Waders that will last me at least 5 seasons

[speedbird]

I’ve yet to have a pair of waders last more than a season before developing a leak. At first was in the boots, my local store seemed convinced the issue was sweat cooling down and making me think there was a leak, but after pulling them out of storage the boots now have visible holes in them. These were reddingtons, and as Reddington no longer makes waders they won’t repair them.

My second pair, simms tributary’s, lasted even shorter, not even a full season. Booties and major leaks in the crotch area. I’m going to attempt to have them repaired but from reading others experiences my hopes aren’t high they will honor it.

I would consider spending extra money on waders, but I’ve read enough story’s to be very hesitant about spending big money on something that might not last long.

What waders have lasted you guys the longest? In my mind, a wader that developed a leak and was repaired by the manufacturer at a reasonable price is a wader that lasted. I’m shopping for a new pair and hoping to find something that lasts me at least 5 years, and costs me no more than $600 over that time, either through up front costs or repairs.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, I’m pretty harsh on my waders doing a fair amount of bushwhacking and climbing in them, so maybe my expectations are unreasonable

 

[Shad]

My experience has been largely like yours; I've yet to have waders go more than about a year without a significant (irreparable) leak, generally through the neoprene booties. I have recently decided on taking the opposite approach to seeking "better" waders: buying low to mid-priced waders with the expectation that they won't last very long, no matter what I do. Meanwhile, I purchased a very reasonable boot and wader dryer, in hopes that making sure my waders and boots are dry within 24 hours of getting off the water might extend the life of the ones I'm using now (Simms Freestones, purchased at a discount for about $250). I've owned Redington, Simms, and Skwala waders in recent years, and while I have appreciated the features of the more expensive models, they haven't lasted more than a few trips beyond the cheaper models. Nowhere near worth double (or even triple!) the cost in my experience.

I hear all the time from others that their waders last them 3 or more seasons. I think that's because they mostly fish out of boats and do very little hiking in their waders, but it still makes me jealous.

Anyway, I'm doing everything I possibly can to preserve the waders I'm using now. We're talking wearing 2 pair of wool socks, making sure the pants I wear underneath are completely free of seams and zippers that might stress the wader material, and thoroughly rinsing and drying my boots and waders after every use. It's been about 4 months, and no leaks so far, but we'll see where we're at when their anniversary rolls around.

I've often thought that glueing a second layer of neoprene to the bottom of the booties might help with the usual failure I experience, but I've yet to give that a try. Honestly, I'm not sure where to source reasonably-priced pieces of neoprene, and that's been a barrier. That's next, if the religious care regimen doesn't work.

Good luck.

 

[albula]

I've purchased a lot of waders over the past 50 years and the one constant, save for the initial experiences with breathable waders in their infancy, was that I almost always got what I paid for.

 

[Scottybs]

Speedbird… I have heard nothing but good about Grundens… that’ll be my next move.

 

[Shad]

I've purchased a lot of waders over the past 50 years and the one constant, save for the initial experiences with breathable waders in their infancy, was that I almost always got what I paid for.

And there you have it. That's a solid endorsement, given your experience. I really wish I could say the same. I generally end up feeling ripped off every time I spend over $300. Less than that, and I figure I am getting what I deserve for being "cheap."

As with the O.P., it's never the wader material (what we're paying for in premium waders) that develops the problem leaks in my waders; always the neoprene, which varies little between brands. When the wader material does develop leaks (unless it's a seam, which is rare), it's easily repaired with Aquaseal. Neoprene booties cannot be repaired once they start leaking up through the bottom due to wear (and admittedly what might be considered abusive care).

I think time spent hiking in waders (coupled with thoughtful care) is the key factor in longevity. I'm very careful not to take them through blackberries and such these days (I admit I wasn't always), but they don't seem to last any longer because of it. When I think about them like shoes, it makes sense they would wear out much faster if I'm walking in them a lot. Another thing that happens when we walk in waders a bunch is we sweat in them a bunch, which leaves behind mold-friendly moisture and residues. I'm (really) hoping drying them from the inside out as soon as I get home will help with that.

