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My wife and I both have Simms waders. I have been wearing Cabelas with built in gravel gaurds. Wife has Simms freestones and has been using a wrap around gaurds,which let small pebbles in her boots. :shock: I would like to hear what everyone here uses for gravel gaurds.
I have Dan Bailey waders with built-in gravel guards and really like them. Before these waders, I used the wrap around guards and hated them. The fast water and underwater grass/weeds would eventually work them lose and then they would come off and the river would own them. I just do not like the wrap around guards and would not recommend them to anyone.
Just my opinions on this subject.
Dear Bill,
While I'll agree with Warren that the wrap around guards have a tendency to work lose I think that is more function of their size than the guards in general. The type of boot that you are wearing them with also plays a role in them staying put and being tight enough to keep out gravel too. I have Simms Freestone boots and they have a really thick heavily padded collar at the top and I cannot properly tighten a gravel guard around them like I can with my other wading shoes. I've pretty much retired the Simms to wet wading with neoprene socks with the fold down gravel guard and wear LL Bean or Cabela's boots because they are easier to tighten the guards.
I have these big honking Simms gravel guards that are about 15 inches long or more and I can wrap them tight enough to keep them on and keep the cobbles out but I really reef on them when I pull them tight and attach the velcro.
Regards,
Tim Murphy :D
I have looked at those Simms new style of gravel gaurd, looks kind of like a sock? I just don't see how it would keep the gravel out.
Bill Mc
All of my waders have attached gravel guards; the best being the built-in thin neoprene guards on my Simms River Teks. All of the built-in breathable material guards on my other waders have required some repairs on my trusty sewing machine from time to time.
But since I wet wade 6-7 months out of the year; I find the Simms [url=http://www.simmsfishing.com/za/SIM?PAGE=PRODUCT_DETAILS&CAT=accessories&PROD.ID=1 5588:fd1f9]Guard Socks[/url:fd1f9] to be a excellent substitute although they may be too thick to use with the regular neoprene bootee found on waders.
2000 years ago; before gravel guards I used to just use a pair of heavy wool socks between my waders & wading shoes. I don't seem to remember having too many problems with gravel; but LOTS of problems with burrs, sticks, and fish hooks.
:D
I've never had anyluck with gators. When fishing the surf, I'd even wrap the gators top and bottom with duct tape.... I still got a boot full of sand.
Now it's bootfoots only in the surf and nothing but thick socks over my stocking-foots in fresh water.
I don't bother with the gravel guards anymore
I have the Orvi$ Pro Guide ( gifted) waders with the b/i guards and they are the "cats' meow" .They stay put and do the job for me.
Mark
My breathables have built in gravel guards. Prior to that I used and still use when wet wading a pair of Hodgman neoprene booties that have a built in gravel guard. When wet wading I just slip them over my socks before putting on my boots. Even with my old stocking foot waders I never had a problem with gravel when using them.
I have the Orvis Silver Label II with built-in gravel guards. The built-in guards are the only way to fly.
get a pair of light weight gater, they work as well or better then the grave gaurds you get for the company who makes your type of wader. They zip up the back and hook to the bottom of the wading shoes, then tye at the knee. They well even keep snow out and for a little as 10 dollars.
Ghost.