What exactly is meant by the term "Breathable Waders"? I've seen waders made of neoprene, Apparently these are warm and waterproof, but not "breathable". It looks like "breathable" really means "non-insulated". Is that right? I see that in general they're cheaper than "regular" waders so that might make sense.

I guess I'm confused on how "breathable" and "waterproof" can be properties of the same wader.

Meanwhile, in my search for waders I'm tending towards either [url=http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/vertical-pod3.jsp?id=0011367&navCount=1&parentId=cat350005& masterpathid=&navAction=push&cmCat=MainCatcat20431-cat350005_TGP&parentType=index&indexId=cat350005&r id=:1b099]this set from Cabelas[/url:1b099]
with [url=http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0011351810636a&navCount=6&podId=001135 1&parentId=cat20616&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&c mCat=MainCatcat20431-cat20616_TGP&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index& indexId=cat20616&hasJS=true:1b099]these wading boots[/url:1b099]
OR [url=http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=97E6news&dir_id=1137&grou p_id=1157&cat_id=12021&subcat_id=12022&feature_id= 16:1b099]this set from Orvis[/url:1b099] looks good. I did read good things about the Orvis waders here on FAOL.

In our rivers here in Northern California I can almost wade in in shorts and Teva sandels. It's still too cold to be in the water for very long though. If the waders are non insulated I could always wear wool socks and fleece pants. Or am I being penny wise and pound foolish by looking at cheaper breathable waders?

OK, now for an even more newbie question. I see that wading boots have either lug soles or felt bottoms. I understand that the felt bottoms are suppose to make your footing under water less slippery. But I'm guessing that you don't hike the trail to the river with felt bottom soles. So do you hike in with one pair of boots or shoes and then change into the felt soles (which would make sense) but then you'd have to wade in the river with a pair of boots over your shoulder OR do you set up a mini base camp where you can leave your boots, or backpack or such? That seems a bit awkward, I'd like to be more self-contained. Right now I just put on my vest, put a water bottle in the pocket of my cargo pants and carry my rod in my hand. I can go anywhere that I can fish from the bank.

But I've seen guys hiking out from the river without backpacks or a 2nd pair of boots but still wearing waders. They're "self-contained". I'm guessing that they're all using lug sole boots.

I think I really need to just find a fly fishing buddy who knows all this stuff and just go fishing with him.

Thanks for putting up with my silly questions.