I felt a bit vindicated reading the O.P.'s post, because for the most part, I seem to be in a commiserative minority, and I really, really want my waders to last according to what I paid for them. I'm looking for answers, too, @speedbird

 

[RCF]

I still can wear my Simms Gore-Tex waders I bought in 1994. The footie is also Gore-Tex, not neoprene. They do not leak.

Why they lasted so long? I do not wear them...

 

[Pink Nighty]

Are you using your gravel guards and being vigilant about what's in your boot when you put them on? Theres a sweet spot of gravel size where itll rub on your bootie and not your foot.

Food for thought, might be your boots themselves wearing a hole in the neoprene

 

[adamcu280]

I got a set of Dryft S14 in 2020 and they are still going strong. DWR wore off a few years ago and there might be a pinprick leak where the neoprene meets the shell material, or it could just be condensation from the inside, but, after hundreds of days of 99% saltwater use I'm impressed. They're a Bellingham-based company so it's nice to support local.

They're on sale right now as well. Might get another set because why not.

S14 Wader - Men's

The DRYFT S14 Adrenaline fishing waders are high quality, affordable and breathable chest waders designed for four season use.

dryftfishing.com

 

[Shad]

I still can wear my Simms Gore-Tex waders I bought in 1994. The footie is also Gore-Tex, not neoprene. They do not leak.

Why they lasted so long? I do not wear them...

Are you using your gravel guards and being vigilant about what's in your boot when you put them on? Theres a sweet spot of gravel size where itll rub on your bootie and not your foot.

Food for thought, might be your boots themselves wearing a hole in the neoprene

Boots. Ugh... there's another thread. I've been paying close attention to what's happening in my boots lately, and it has taught me that it's important to rinse your boots after each use, to keep as much of that stuff out as possible. Even small amounts of sediment can be an issue, and I suspect it's the stuff that sneaks in while you're fishing that does a lot of the harm over time.

 

[M_D]

I got a set of Dryft S14 in 2020 and they are still going strong. DWR wore off a few years ago and there might be a pinprick leak where the neoprene meets the shell material, or it could just be condensation from the inside, but, after hundreds of days of 99% saltwater use I'm impressed. They're a Bellingham-based company so it's nice to support local.

They're on sale right now as well. Might get another set because why not.

S14 Wader - Men's

The DRYFT S14 Adrenaline fishing waders are high quality, affordable and breathable chest waders designed for four season use.

dryftfishing.com

Thanks for the Headzup. My G3’s are barely hanging on after 5 seasons. I was looking at these and the Grundens.

Can’t beat the price so guess Dryft it is

 

[Tom Butler]

Boots. Ugh... there's another thread. I've been paying close attention to what's happening in my boots lately, and it has taught me that it's important to rinse your boots after each use, to keep as much of that stuff out as possible. Even small amounts of sediment can be an issue, and I suspect it's the stuff that sneaks in while you're fishing that does a lot of the harm over time.

I think your onto something. I mentioned I always clean flylines, and waders and boots get rinsed with the hose and dried after each use also. I think it makes a difference. Dad taught me to take care of my gear. Yeah, that OCD/ANAL guy again.

 

[Eastside]

I have good luck with waders and my Simms G3s are in their fourth year. I just sent my G4 zippered waders into Simms for a slow leak in my right neoprene foot. They are more than 10 years old and I use them sparingly in winter months. Like @Tom Butler, I hose them off when I get home and hang them in the garage.

 

[Wayne Kohan]

I have had the best luck with Orvis. Had a couple that developed leaks but they were able to repair them with a fee, but the repair held well.

 

[CRO]

I found that if you buy a pair of neopreme socks to put on over your stocking foot waders that it will extend the life of the booties attached to the waders. The one problem that you will encounter if you do this after you have bought your wading boots to fit your waders without the extra layer is that you should have bought a pair of shoes one size bigger. Those over socks also add a little more insulation when the water in the rivers gets closer to freezing.

