I can’t seem to fix my leaking waders. They are lightweight Hodgman that have been real comfortable. But I have found many spots were the seam sealing tape has become gapped. I used aqua seal in many spots but think there’s too many spots. I’ve used them for only 15 days a year for 5 years. I expected them to last longer. So I need new ones and would like recommendations on light weight/breathable waders that will last.
I’ve had a pair of Cabela’s middle of the price line that I’ve had for abaout 6 years. They’ve “improved” them some based on the catalog descriptions. I absolutely love them. Actually surprised they have lasted as well as they have. I frequently kneel in the streams and on rocks and bust brush getting to streams (I often fish backcountry small streams)
I have a pair of Simms Guide weights that I purchased in 1998. I retired in 1999 and those waders were not dry for the next three years except for mid winter. I had the booties replaced once a couple years ago. I am still wearing them. They are baggy enough to put some clothes on under them for winter, early spring and fall steelhead fishing in the great lakes part of the country.
fishbum
I have a pair of Simms Freestone waders that have served me well for 3 years now. They seem to have gone up in price recently; think I payed about $120. Now they have a Blackfoot model at that price now - don’t know anything about them, but I’ve always been happy with their products.
Regards,
Scott
I’ve been beating the tar out of a pair of Orvis Endura’s for the past 3 years. Not a leak to speak of. And I’m hard on waders.
Fishbum, how did you replace the booties? It’s the seams in my booties and where the attach to the legs that are leaking.
I picked up a pair of these on clearance about a year ago for…I can’t remember how much, but under $100. Used them all year, at a minimum of 2-3 times every single week. Through brush, kneeling on stuff, you name it. In late october, they did, eventually, start a slow leak in the back of one knee. Sent em back, they got lost in the mail between the Orvis shop and their HQ, and they gave me a free new pair, right from a box in the store, no hassle, in time to go to Erie the next morning.
Take that for what you will, but unless I get 2 lemons in a row with Orvis waders, they’ll probably keep my business in that area.
I sent them to Simms because they had started to seep. It was $80.00 plus shipping then. I don’t know what it would be today. They also replaced the suspenders while they had them.
fishbum
Can’t beat Simms for durability. I fish 100-120 days a year in Rocky Mt. streams and will begin my 10th season w/the same pair of waders and no leaks to date.
Last year, I replaced my old Cabelas with Simms and couldn’t be happier
Simms freestones (or equivalent). Awesome product.
Simms are absolutely the best waders you can buy for durability, breathability, and comfort. That being said, if you want something less expensive but just a whisker less durable Orvis and Cabelas are good. I would buy Orvis before cabelas, but thats a personal thing. I also love Dan Baileys, but Im going to stick with my simms for a while yet.
And FTR the equivalent of the Freestone is now the Blackfoot (Pretty sure). But if you are going to buy a set of simms, get the Gore-Tex… ABSOLUTELY worth the money. I fish with them in 0 degree weather on the rivers out here and they keep me from getting “Sweat leaks”, you know, where you think that the waders are leaking, but its really just sweat… And I know that the other fabrics tend to be less breathable.
Another very loud vote for Simms. If you added up all the praise and/or gripes you could find on these kinds of threads over the years, Simms would prevail in an absolute landslide, and it seems to be for good reason. I’m on my 10th year with a pair of what were their least expensive, lightweight GoreTex waders, and can’t seem to kill them, despite some pretty serious use. I’ve secretly wished at times that they’d give up the ghost, so I could get the newer, more convenient models with built-in gravel guards and other features. With the recent economic woes though, I now find myself plenty happy that they’re still motoring along with no leaks or other issues in all that time.
Smms are the best way to go. i have a pair of convertible Orvis top of the line waders which are great in certain conditions with temperature, but once June kicks in it’s hard not to find me in my simms wet wading neoprene waiding socks but the simms freestons or G2’ or 3’s are great for a little colder and deeper waiding.
Simms G3 waders were the first I bought and have no need for anything else. there are great. Patagonia waders are wonderful also. customer service for both products are excellent and impeccable. anything goes wrong and you either get it repaired or replaced.
I bought my latest waders from llbean. Can’t beat a lifetime satisfaction guarantee that they take pride in backing up. Some people take advantage of it, but their policy is if you buy a pair of waders and in 10 years they leak and you decide you are not satisfied, they will replace them. I think they sell simms as well.
I’ve used nothing but Hodgman for the past 28 years and I couldn’t be happier with them. In my opinion for $100 you can’t beat them. No doubt there are others just as good or better, but I guess I’ve been lucky. By buddy swears by L.L. Bean and its warranty.
I am on my 4th set of Simms waders in the past 12 years. I fish a lot and my waders take a beating for sure. I almost gave up on Simms. The first set of G3s were a piece of crap. They leaked out of the box and replaced twice with the same model; all leaked. I should have purchased a different brand but purchased another set of Simms and these are by far the best waders I have owned. Although I believe Simms is the best they do make a lemon or two once awhile. The first generation of G3s sucked. The current version of G3 Guide models are worth the money.