Waders Thread #602

[icantspeycast]

I'd really appreciate some advice on the next pair of waders.

My last pair have sprung yet another leak and January/February water is not a pleasant thing when it's running past your plums into your feet on a frosty morning!
I've decided it's bite-the-bullet time and time to buy a new pair to save frostbite to somewhere useful....

Now, I realise there's an element of "you pays your money you takes your chance" with waders, but there must be a pair out there that people didn't have much trouble with?

I had a pair from a prominent manufacturer (who will remain nameless) that have been nothing short of rubbish.
It can't be coincidence/bad luck that I've returned 2 pairs of them for leaking at the seams on the 3rd or 4th wear, only for the 3rd pair to now be doing the same...and they've only had average use!

Without the thread turning into a "Brand Bash" I wondered if there was a particular stand out pair that's worth the purchase?

It seems I'm buying a pair a year at the moment because these breathable things seem to be so badly made.
(I never remember so much bother with a pair of rubber 'Oceans' -even if you did lose a stone in sweat each outing!)

Cheers in advance for any help!
B

[syphogenic]

Originally Posted by icantspeycast

I'd really appreciate some advice on the next pair of waders.

My last pair have sprung yet another leak and January/February water is not a pleasant thing when it's running past your plums into your feet on a frosty morning!
I've decided it's bite-the-bullet time and time to buy a new pair to save frostbite to somewhere useful....

Now, I realise there's an element of "you pays your money you takes your chance" with waders, but there must be a pair out there that people didn't have much trouble with?

I had a pair from a prominent manufacturer (who will remain nameless) that have been nothing short of rubbish.
It can't be coincidence/bad luck that I've returned 2 pairs of them for leaking at the seams on the 3rd or 4th wear, only for the 3rd pair to now be doing the same...and they've only had average use!

Without the thread turning into a "Brand Bash" I wondered if there was a particular stand out pair that's worth the purchase?

It seems I'm buying a pair a year at the moment because these breathable things seem to be so badly made.
(I never remember so much bother with a pair of rubber 'Oceans' -even if you did lose a stone in sweat each outing!)

Cheers in advance for any help!
B

It doesn't appear to matter which brand you buy...they'll leak through normal use one way or another. It seems a bit mad that people buy the Orvis brand so that when they leak, they can return them Simms waders would appear to be the best, but at the price you pay for them, they sure as hell ought to be!

There seems to be two distinct failings with breathables, either the stocking feet or the seams leak. I'm pretty sure manufacturers want you to buying waders every two years. There is however a third option other than repairing the leaks as they present themselves.

There is a company called Diver Daves run by a man who used to repair wet suits, he does a full seam weld for £45 and uses a superior seam weld treatment throughout the entire wader. I've never used this service but others on here have. I love the sound of this and will be sending my chesties to him soon. He has a website with specifics, check it out.

[A. Fluker]

Originally Posted by syphogenic

It seems a bit mad that people buy the Orvis brand so that when they leak, they can return them Simms waders would appear to be the best, but at the price you pay for them, they sure as hell ought to be!

Not so sure as to what you mean about the Orvis brand - works for me.

Dan Baileys is another make out there to look for. Had a friend who loved them.

[sabsman]

Originally Posted by syphogenic

There is a company called Diver Daves run by a man who used to repair wet suits, he does a full seam weld for £45 and uses a superior seam weld treatment throughout the entire wader. I've never used this service but others on here have. I love the sound of this and will be sending my chesties to him soon. He has a website with specifics, check it out.

He does a great repair job and I believe he also sells second hand waders, might be worth giving him a tinkle

mick.

[icantspeycast]

Originally Posted by A. Fluker

Not so sure as to what you mean about the Orvis brand - works for me.

I've never understood that idea.
I've never bought a pair of waders expecting them to fail and certainly never thought it was ok for them to leak because I can get a no-quibbles return & replace!

