SFR Waders

Sorta fishing-related
L

longputt

Steelhead
I fished the Palm Springs of WA today...I caught this beauty:

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But my waders leak.

Years ago I learned that concrete does two things: 1. It gets hard and 2. It cracks

Waders do two things: 1. They make you sweat and 2. they leak.

So do you buy better wader pants or better waders?

Right now with my Sitka wader pants and the slow leaks I can fish all day but I'm not so wet that I get cold.

Do you buy cheap waders that you change out every year or do you buy expensive waders?

I've always gone with cheap waders and toss them every 2 years...what do you think of high end waders? Do they last for the price?

I know this has been discussed...but I'm curious are 2 low cost waders better than one pair of high cost waders?
 
I've caught a mussel like that! For many years I bought cheapish waders (Cabela's premium @$125) and used them for a couple of seasons until they leaked, then replaced them. This year I decided to invest in Patagonia Swiftcurrent expeditions. I'll report back in a few years. One things for sure, these expensive ones are A LOT heavier than the cheap ones! The fit is much better, though.
 
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Plenty of options but at least add articulated seams and aquaseal to the equasion. Both are $ well spent. If you're blowing thru waders that much you're likely living a life most are jealous of. I'd take that problem.
 
I’m personally in the belief of buy once cry once. I still have a pair of simms guide waders that I keep in Alaska so I have waders up there if I get a chance to fish. They are probably 15 years old. My G4 waders are at least 4 years old and going strong.
 
I got a pair of llbeans about 12 years old. Lots of patches and aqua seal. Still use them for extremally brushy, tough places. Wader pants may get damp, constant mending. Probably less than $10 a year now, so with over 100 days, that's less than 10 cents a day.
Last year I got a new set of redington escapes for easy places and float tube use.
Like the mussel, we get lots of bivalves when fishing down by mcnary.
 
Years ago, I had a set of Redingtons that were actually quite good for the price, but after year one it was a constant game of "find the leak". ~4 years ago, I ended up grabbing a pair of the Orvis Pros and they still look brand spankin' new. Granted, I wet wade trout streams in the summer and wear waist highs out of my Commander/float tube but I'd estimate I still put in ~25-30 days/year in the full waders (mostly winter steelheading and winter trout fishing, which is a ton of bushwhacking). As stated, they still look like they came right off the rack. Going that route seems to be working out, although, I'll probably be due for another set of waist highs soon. The Pros are tough as nails (and not cheap....but not the most expensive either).
 
I've had the Orvis Pros, lasted a long time like several years, leaked and I sent them in for repair and that worked for quite awhile. I decided a couple years ago to buy Dryft Waders with the front zipper. Mostly lake fishing with a float tube but they seem quite beefy and the zipper is nice after a grande Starbucks coffee.
 
I have owned so many waders in my life and primarily hike and bushwhack to fish so I think my comments matter more than someone who sits in a boat all day and gets in the water to fish. I’ve owned 4 pairs of Simms, 2 Patagonia, 2 Orvis, 2 Hodgeman, and 6 Redington Sonic Pro.

Here is my number one finding: the most important factor in waders lasting is how they fit. It isn’t about design (which does help), it isn’t about materials (which does help), it is about fit.

If you have some hip skinny waders from Simms you will blow out the crotch climbing over logs. If you have the baggiest waders they will wear out wherever they rub together between the legs. If the booties aren’t big enough, your toes will wear holes in them.

Unless there is any obvious encounter with hawthorns, tons of blackberries, or barbed wire, it is more likely that the waders don’t fit. Listen for the swooshing sound when walking, that is bad. And when you try them on make sure you can squat easily and lift your legs high at the hip easily. And most importantly, don’t go by how rad you look, go by how they fit.

I found the Redington Sonic Pro XL fit me so well I am on my 6th pair since they came out around 2008. I did a lot of small tributary spawner surveys, in stream construction like culvert fish passage projects, and fish in these waders, and they do as well as any for a lot less than the other high end options. But again, I would bet my money that it’s the fit and not anything more. No noise, no tightness, when walking. I easily get them on and off over clothes because they are loose, but not too loose.
 
HauntedByWaters said:
I have owned so many waders in my life and primarily hike and bushwhack to fish so I think my comments matter more than someone who sits in a boat all day and gets in the water to fish. I’ve owned 4 pairs of Simms, 2 Patagonia, 2 Orvis, 2 Hodgeman, and 6 Redington Sonic Pro.

Here is my number one finding: the most important factor in waders lasting is how they fit. It isn’t about design (which does help), it isn’t about materials (which does help), it is about fit.

If you have some hip skinny waders from Simms you will blow out the crotch climbing over logs. If you have the baggiest waders they will wear out wherever they rub together between the legs. If the booties aren’t big enough, your toes will wear holes in them.

Unless there is any obvious encounter with hawthorns, tons of blackberries, or barbed wire, it is more likely that the waders don’t fit. Listen for the swooshing sound when walking, that is bad. And when you try them on make sure you can squat easily and lift your legs high at the hip easily. And most importantly, don’t go by how rad you look, go by how they fit.

I found the Redington Sonic Pro XL fit me so well I am on my 6th pair since they came out around 2008. I did a lot of small tributary spawner surveys, in stream construction like culvert fish passage projects, and fish in these waders, and they do as well as any for a lot less than the other high end options. But again, I would bet my money that it’s the fit and not anything more. No noise, no tightness, when walking. I easily get them on and off over clothes because they are loose, but not too loose.
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Yes, I notice my baggy beans wear at the seam, and they are a tad short. I got a tall in the escapes, and I think they are too long, until I bend, squat, climb or step over like you said. I also noted getting in and out of the car going place to place looking for metal was a lot harder on the knee area and they needed repair a lot more often.
 
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Simms, the better models. I have dry, warm pairs that date from 15 years. Not only have I not had to replace and be wet and cold before that, but I could trust them.
 
My last pair of bought waders were Dan Bailey's Bare Bones, I think they were called that. Bought them before I moved to Montana. Wore them a few times since I've been here. Discovered that I didn't need to wear them here as I can fish from shore. I don't even have to get my feet wet. I hope they still keep the water out. Thinking of getting a float tube. To float around these small ponds in the hills.
 
Tom Butler said:
I got a pair of llbeans about 12 years old. Lots of patches and aqua seal. Still use them for extremally brushy, tough places. Wader pants may get damp, constant mending. Probably less than $10 a year now, so with over 100 days, that's less than 10 cents a day.
Last year I got a new set of redington escapes for easy places and float tube use.
Like the mussel, we get lots of bivalves when fishing down by mcnary.
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Tom, LLB would still replace those if you're ever in the mood. Best warranty/CS I've ever encountered.
 
Tim Lockhart said:
Tom, LLB would still replace those if you're ever in the mood. Best warranty/CS I've ever encountered.
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I think at this point I've got my moneys worth, and wouldn't feel good about sending them in.
 
I have my Dryft zip front waders packaged up and ready to send back for repair. After using my Orvis back-up pair for a few recent outings I sure miss the zipper! I would recommend taking that into consideration, too.
 
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