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Wader Life?
I've been reading with interest some recent threads regarding waders and I have a question, How long should a pair of waders reasonably be expected to last? I bought a pair of Hodgeman Guidelites last Summer and today after four hours in my favorite spring creek I had a leak in the crotch area. Shouldn't waders be expected to last a few seasons rather than a few months?
Interested in some of your experiences as well as how long you've been using your current waders, what brands, and under what conditions.
I can expect to be on the water at least once a week throughout the year, so in excess of 52 outings.
I always hang my waders and let them dry immediately following any outing.
What gives?
Kelly.
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I stared with a pair of camouflage neoprene bootfoot waders. I'd fished them for about a year, and I ended up slipping twice, badly, in heavy current. The neoprene buoyancy caused my legs to float up and I ended up going under twice. So I decided I needed breathable stockingfoots. When I went to buy new waders, I was set to spend about $150 on some somewhat inexpensive waders. My local fly shop refused to sell them to me. They made the statement that every pair of those waders they'd sold had come back with leaks. The owner said he'd sell me any waders I wanted as long as they were Simms. I ended up spending nearly $300 on a pair of Simms L2s.
That was three years ago. I spend somewhere around 50 days on the water, and I fish places that I end up bushwhacking frequently. The waders have taken me to from my home in TN through northern MI, the MN north shore, FL saltwater, and Idaho's Snake River. In that time, I've had one small pinhole leak that Simms repaired for $9. That leak was due to a DEET spill, totally my fault.
This past weekend, I tore three small holes in the backside of these waders. My fault, nothing wrong with the construction. I've patched them with Aquaseal and the recommended Simms patch. Hopefully they'll hold together for another season. If not, I will gladly shell out another few hundred dollars on another pair of Simms, probably the G3's this time.
The way I figure it, I've paid less than $2 a day of fishing for these waders. Not much more than losing a single fly. That's a fair trade, in my opinion. Some folks don't see it that way though, and I respect that as well.
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Only one half season out of the Hogdeman Guidlites...crotch leak.
Got about 1/2 season out of LL Bean Flylite...crotch leak.
LL sent out Flylite II's and first trip out....crotch and various other seam leaks.
Difference? Well, LL backs them up and has appologised and replaced and has agreed to let me get the next step up (Emergers...I pay the difference) in exchange for return of the second pair.
Hodgman customer service let me know that seam leakage was not a manufacturer defect since I had used them to some degree without leaks.
I have really come to the conclusion that the low end waders may just not be very good but don't have the budget for anything in the 200-300 dollar range.
Considering just ordering some waterproof seam tape/sealer I found on-line and just re-taping the seams when the next pair leaks...hopefully they won't.
There isn't any obvious reason I can come up with why they have all leaked so quickly in the seams...I am not odd shaped, running, swimming, float tubing or participating in grappling matches while wearing them.
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kg:
A tough question for me to answer since I wet wade from April through October but I own three sets of waders/hippers and here are my results:
- #1 Simms Rivertek stockingfoot waders (which are discontinued) - I've owned them for at least three or four years. I probably use them about 10 times a year. So far, no leaks or other issues.
- #2 Cabela's GII stockingfoot waders - I've owned them for three or four years. I probably use them about 15 times a year. So far, no leaks or other issues. I should mention that this pair of waders was a replacement pair after the first pair developed leaks at the bootee seam. Cabela's replaced them even though they were OUT of warranty. The first pair was at least 4 years old.
- #3 Hodgman Streamlight stockingfoot hippers - These hippers are at least 6 years old. I use them more than anything else since the places I fish are perfect for hippers. If I had to guess, I'd say they get used 30 times a year. Other than a few issues with the gravel cuffs which I fixed on my sewing machine, these hippers are fantastic with no leaks or other issues
I guess what you can ascertain from my experience is that 4 hours is hardly what to expect from breathable waders. Obviously I use mine less than most folks out there, but I have many hours in them regardless. I have NEVER had a leak except in my Cabela's GII's but that wasn't a leak in the breathable fabric. Considering Cabela's replaced them even though they were out of warranty or I could have easily fixed them myself, I'm not complaining. I always turn my waders inside out after fishing and let them dry before turning them right side out to finish drying. I have only cleaned my Hodgmans and treated them with Revivex, the other waders have never had any special care. I also make a point to TRY and get loose fitting waders since that helps to reduce stress on the seams, especially if you do a lot of kneeling, sitting or climbing in them.
Maybe I'm just lucky?
