosen the laces and retye.

[fishinwrench]

23 minutes ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

That becomes my issue.  My feet are very swollen.  Just curious if there is an option for customization, without breaking the bank.  

Simms will do custom sizing, but it's probably pretty expensive.  Maybe not though.  Call them and see.

[Gavin]

The Simms large will fit my size 12 foot with room to spare. Ask Tom, Craig, or Eric at Hargrove's Fly Shop and they will do their best for you. They sell allot of Simms...Will fix/return for warranty broken rods, and patch waders  up too if need be.

 

 

[tjm]

The advertisement i saw last year ( or the year before) said that Simms was the only wader manufacturer licensed to use GoreTex that all other waders had to use other materials. So, it would seem that any wader made of GoreTex would be a Simms product rebadged or a lie.

I bought top quality/priced waders 40 years ago for several years and I discovered that for me the loving care was too much, and no wader withstands barb wire or broken whiskey bottles in the water; I discovered that I want a wader that I can put on in about 30 seconds or take off in about 30 seconds and that leaving them wet in the truck was mighty handy, that buying new waders every couple years was cheaper time wise than being in love. That they all leak and that when you are wet and cold and pizedoff because they leaked you don't regret throwing away a $30 set as much as a $100 set. That Simms waders have legs too long for comfort and that most waders are too tight in the calves. Apparently no one currently makes waders with chest/uppers big enough to fit over a coat or vest so the top half is useless. (unless you just want to look pretty while standing in shallow water)  For me the Hodgmans boot foot come as close to perfect as any and I can buy the hippers at about $40. But you knew when you asked that you wanted Simms.  I might try a set of Caddis Wading Systems  soon; they did say they would customize a set. When I asked Simms, they said no to custom work.  Don't know if either is still true.

[Flysmallie]

If you have concerns on fit make sure you try them on. The EXACT ones that you are going to buy. I had a pair of Simms and loved the fit. Everything was perfect. When they ignorantly made felt illegal I decided on new boots and new Simms to go with them. The new pair is tight around my ankles. Part of that is due to swelling in one leg from a knee but it also wasn't that way with the older pair.

I agree a lot with what @tjm says. I don't buy this stuff to baby it. I pull them off, throw them wherever, and toss my boots on top of them most of the time. I would also just rather have another pair every two or three years because I'm going to walk thru the brush and thorns, slide down a bank, etc. Heck I could buy a new pair every couple of years and I know I will end up spending more money than that on sneakers. 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

Ended up getting the Simms Tributaries (the Soul River version that helped benefit veterans near the Soul River in Oregon is what I was told) and Korker boots. I have yet to test them out. Need to get out somewhere this weekend.

Also, I just realized your photo is of the Enchanter from Monty Python and the Holy Grail @ness. Amazing lol! "There are those who call me....Tim."

[Johnsfolly]

5 hours ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

"There are those who call me....Tim."