New Waders

[Big Hit]

I'm in the market for a pair of new waders for next season. I have a pair of cheap breathables that leak all over the place. I think I've spent nearly as much on aquaseal as I did on the waders themselves.

I'm looking to upgrade thinking that if I spend a bit more I'll get better quality and customer service for repairs. I'm thinking of going with Simms, Patagonia, or maybe even higher end Cabelas. I'm pretty hard on waders with all the bushwacking in the driftless area and want a pair that will withstand the abuse. Any suggestions or comments would be of great help.

[crappiebuster]

I got a pair or Cabelas waders 3 yrs ago. Theyre not breathable but super thin material. Not a leak yet. Theyve been trout fishing river fishing drunk fishing you name it. Think they were like 60 bucks. Better than buying a pair of rubber ones every year @ 40 bucks.

[Driftless]

Have had Sims and Patas. Both leaked at end of year and lots more expensive.

I expect to go through a pair of waders a year.

Get the Cabelas ones and retire them each year and get another pair.

[goblueM]

I 2nd getting the basic cabelas ones. I've put mine thru some pretty good abuse and they're still going strong. For less than 100 bucks you can't go wrong.

Plus if you abuse em and they get a hole just take em back to returns

[Big Hit]

Cabelas is great with their return policy, but I've also heard great things about Patagonia and their return policy as well. Many of the reviews of Cabelas waders seem to have a common theme, leaking in the seams.

[Scudly]

Whatever you buy make sure they say "breathable" in the title description. I bought a pair that said "increased breath-ability." Thin rubber. Put them on and in ten seconds could feel my heat radiate. Yuck. Back in the return box. Had Gander Mt breathable for six hard years. Left them in San Diego yesterday after they leaked like a sieve from float tubing. Four or five bottles of aquaseal. Every seam was caked thick.

Bought a pair of Frog Togs this summer. Lots of pockets. $80. Bet they last long enough for the price. Even reinforced in the knees. Yet to use but are real nice looking. Sage green so they will not show stains as bad as my old light tan Gander Mountain ones. Gander Mountain does not seem to make breathable with the stocking boot. I could only find GM breathable with rubber boot built in (no thanks).

[Scudly]

Wore my new Frog Togs for the first day and they are a perfect fit. I like the built in gravel guards, and three pockets in the chest plus you can even put your hands in from the sides to warm up. Today was PERFECT. Fleece jacket was a touch warm. No need for fingerless gloves or fleece ear band. Fished from 7:15 - 9:30. A couple of sauger for the frying pan tonight.

Frog Toggs I found for $80 this summer. Did a google and saw they are going for $100 now. I would recommend them. With breathable waters it is VERY easy to identify holes (Flashlight in the dark) and fix. With rubber or neoprene you are too hot in the summer. Winter you will also be too hot and once you sweat you will get even colder. I think reasonably priced breathables are the way to go.

BTW, I'm on my second pair of canvas Hodgman boots. Very disappointed in the second pair. This last pair are shot after one season. spacing under heel is not full rubber. Air pocket in the middle. So once they wore out just a little, there were holes. I had to self patch up the holes myself. Now today I notice the canvas is so ratty that it is fraying apart on the inside. On top there are a few see through areas. New pair before the official season next year. These are going in the garbage. Hodgman went downhill. No longer a trusted name brand. I had rubber hippers that stained my khaki colored Columbia pants the first time out. Now the crummy boots. All made in China.

[so haaad]

I'll jump on board here and push the cabelas breathables. I've got the waist high and standard versions and both work well. I paid $100-150, I can't remember. The padded knees are a nice addition. Like what has been said before, Cabelas has a fantastic return policy on their brand items, and it does apply to their waders.

[OnAFly]

The Cabela's waders I had lasted less than a season. Granted, they didn't make larger stockingfoot sizes and I have big feet. They started leaking at the seams between the neoprene foot and the wader material.

I got a pair of Orvis silver labels two years ago and they've been great. Variable foot sizes to choose from and comfortable and the best part...dry! Matters most come winter season

[Scudly]

OnAFly you should repair! Tube of Aquaseal at Fleet Farm is $7. Leaks on breathable easy to identify. As for neoprene booty, that usually takes a while. If the tape starts to unravel add aquaseal. Or just aquaseal all taped areas on the booty that leaks. Odds are the leak is at a seam.

[Watershed]

I would not hesitate to buy a Cabela's set of waders. I am on my fourth season with the guidewear series breathable waist highs. I wear them late fall, winter and early spring and would put them up against anyones. On a recent trip to Wisconsin steelheading, it was my buddies Simms that started leaking after their third usage.

[OnAFly]

Scudly, It's one of the many things I've been meaning to do. I still have the waders and they worked well, just didn't fit all that well. That's why I switched to Orvis. They had the least expensive wader with a stockingfoot that would fit my feet without having to go to a 3XL waist wader.

I never understood why companies thing there is a correlation between waist and foot sizes.

[Scudly]

Big feet huh? Sounds like a problem. If they don't fit and still in good shape an easy ID of the leak and aquaseal you could give them to family or friend.

Or flip on HSO-Classifieds even as is. Most of the time I have found the leak to be on breathable part, at seams, inside leg where your legs rub together. Flashlight in the dark you will see light coming through or worn areas were a slow leak could be at. I put on plastic disposable gloves when applying aquaseal.

I wonder if anyone makes custom waders?

[OnAFly]

Yeah, it's tough finding good waders with feet in larger sizes without paying an arm and a leg. On the flip side, when wading boots go on sale, they always have my size! I guess it's not all that bad.

[grate8]

A couple of sauger for the frying pan tonight.

where u catching them? dam i got to get out befor its too cold!

[Scudly]

Quote:

where u catching them? dam i got to get out befor its too cold!

Cannon River, downstream of Cannon Falls. Nice deep hole. It is a well known sauger/walleye spot.

[grate8]

sweet

what u catching them on?

[Scudly]

Slip bobber set 15,' bright colored jig head, white Mr Twister tail, and a minnow. Adjust slip bobber so you are bumping bottom. Early am 1/2 hour before sunrise. Cloudy days better. Probably even better at night with a lighted bobber. Enjoy the early am deal, home by 9am usually.