This is a subject I feel particularly strongly about.

So often, I have forked out over £100 for breathable waders and been lucky to get a season out of them. Would you accept the same lifespan for, say a £100 rod? a £100 reel, or indeed anything for that matter - fishing tackle or not?

I think as anglers we need to unite on the matter and flex our consumer muscles! For as long as it's profitable for manufacturers to make breathables that last less than a season, they will keep on doing so.

The only reason they keep selling us sub-standard (and expensive) products is because we keep buying them!! In order to make ourselves heard, there are some things we could do....

1) Don't buy breathables. They aren't economical. A cheap pair of nylon waders will outlast most breathables, but are a third of the price.

2) Complain! How will the manufacturers know how we feel unless we tell them!

3) Coat all seams with aquasure or similar as soon as you buy any new breathables. This in most cases will prolong the life of your waders.

My next rambling is more to do with the suitability of breathables for my fishing....

I mostly fish in Scotland where snow flurries in May are not uncommon and for 9 months of the year I'm usually trying to keep warm when fishing. Breathables are designed to keep you cool and comfortable when it's hot and sunny. So often I see guys grayling fishing in breathables and not exactly looking comfortable!

What I now do is use nylon waders for most of my fishing, and will only use the breathables from late spring to the end of summer, when I actually might get some benefit from them (assuming they don't leak that is!)
This isn't quite as applicable to southern England, however the climate isn't that different and I would think that for the colder months there is no real advantage from wearing breathables.

Of course, this is just my opinion, but it's backed up by a great deal of bitter experience!

Alex

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