I'll certainly have a look at that 'Diver Dave' website...Perhaps the answer is to buy a decent pair and get in with a pre-emptive strike by sending them straight there for a superior seam weld.

I've always avoided Simms as I think I'd be found swinging from a riverside tree if they failed at £4-600 a pair!

BTW my last 3 pairs described in the OP were not Orvis, although I've had a pair of them too without much success.

[ACW]

Originally Posted by A. Fluker

Not so sure as to what you mean about the Orvis brand - works for me.

Dan Baileys is another make out there to look for. Had a friend who loved them.

Chris is spot on re the Dan Baileys ,would use them regularly if they were sold in the UK ,however I have a pair which I use as a back up to my Orvis waders which I change out of into the BBs the moment I fear a leak ,if there is a leak even the tiniest back they go to Orvis and at todays retail prices I have had a grands worth of waders this way .
Do have to say the latest Orvis pair are lasting rather well ,think I have managed 2 years and still going strong .
An occaisional poster here Sagefly ,has had his DBs for a near a decade ,now more aquashure than original but that for rips rather than leaks ,the seaming is excellent .

[goldenolive]

I've been using the budget simms freestones for years, one old pair for the boat & my newest ones for the river,
I spend allot of time in them guiding and they're pretty durable.

more info here
discount members of fishtec can get the deal for £206, this seems to be for the felt sole boot, which you may or may not like,
I went for the vibram sole instead of the felt

speaking from experience, if you go for the boots I would recommed at least 2 sizes bigger than your shoe size.

[pop1979]

I'm in a little bit of the same dilema. For the past 2 years i've been using the snowbee prestige stocking foot, i find these very comfortable and at £175-230 pretty reasonable. The time has come where i'm now returning from fishing with 2 very cold feet (not soaking) but quite wet. I've just went over all possible areas with aqua sure and hope the problem is solved, but i doubt it very much. (fingers crossed)

I fish quite alot and the rivers/streams i normally fish have quite alot of pocket water so i'm on my knees climbing/crawling etc etc. So have these waders served me well???? Are the more expensive waders which are in the £400-600 price range going to last 4-6 years???

I'd be interested to know how long the more expensive pair, i,e simms have lasted people?

If i'm looking at having to replace my waders every 2 years then i think the next pair i'll be purchasing are the snowbee prestige, Or have i just been lucky??

[The Famous Grouse]

The most consistent brands the whole time breathables have been available have been Simms and Dan Bailey.

As others have mentioned, Orvis are worth considering because the company stands behind them well. In fairness, Orvis has had some good waders in their lineup, but they have also had some with consistent issues. At least you know where you stand with Orvis, even if you stand with water in your waders they'll give you another pair.

Originally Posted by pop1979

I fish quite alot and the rivers/streams i normally fish have quite alot of pocket water so i'm on my knees climbing/crawling etc etc. So have these waders served me well???? Are the more expensive waders which are in the £400-600 price range going to last 4-6 years???

I'd be interested to know how long the more expensive pair, i,e simms have lasted people?

I fish in similar conditions and I've tried it both ways. High-end and lower-priced.

My conclusion was that doubling the price of the waders does not double their lifespan. Spending $400 got me 4 seasons. Spending $159 got me 3 seasons. Currently, I'm wearing a $179 pair of waders and I'm going into the 3rd season.

My conclusion has been that basically waders are like tires on a car. Tires cost you so much per mile and spending 3x more oesn't get you 3x the mileage. Eventually, they just **** out no matter how good they were.

Basically, my conclusion has been that waders cost me $50 to $75 per year on average if I stick to lower priced brands. With that in mind, I don't feel bad chucking a 3 year old pair of waders in the bin at the first sign of a lea. Higher priced brands end up closer to $100 per year and to me that pushes them off the cost/benefit edge and the problem is that because I spent more, I feel obligated to fix them again. And again.

Grouse

[flyman1975]

just bought some new waders and just hope they dont leak i paid some good money for them