YMMV, obviously....;)
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Any pair of waders will eventually leak. If there is a manufacturing problem with a seam in any brand of waders, it will often show up in the first few times that you use them. It is easy to tear waders or get holes in them so it is important to buy your waders from a company that will give you good service. You do get what you pay for in waders but the economics get fuzzy when you can buy two or three pairs of one brand of waders for same price as top of the line Simms, LL Bean, or other premium brands.
I have done well with Simms waders. I have an old pair of Simms Guide waders that I think are nine years old. I used them heavily for the first six years and other than a few pin holes that were repaired by Simms, I have had no problems with them. The Guide waders still keep me dry but I use them mostly as backup waders or for cold weather. Three years ago, I bought a pair of Simms Lightweight Gore Tex waders and I have used them in all but the coldest weather and they still keep me bone dry. I use the waders from 20 to 30 times a year which often includes heavy duty bushwacking.
The reality of using breathable waders is that you really need to have a spare pair of waders for when your primary waders spring a leak.
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In my experience the life span of a set of waders really depends on a number of variables. These include but don't stop at the size of the waders, the brand, and the ways they'll be worn. First, I think that many people buy waders that are really too small. If you can't bend, climb and crawl in them without stressing the seams they are too small. Seams are the weakest link in a set of waders. Kinda like your terminal knot, and really just as important. Some manufacturers have got the seam thing down and some just don't have the quality control in place to ensure a quality product each and every time. There are plenty of people who have bought brand X of waders for very little money and fished in them for a good amount of time with no problems. There are also gonna be plenty of people with the same set of waders that have issues shortly after purchase. I blame this partly on the buyer and his/her knowledge or lack there of. Many people simply don't understand how a set of waders should really fit. Waders that are too small are gonna fail, plain and simple. I also blame this on the quality control of the manufacturer. When going with an inexpensive set of waders, I strongly recommend buying them from a place that stands behind their products 100%. In my opinion, the brand of the wader is a big deal. This choice depends on how much one wants to or can shell out for a set of waders. There are plenty of inexpensive waders that will last. There are also plenty that won't. In general, the more expensive waders are better quality. The companies that make them are the industry leaders and have figured out the seams better than anyone else, not to mention the fabrics used. These companies produce products that I would expect to last at least 4 or 5 seasons and often times last longer. This of course depends on the fit and use of the product.
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Hmnmmm ... Not good
I'm tough on my waders. I don't bush wack, but I never take 'em off during the day (their just too comfortable).
I've used a few brands over the past few years.
Well made breathable waders should last YEARS!!!
I just retired a pair of Wardels. They lasted over 8-9 years. There are finally leaks in the knee stitching ... I actually patched them with a bead of marine Goop and use them for drift boating and spares. The only other leak was where I burned a hole in 'em on a camp fire :-( which I patched.
Several makers are sending out waders which seem to leak right out of the box. When the local shop sells Orvis waders, they recommend the client sit in the bath tub to test 'em just in case .... That first day on the river is not the time to find out that your new waders actually leak. The Orvis waders seem to be comfy, pretty good price, but may have some quality control issues (this is just my personal opinion)
On the other hand, we don't seem to be having trouble with the Simms waders. I have 4 pairs and have no out of the box problems. The G4 Pro's are new, so I can't say anything about the durability, but they sure are comfy! An older pair of Simms Blackfoots have been going strong for 6 years with moderate usage (30 days per years). The G3 Guide's are dandy.
Used to be we had problems with the neoprene booties. Good gravel guards and an extra sock OUTSIDE of the booty helps preserve the neoprene's integrity for years. Nowadays, it looks like the seams are a problem on breathable waders.
New flash!! The seams are not supposed to leak. Either they aren't taped properly or over time, the stress (tension) on the seams makes 'em leak (like my wardels finally did. This is why (imho) hippers leak so rarely in the seams. There is lots LESS tension in the material and no crotch to muck up during the manufacturing.
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I am tough on waders because I do bush wack. I always try to go where nobody else does. One year, I went thru 3 pr. One didn't last a day! I'm about to retire my Simms, which lasted a record 17 months. I remember hiking 12 miles in the national forest this winter!(Sometimes a shortcut isn't one). Always buy Gortex. Keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol and aquaseal in the garage. Remember, this is your most important fishing equipment!
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I am on working on my third season on my current pair of Dan Bailey lightweights. Maybe 100 - 120 days. My previous pair of Bailey's lasted about this long before the knee patch gave out. I go through some brush but try to avoid the briars. I also spend a fair amount of time kicking a float tube.
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I am into year 11 with a pair of Simms Guides. Replaced the feet and suspenders once. They live in the back of the truck when I am not wearing them. I fish around 100 - 120 days per year. I hope I don't have to replace them anytime soon. They have a lot of charicter. They stink like fish slime too.
fishbum