Good Waders

[Mudcat21]

I need some new waders for next year. I finally got tired of being wet and took a scissor to my old ones, therefore, forcing me to buy new ones before next year. I'm looking towards the LaCrosse Armor Flex. What do other fella's run with?

[Gissert]

I am on my third year of with Gander Guide Series neoprenes, been very happy with them.

[ChuckN]

I've had cheap FlyTech waders for 8 seasons, and this past late season duck hunt with all the ice ruined them. They still work great, but the outer camo lining is missing in many places now...

These waders have been just fantastic.

So, I am in the market too. Curious what everyone has to say..good/bad.

[Fish&Fowl]

Cabela's 5mm 800 gram thinsulate. They have been good waders, a little warm for early season and a little cool for late season but great for the majority of the year. Also reasonably priced.

[daydreamer]

I'm with Fish&Fowl on this one. Cabela's 5mm 800 gram. I just bought them at the beginning of this season and I loved them. I dressed according to the weather and never got cold and only a bit warm on some of the early duck hunts.

[Flick]

I have a pair of Cabelas "Dry Plus" waders. They're awesome. They feel like you're wearing a pair of wind pants. Early in the season while everyone else is sweating there a$$ off you can just stand and laugh. Late in the season I can fit a pair of heavy bibs underneath and be extremely comfortable. They work great in all temps thats why I like them.

[Mudcat21]

I had the Gander Guide Series and they leaked bad along the seams by your legs. (I think they were stiched together on a Friday ) Glad other guys have had luck with them, but their not for me again.

[BoxMN]

I am probably in the minority, but I use the Cabelas stocking feet neoprene, the cheap $60 ones that are reversible brown/camo. I have used them a lot for prolly 6 years. Some barb wire holes have needed to be patched, but otherwise holding up good.

Reason I got the stocking foot, is that you don't get stuck in the sucky like the big looser fitting boots do. This year in NoDak was funny, seeing buddies stuck in some of those low water potholes, and I was trekking through pretty darn good, and I'm fat The boots stay tight to your feet, so they come up out of muck TONS BETTER than booted waders. They are also like wearing hiking boots, rather than heavy rubber boots, and much lighter.

Down side is the time it takes to put them on, and take them off - not much more, but you have to bend over more and tie/untie. But it also is very easy to get them dry on the inside as you simply turn them inside out (from sweating, not leaks). I think mine are 3 or 4mm, I would not get 5mm.

For warmth, I layer poly underwear, then fleece wader pants, then the waders. I used this right up through last weekend of season here in MN, and when I was in NoDak it was only 15 in the morns. I used to use poly and lined jeans, but the wader pants are way more comfy and easier to move in. You can always go with a heavier underwear and it would work if you got colder. I move aroudn quite a bit, cause I am always hunting with bad dogs, and I chase more ducks than them

If you hunt out of boat more, and do less walking, then I can see where the nice bigger boots would be nice, but I think I will keep using my stocking foot. For how I hunt, it just works better. Also easier managing in and out of little boats (we use Puddlers) with the smaller footprint boots.

My brother has been using our bigger boat more, and his next pair will be booted, with a zipper, as he hunts before work a lot, and anything that saves him time is key, so getting in and out of waders quick is his gig.

I kinda like the Columbia best pair, if I was getting booted ones. They look tough and I like the little hip pockets and the chest pockets. Not sure how they hold up, but they look tough.

good luck. Sorry I rambled, but now that I don't get up for hunting before work, I have too much time on my hands

-Box

[Sartell Angler]

good post Box!

I don't thing many guys beyond trout fishermen consider the stocking feet, but I can see how they fit in with certain types of hunting (plus you can't beat the cheaper pricetag).

I'm getting sick of my heavy neoprenes--they are nice for later in the season but I wish I had a pair of lighter ones for earlier in the year. There are ones that are as thin as windpants and those have to be comfortable as long as it doesn't get too chilly.

SA/wdw

[Scott M]

I just finished year 5 on a pair of Hodgmans Neoprene 5mm, can't remember how much thinsulate. But...I put some tears in them walking through some thick brush last spring chasing brookies on the north shore. I should have used the rubber waders that weekend but it was so cold....Anyway, besides a few tears/pokes that I fixed, the stitching in the crotch is unraveling after all these years. I used these waders a lot, probably more than the average hunter or fisher, so it's about time. I have no doubt I got my hundred bucks out of them. I'm gonna keep the pair as a backup. I will get the crotch restitched and keep fixing any holes if I tear it anymore. Love those waders.

I want to get a pair of those $200 Hodgman Duramag neoprenes. Top of the line stuff, lots of built in accessories, although I probably don't need them from all the aftermarket stuff I put on my old pair.