Hi everybody,
I’ve been using Neoprene waders for quite a few years now and my last pair finally has enough holes to force me to replace them.
Budget is of the escence so Orvis, Patagonia, Simms… Are out of the question.
Any comments on Albright, Frogg Togs and the sort?
Thank you!!!
Dave
Check out a company called “Caddis” my friend has them and they look good, I have the Reddington CPX zipper and love them.
Will do.
What’s the price range of your Reddington’s ?
Boy, this is going to get a lot of different opinions.
When it comes to waders, I think you want to get the best you can. YOu can probably get better neoprene waders for less money that you can the breathables - that is better than a cheap pair of breathables.
It has been my experience that when I have gone cheap on the breathables, after a relatively short time, you might as well be wet wading because they leak. The higher quality waders will have several different layers that are not easily punctured by berry bushes, etc. andthey hold up for a long time.
You might want to check out some of the web sites like Cabela’s bargain cave - or visit the cave if you have the chance. Also, check out Sierra trading Post because they sometimes have pretty good deals on breathables.
Dan Bailey waders have a good reputation. I’m on my third year with no leak. They are not the best waders but they are very good for the cost and they stand by their warranty.
http://www.flyforums.co.uk/tackle-talk/46713-dan-bailey-waders.html
http://www.southeastflyfishingforum.com/forum/dan-bailey-lightweight-breathable-waders-t20307.html
http://www.utahonthefly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4159
There is a clearance sale on them.
http://www.redsflyfishing.com/Dan-Bailey-Wader-Clearance-Sale-p/908-clearance.htm
As a matter of fact they had a nice bargain on a pair of William Joseph’s but they’re not my size.
As a matter of fact they had a nice bargain on a pair of William Joseph’s but they’re not my size.
I’ll check’em out
thx
well the zipper fronts are 279USD.
Here is the web site for the rest…
Redington Fly Rods, Fly Reels, Fly Fishing Apparel & Waders
Deanna (LF) etal sorry if they are not a sponsor
I’ve had a generally very good experience with Cabela’s Gold Medal breathables. I had one pair that leaked way too early and had a no hassle replacement. I’ll never go back to neoprenes. They are simply too hot in the warmer months and I have discovered that I stay warmer in the cold weather with my breathables. They fit more loosely and that actually results in better insulation. Go figure!
I have a pair of Simms Freestone (I think they call that same model the blackfoot now and the freestone is different). I’m on my 4th season with them and have no leaks yet. I’m not particularly nice to waders either and frequently fish in some pretty rough areas with lots of rock hopping, boulder climbing and walking through brush and rhodendron thickets.
Jeff
Dave;
You pose a difficult question for sure. I’m starting my 3rd year on a set of Hodgeman’s from Bass Pro for 89 bucks. They’ve served me well on the average of 5 - 6 days a month.
To help make whatever wader you decide to buy last make sure they fiit properly. The inseam should be long enough to let you lift your foot high enough to reach the seat of kitchen chair. If you can’t you’ll blow out all the seams in no time!!
Also watch where you sit when taking a break from the action, fortunatly punctures can be easily patched.
Jack - VERY good advice!
Hugs,
LF
By strange coincidence I’m also starting my 3d year with a pair of Hodgeman’s after I blew a seam on my Orvis waders. I think I had something 6 years on the Orvis pair. With waders it’s not a question of will they leak, but when will they leak. Jack’s right on the money on fit. Part of the reason my Orvis blew a seam was a substantial gain in my girth. Not the fault of the waders.
The Hodgeman’s were purchased because they were the only ones I could find that fit the inseam and girth, but also had a bootie that fit my size 9 feet.
REE
Da! Da! I got 11 years out of my Orvis Siler labels. I am a float tuber, no barbed wire, You get what you pay FOR! My cost per year
under $10. You do the Math.
Fishin’ Jimmy
P.S. Barbed Wire always wins!!!
Bought Frogg Tog’s Hellbender Stockingfoot Guide Pant from Cabela’s almost two seasons ago and have been very pleased with them ($80 something on sale). Jack is right about the inseam issue as I could have used a little more room…but then the only time it is an issue is when crossing fences.
I fish in some really tough conditions and they have held up to some serious abuse. I will probably buy them again (hopefully a few years down the road).
I think of waders like I do fly lines. It’s not my last fly line or set of waders, just my next one. I want to buy a quality pair, Simms, Patagonia, Cloudveil but I want to find them on sale. I don’t care if they were last year’s model or not. I bought three sets of Patagonia Watermasters this year. Not the Watermaster light version either. The ones that retailed for $335. I paid between $105 and $110 for each set. All three came off of Ebay and all three still had the $335 price tag on them. Besides Ebay, places like Sierra Trading post and one of my favorites these days is Madison River. I think that Mad R has some nice Cloudveils on sale now. I want a high end product and I love paying less than half retail. Sometimes it not if I can afford it or not. The purchasing game is an adventure for me. I love to make great buys almost as much as I like to chase fish and if I can make great buys on fishing equipment all the better.
Rick
Keep in mind that breathable wader technology is changing rapidly and wader brands that got a bad rap only a few years ago have significantly improved with time, and even Simms, which seems to be one of the most highly regarded brands, has its detractors. I’m in the happy position of writing a regular product review column for Flyfishing & Tying Journal and get the opportunity to try out waders from a number of manufacturers, and I can definitely say that waders, even the most inexpensive ones, have improved dramatically over the years.
One pair that I’m currently evaluating, the Orvis Sonicseam waders, seem very promising. They feature “welded” seams in which the conventional stitching has been replaced by a bonding process; this results in lighter weight and greater flexibility. Orvis is touting them as “pack and travel” waders, but they certainly seem to fill the bill as waders for general use. I’ve made a serious effort to be as hard as possible on them and, so far, they have held up extremely well. Reducing the amount of stitching has also resulted in manufacturing cost-savings, allowing a reasonable price-point of $229.00. I expect to see this welded-seam technology applied more widely (Cabela’s already offers a pair).
I’ll ad one thing…There are TWO Madison River shops. I’m sure Rick & I both like this one in Ennis:
http://www.mrfc.com/MadisonRiverMontanaFishing/Default.aspx
Check out the clearance specials.
Mike
I bought the breathable albrite in March and used them at least 1x a week (until now its 1000 degrees here), and they have been great, I think $59 then. I figured how can you go wrong for that price? I had an issue with sizing and I called them and they put me right on.