 

[Brute]

I think your onto something. I mentioned I always clean flylines, and waders and boots get rinsed with the hose and dried after each use also. I think it makes a difference. Dad taught me to take care of my gear. Yeah, that OCD/ANAL guy again.

Ive never rinsed my waders except if i have gone thru some ugly slimy stuff…but religiously rinse out the boots…on my fourth season of front zipped Simms, did put a hole in them walking thru some thorny stuff that was field repaired with uv resin 3 years ago and still holding…

 

[_WW_]

I found that if you buy a pair of neopreme socks to put on over your stocking foot waders that it will extend the life of the booties attached to the waders. The one problem that you will encounter if you do this after you have bought your wading boots to fit your waders without the extra layer is that you should have bought a pair of shoes one size bigger. Those over socks also add a little more insulation when the water in the rivers gets closer to freezing.

Fleece socks also work.

 

[Salmo_g]

I'm frugal at times. I paid full retail only for my first set of breathable waders a little more than 20 years ago. Dan Bailey's @ $200. Not the greatest quality in that pinhole leaks in the fabric became very common, and after about 3 seasons the insides were polka dotted with aqua seal repairs. But I had already bought a back up pair of DBs for $130 on sale at Sportco. Got a few more seasons. Then I found that by watching for sales I could keep myself supplied with waders for a reasonable cost, if not cheap. Went through 2 sets of Redington zip front sonic pros at $200 each. Then a couple sets of Patagonia on closeout for $200 each - I'm on the 4th season of one of those, and the other is back up with a pinhole leak in the foot I can't seem to locate. Then 2 years ago saw a sale on Simms G3 or something like that for $399, twice what I've paid before, but seemed like a deal worth trying. Those are in the basement, in rotation, waiting their turn for duty. I'm not planning to look for any more deals on waders until the Simms begin their rotation duty, but if I run across a really good deal, I might spring for another set. The one thing we know about waders is that they are not long term investments.

I don't think I'm too hard on gear, but I don't baby it either. I hike in waders often enough, but I try to avoid long treks through blackberry and puckerbrush. I never wash my waders unless they somehow come home caked with mud. I always turn them inside out to dry after each day of fishing, then rightside out to dry if not fishing the very next day. That's it for care, and they seem to be giving me decent mileage compared to the many years of non-breathable waders in years gone by.

 

[Irafly]

I’m pretty harsh on my waders doing a fair amount of bushwhacking and climbing in them, so maybe my expectations are unreasonable

If you admittedly are harsh on your waders, then yes, your mentioned parameters are unreasonable. No pair of waders, will hold up to repeated abuse. You need to invest in waders with rock solid warranties, think Patagonia. Not sure where you are, but Avid Angler has some on sale now, might not have your size though.

 

[krusty]

Certainly not blaming the 'victim' but how you put on and take off waders can easily affect wader longevity/integrity, especially at seams. Digging in with a couple of fingers and applying a lot of force puts a lot of stress on seams, and standing on bare ground instead of some clean carpeting through the whole effort provides a lot of opportunities for punctures. Proper boot size and boot cleaning is essential. I've been using NRS hydroskin socks over my wader booties to protect them from the boot interior and any entrapped aquatic debris with very good results for many years.

No waders will 'stand up' to traipsing through thorny vegetation or wearing abrasive pants (like denim) as an undergarment.

 

[509]

I went through buying "expensive" waders and soon found out that they last about as long as cheap waders.

I just started buying cheap, neoprene waders. I would go through streaks of buying a new set of waders every year or so and several years of buying two a season.

BUT then I would hit a wader that would last five years or more. My current set is going on 15 years a new record. I did give up duck hunting with this set.

They look just like all those other waders that leaked fairly quickly.

I have no idea why some waders last a long time and others fail quickly.