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Pro Staff Tips |
Choosing the Right Fishing Wader |
Introduction
Fishing Waders are
the type of
equipment that once
you have a pair, you
wonder how you ever
went fishing with
out them. We sell a
lot of waders and
field just as many
questions on waders
in general. Most of
the time we ask more
questions than we
field as that is the
way to find out what
our customers real
needs are!
Waders have come a
long way from wool,
canvas and plastic
leg wrappings in
that order. Once
Neoprene showed up
we all thought that
things were really
looking up; warmth
and waterproof (well
except for the
sweat, but warmth
for sure!).
Of course Breathable
Waders are now here
and if sized
correctly and with
the proper
undergarments on
(more on this later)
they outperform the
Neoprene hands down.
Types of Waders
Neoprene verse
Breathable is really
what we’re talking
about here.
Neoprene waders came
from the diving
world and require a
thin film of
moisture on the
inside that acts
like a thermal
barrier, once warm
you stay warm.
However your sweat
is the thin film.
Breathable Waders
came from the
mountaineering world
and mean just that.
Water is allowed to
wick away from the
inside to the
outside, but not
vice versa. Can you
say Gortex? You
remain truly dry on
the inside.
Pros and Cons
One of the
complaints against
Breathable Waders is
their life cycle,
which is shorter
than Neoprene. You
can find Neoprene
waders 20 years old
but with current
technology you will
not find Breathable
Waders that old.
They just don’t last
that long.
In our opinion, a
decently made pair
of breathable
waders, which are
stored properly and
not abused will last
5 years.
Another complaint is
that Breathable
Waders are colder
than Neoprene.
True if you wear the
wrong undergarments.
To be breathable you
also have to wear
breathable clothing
that wick moisture
away from your skin
and move it
progressively
outward to the wader
skin. If you wear
cotton or denim
pants such as jeans
you are stopping
this process and the
moisture cools to
the outside
temperature causing
you to get cold. If
you wear 100%
breathable clothing
under your
breathable waders
then you will stay
dry and warm!
There are advantages
to neoprene waders
versus the
breathable waders.
The first is comfort
while float tubing.
Breathable waders
just don’t fit and
move like neoprene.
Neoprene gives the
user more freedom of
movement without
straining the seams.
If someone using the
float tube was
wearing breathable
waders, he/she would
most likely
experience chaffing
along the inner
thighs and behind
the knees. This
simply does not
happen with neoprene
if sized correctly.
However, breathable
waders are
definitely an
advantage for those
who use pontoon
boats. The pontoon
boat keeps the
angler off the water
and gives the user
the option to use
either the oars or
electric motors as a
primary source of
propulsion, while
staying completely
dry and comfortable.
Less leg movement
will result in less
chaffing.
Again our opinion
here but the comfort
level between
Breathable Waders
and Neoprene Waders
is so great that
there is no question
in our minds which
is the way to go.
Breathable waders
are without a doubt
the most comfortable
way to wade your
local streams or
rivers.
You will echo our
opinion when you
decide to go
breathables – What
took me so long!!
Buy Breathable
Waders!!
Booted or Stocking
Foot Waders
It seemed that not
long ago you could
get your waders with
attached boots or
without, your choice
as most manufactures
had them in these
configurations. What
happened? Now it is
hard to find them
with attached boots
so an additional
expense of separate
wading boots is
required.
Well the
manufactures had all
kinds of problems
with the booted
variety, leaks,
leaks and more
leaks. It was not
the wearing of the
waders that caused
the problem. It was
after taking them
off fishermen would
fling them over
their shoulders or
into the truck. The
weight of the boots
gave a great
centrifugal force to
the effort and
stress across the
seams was the
result. Technology
is starting to catch
up to the
requirement and some
manufactures are
producing the booted
variety again.
If you are fishing a
few times per year
then a booted wader
is easiest. However
if your fishing more
than a few times per
year comfort will
quickly become
important. A
properly fitted
stocking foot wader
with the correct
boots will provide
that comfort level.
Boot foot waders are
like wearing your
rubber boots. There
is far too much
movement and far too
little stability.
Not to mention, very
few come with felt
soles for traction.
Added traction
equals added safety.
Sizing Waders
Wader comfort is all
about your height,
weight and build.
When it comes to
breathable if you
get it wrong the
life of your waders
will be lessened. If
the inseam is too
long then material
will bunch up when
you walk in them and
cause rubbing in the
crotch and knee area
which will lead to
leaks in the seams.
Too short and when
you bend over or
climb over obstacles
you excessively
stretch the material
along the seam,
again causing leaks
over time.
First Measure Your
Chest (Girth)
Put on your fishing
clothing which could
mean a lot of stuff
depending on where
you’re going to
fish. Measure the
circumference of
your chest. Women
should measure their
hips as well, as
their waders are
made for a women's
silhouette.
Second Measure Your
Inseam
Take your shoes off
and measure your
inseam length,
crotch to the floor.
Oh by the way know
your foot size too.
Third Check the Size
Chart
Take your
measurements to the
size chart of the
product you want to
buy and find the
size that is right
for you.
What Price Range
The choice is yours
but this is what we
recommend.
If you fish 30 days
or less in a year
then the $100 to
$250 breathable
waders are just
fine.
If you fish 50 or 60
days per year (at
least once a week)
then the mid range
breathable waders
such as the Simms
LS2, Rivertek or
maybe even the Guide
series is the way to
go.
If you’re on the
water all the time
go to the high-end
stuff as anything
else will not last
the test of time.
All of this is
dependant on the
type of fishing your
going to do though.
If you fish creeks
requiring bush
bashing or long
treks only twice a
year, the lower-end
waders will not
stand up. Match your
waders to your
requirements. The
high-end products
are all matched to
specific
requirements such as
reinforced seats,
etc.
Although we sell
many types of waders
our primary
manufacture is
Simms. Why? Because
they lead and the
rest follow. As an
industry leader
their innovations
are what keep
pushing the envelope
and they produce
arguably the best
wader in the world.
Try and pry the
Simms Classic Guide
Stocking Foots from
our key store
associate, Ferdi and
it is fight to the
death. That is how
much he loves them!
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