Wading Systems.

[SherpaB]

Thats the problem with waders...all mfg's even simms have a poor pair every now and then and you only hear about the bad news...I guess my rule of thumb is that waders are about $100 per year...I've had 3 pr simms two are lightweigts and the go 2-3 years each..the guides that i had were $300 back then and last about 4 ...just reporting what others have said.

[G Lech]

Get simms there products and warranty's cant be beat. I never had a bad experience with them.

[IdahoFly]

Thanks for all of the input guys, I'll definitely look into the Dan Bailey's, my local fly shop sells them but i have never really gave them a look. And I agree, I think that waders are one of the biggest pain in the butts too buy, but I guess you got to do what you got to do.

[Esopus Guy]

I will say that the Baily's are cut the best for layering. You can put on plenty of socks ect. as they seem to be a bit fuller cut. The reason I bought another pair. They also have excellent costomer service. As with every brand I have tried they all blow out in the same place...........the heel or toe. Maybe I should just fish where i park to limit the mileage on them...lol

[DrBob]

I'll be the outlier... I use Cabelas. They have "long" sizes, are relatively economical, and have a great warranty. I've used other brands in the past and they didn't seem to last any longer.

[IdahoFly]

ha ha putting miles on small streams up in the mountains is what causes blow outs a lot I think, not that I ever do that :

[FlyBum]

Well I usually don't do the Fan Boy thing, but Simms all the way. Now I have tighter budget then most so I have to figure out ways to purchase the best gear I can. One of my local fly shops has a trade in program for rods and reels. I have fly fished since before 4piece rods were as available as they are now, so I had a good number of 2 piece rods. Plus I've been lucky at finding 2 piece rods that I could buy cheap and trade or sell for more then I paid the same with reels as well. Trading in or selling these rods and reels is how I have afforded equipment with little out of pocket that I could not have afforded otherwise.

To top it off I have also discovered Alan & Co Fly (Owners name is Justicn) Fishing through another forum and his reels are such high quality for such excellent prices that sold all my Abels, and other Major brand reels and replanced them Alan & Co reels at a third the cost. He sells directly to angler. He sells fly lines that I use as well and he has come out with some amazing Rods he has just releasing fist to those who preordered, mine should be here next week. If I told you what these rods have been compared to by the few who bought one from a prelease batch several months ago you wouldn't beleive me. So I'm pretty excited! Justin just told this week that the first week in February he will release a 10' Nymphing rod too out of the same amazing blank material as the rod I'll be getting next week.

I said all this to say that where there is a will there is a way to be able to afford high quality fly fishing gear.

[IdahoFly]

FlyBum,

I checked out the Alan & Co company, looks very promising and I'm exciting too try out some of there gear, Keep me updated on there new products and I would be more than happy to test them out, who knows good be a new big name in the making. Thanks a lot for sharing!

[gooddrift]

good waders might be expensive (and they are), but they are a whole lot cheaper than a boat. waders are a person's boat if they're mostly fishing streams. and there is no need to worry about fuel, license, storage, and lugging it back and forth. high grade simms are my vote.

[Oberon]

I've worn Patagonia's for about the past 5 or 6 years. Had nothing but good luck. Warranty is awesome. Had a pair of wading boots that the felt started coming unglued after 4 years...sent them back...they sent me brand new boots ( their latest style). Just sent back my waders last year after beating on them for 4 years (they had a leak where the seam from the neoprene to the breathable wader material connects) Sent me a brand new pair of the latest style. I also have the original SST Jacket. Six years old and going strong. Gore-Tex isn't the only name in breathable waterproof fabrics. Many companies come up with their own because they can patent it and don't have to pay for the Gore-Tex name. I've never owned simms, other than a Freestone wading jacket that I got years ago for a TU donation, but have never worn. They seem to have very nice stuff, but seems to be a little pricey. What are the G4 Guidefoots...$700? Just because they have a waterproof zipper in the front? Thats a lot of coin for waders. I would like to check out the Filson 5 layer stockingfoots. I have a couple of Filson jackets and a few pieces of luggage and the stuff is practically bulletproof. Things may have changed since they were bought out recently and started making a lot of their items overseas (Like everyone else pretty much). They look pretty sturdy though. I agree you definitely get what you pay for. Buy cheap waders and by the time they are broken in, they'll probably be leaking and have no warranty, so you have to just throw them away and buy another pair. Best advice is to do some research, check out the warranty, and buy the best quality you can afford. Its usually worth it in the long run IMHO.
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