waders

[john]

okay guys,

santa got a real deal on a T3, so he still has some money left in the budget. if you were going to get a new set of chest high waders, which ones would you get, and why. ???

thanks for the help !!!!

[alanb_ct]

I have had mixed success with high end boots. It seems to me that no mater what you buy, they last about a season and a half, especially if you do any bush whacking. For that reason, for the past decade I have been using lower end boots by Hodgman and Dan Bailey. You can buy a very functional, comfortable pair of breathables from Hodgman for about $60 on sale. They will not breathe like a Simms, but they are fine 95% of the time. Layered in the winter, they keep me warm just fine, in summer, they are cool.

Alternatively, the Dan Bailey Barebones are an excellent find, for about $120. They are nicely made and fit a little better than the Hodgman. They also have the nice side straps to help the fit.

I just don't feel it's worth spending more than that. Save that money for a new rod.

[JUICE]

I disagree. My Cloudveil 8x waders are the best expensive piece of equipt. I have bought. Amazingly durable and very comfortable, cool in the summer, and did I say durable? I fished 100 days in the last year and that was hard core fishing and there is not a pinhole to be found. If I have a complaint, it's that the pockets on the front aren't fully waterproof, but I just store my electronics inside.

For me, not being a great fly caster yet, money is often better invested in comforts for myself on the river, and this is one of them.

[trout5]

I have no doubt there are some great expensive waders out there, but if experience is the teacher I'd have to agree with Alan. I have gone through three sets of high-end waders in the last 2 years and they all develop leaks. I think the proper fit is vital though. My waders always seem to leak in the between the legs area and I think the constant friction on the inside seams is what causes them to open up. So the next pair I get will be something with the seems in the front and a good pair of inexpensive back-ups.

[Troutbum from Griswold]

Guys.....There are 3 products that you should not cut cost on in my opinion. Rod, reel, and WADERS. These are really the meat and potatoes of the sport when you really think about it. I always tell people to spend as much money AS THEY CAN AFFORD on those 3 products. For example, if you can only afford a max of $300 for a rod, buy the best your money can buy. The same for the reel and waders. I have a lot of personal experience in this area over time. First, I would wear nothing but a Gortex product. Period. Most breathable, durable, waterproof, material out there. Now, you can buy a pair of the Simms Gortex waders for around $200 or so. They are their lower end but they would, over time, out perform a non Gortex wader. Non-Gortex waders are made with a laminate material. That material is not as breathable, even though they are adverstised as breathable, as Gortex. Gortex is not a laminate. It is an actual material. Gortex itself is highly breathable, waterproof, and extremely durable and puncture resistant. When I started fly fishing, I went with the laminate. Hodgeman. I bought 3 pairs and within 6-8 months, all 3 pairs leaked. One right after the other. 2 pairs, I used 2 times each ONLY! Bad batch maybe and I am sure that this is not the usual experience. But, it was enough to purchase Simms and never look back. ALLL WADERS LEAK. No getting around it. It will happen even to Gortex. Simms has been very good to me with repairs. My G3 were sent back twice and the second time, THEY SENT ME A NEW PAIR! No extra charge. Really, If you going to spend $150-200, look into the Simms (I believe they are the Lightweights). They are Gortex and priced nicely if you don't want to spend for the G3 or Guide Weights. For a back up pair, the laminates are fine. Just my experience and opinion.

[alanb_ct]

I do agree with Opie regarding Gore-Tex. It's a great product, an absolute must have for certain in a rain jacket. I have two Gore-Tex rain jackets in both the XCR and Pac-Lite variety, and I believe they are indispensible. They don't need to hold back any water pressure though. If you can get any type of Gore-Tex wader for around $200, it's probably worth a try, but don't be surprised if they develop a leak within about a season or two.

You might consider buying a cheaper pair as a backup, just in case something leaks. I always have two pairs on hand.

[trout5]

i learned to have a back up the hard way at the Salmon River. That water is kind of cold!

[Nymphmeister]

As someone who's been in the fly fishing business for 20+ years, I've seen most of the waders and talked to people who have used them all. There is always someone who has had a bad experience with just about every model out there. The shops I've worked at have carried most of the major brands at one time or another, and I can tell you, hands down, Simms is the best. Any other wader we've ever carried ends up going back for repairs. All waders eventually leak, Simms just last the longest and are the best designed. Cloudveil is a very close 2nd, they haven't been out long enough for me to definitively judge them yet though.

My current favorite is the new version of the Simms G-3 wader. They dropped the price to $399 (from $450), and from the upper thigh down they are identical to the $699 G-4 wader. You have a fleece lined handwarmer pocket (I use it constantly in colder weather), belt loops, built in gravel guards, flip out zippered pocket with a retriever & tippet dispensers, large zippered outside pocket, the legs seams are now on the front & back (instead of the sides) to cut out wear from the legs chaffing against them, the fabric & membrane are improved (softer, 10% lighter, and more durable & breatheable). Cannot say enough good things about them. Guarantee they will be a big seller for us in '08. You cannot go wrong with Simms waders.

[john]

guys,

thanks for the help, im swinging towards a pair of simms g3's, but may stick with my cabela breathables a little longer.

once again thanks for the help

[TroutAholic]

I'll second Torrey's recommendation on the new G-3's, I got a pair about two months ago, and they are the best waders I have owned, hands down. My first pair of breathable waders was a pair of L.L. Bean's West Branch (I think they were called West Branch, seems they no longer carry them) which only cost about $150 and were durable as hell. I used them for over three years of 50 plus days of fishing a year before they started leaking, and I am tough on gear, crashing through brush, etc. The only complaint I had was they were a bit heavy and too warm in the summer. After they started leaking, I decided I would buy lighter waders and went with a pair of Orvis, which started leaking at the seams after less than a year. I was told that leaving them in the car during the summer can cause the seams to leak, which I must admit I would do, although I would try to leave the windows open. Anyway, I sent them back to Orvis for repair, and they sent me back a brand new pair. Nice, but those started leaking after about 8 or so months (during which time I was very careful not to leave them in the car), that is when I decided I would go for Simms, because of their reputation for durability. Now, I just have to get around to sending the Orvis waders back for repair/replacement so I have a back-up pair.