Bought a new pair of Neoprene (LEEDA) chest waders in January, and on Saturday past, the second time I have worn them, they leaked at the inner leg seam. Why can't these manufacturers get their act together?

I thought I would have no problems taking them back to my local shop - er I did!!

I had to take time off to visit this shop from where I worked and when I showed the woman the waders said she could not send them back as they had to be washed first. This she says was down to Health and Safety!!!

I can honestly say that these waders had no mud on them at all, only a little discolouration by a slight muddy water effect around the sole areas. I was hopping mad to say the least as I'm back up the Tay this Saturday and as they need to be sent away - have no waders into the bargain.

Any one else heard of this fairy story about the H and S and what are my rights on another pair? According to the shop keeper they have to send them back for testing before any decision is made! That could take weeks.

I think it depends on the shop or the supplier:

Simms - no one ever talks about leaky new buys on here, but then they are not merely expensive but a complete and utter rip off, being nearly 3 times the price of their most expensive rivals

Orvis - Monumental service, but not the best made or I think fit.

Wychwood - my personal favorite down the cheap end, never had to test their cust service as they have never failed me. like all their tackle gear, cheap and very very well made.

Hardys - Not good, you have to send it back. Although I am told if you take it back to the seller they should swap it of the fault is obvious. Their build quality is not upto Wychood of Simms.

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Carl

http://www.wandlepiscators.net/
http://teiseangling.co.uk/index.htm

TOMORROW THE TRENT COULD BE YOUR FISHERY! When are YOU going to JOIN THE ANGLING TRUST?

Thats the problem the fault is in the seam so not obvious without a tank test of sorts?

I bought a pr of Ron Thompson(I know serves me right) neoprene waist waders,And luckily I had bought them from my local tackle shop as the 1st 2 pr's leaked out of the bag.3rd pr lasted a season

jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I am led to believe that the Orvis ones are the best on the back of something akin to a "bag for life".

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"A fish seen is a fish nearly caught"

Thats good Jim, but how did they deal with your problem? Did they send them away awaiting on the testing before they gave you another pair?

They just replaced them ,No questions asked.But I do spend a bit in the shop

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I work for a builders suppliers/agri store.Everything returned faulty to our shops are replaced straight away why because there is no problem getting replacements from the suppliers/manfacturers.I cant understand shops that wont sort a problem straight away.One policy our stores have is any returned goods must be clean.

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When the bugle sounds The last parade
and the light grows dim in the eye,
Make sure you say at the pearly gates
That you've come for the evening rise.

When I lived in UK I bought all my waders from John Norris,replacement of a pair of leaky waders was instantaneous as was a broken Sage.

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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You're a long time dead
Life is for living