Find that leak

[Big Bad Wulff]

I've seen a lot of questions about trying to find a leak in waders. I even got some crazy directions in a pack of leak-fixing kit from Simms(of all people).

Here's how I found two small leaks that confounded me for a long time.

Very simple:

Turn the leg of your waders inside out. Fill leg with water from a hose. Look for leaks. Circle leak with a marker. Dump water out of leg. Dry waders. Patch in whatever fashion you like most.

Much better than the "put alcohol on area you think is leaking and look for the dark spot"....as is stated in the Simms patch kit..........IT DOESN'T WORK!!

[ducksterman]

I'm with you BBW...though I haven't used the alcohol method...

Every once in awhile when this subject comes up I add this caution.

Water adds a lot of weight to the wader...don't do what a buddy of mine did...hung his waders on the shower head in his shower and proceeded to fill the waders...nice source of water...well when the waders became too heavy the whole shower head and pipe pulled out of the wall...not a good thing.

I hang my waders over a stepladder outside.

[Big Bad Wulff]

Common sense rules

I held mine by hand. I lifted the leg enough to see the leak. I didn't lift too far for fear of tearing the bootie off or tearing a seam from the weight. You can lift it enough by hand to get enough pressure to cause a leak without putting added stress on seams......or you.

[dudley]

.....don't do what a buddy of mine did...hung his waders on the shower head in his shower and proceeded to fill the waders...nice source of water...well when the waders became too heavy the whole shower head and pipe pulled out of the wall...not a good thing.
.

Duckie
Are you sure he wasn't using the alcohol method ?

[Big Bad Wulff]

Duckie
Are you sure he wasn't using the alcohol method ?

Now THAT is funny!

[MontanaMoose]

And how silly is this idea....start at the foot, fill with air, cinch off with your fingers, add a little pressure, hold near your cheek, 'feel' the air escaping through the hole in the waders...I mean come on !

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

[shadesofsisyphus]

The alcohol method really does work best, witht he least effort. You just need a spray bottle to make it MUCH easier. Plus, the isopropanol in rubbing alcohol evaporates very quickly, so you rarely have to clean much of anything.

[Big Bad Wulff]

Soaked the whole thing in alcohol and saw nothing. The water method produced results in literally 2 seconds.

Water is pretty readily available to most people. The air method is a little subjective and could take quite a while.