Hi,
I will soon be in the market for a new set of breathable waders/shoes. Can anyone recommend any mid-priced good quality brands/models? It has been years since I purchased my last ones, which were neoprene, but I do not really like neoprene anymore (fits too snugly), and my shoes are worn out…
Many Thanks, in advance…
I am a fan of Cabela’s Gold Medal breathables. Good value and each pair has been improved over the former one. Not everyone will agree with me, but I also like Korkers boots. I use, and like, the interchangeable soles and they are the easiest I have found to put on and take off. Longevity has been good so far, but has not been tested hard yet (2 seasons).
look into Hodgman WADELITE (not other models since there are more than one)
Not sure what you view as ‘mid-priced’ but I had to replace my shoes after 10 years last season and I went with Frogg Toggs after the recommendation from my son who is a “Aquatic Wildlife Bilogist” and lives in waders and boots.
… I’ll be getting their Hellbender waders this spring and for $110 I think that is reasonable
I get 6 months out of breathables, regardless of price point. I get a year out of boots, regardless of price point. So…
I now have Cabelas breathable waders and have two hard season on them and they are doing fine. My boots are Bridgestone from Albrights (a sponsor here). They also have been through two hard seasons and are holding up well…besides they are so cheap I don’t even worry about when I’ll buy my next pair.
I took a peek at Albrights website, they have limited sizes at the moments but their price on they top of the line waders is really good if they have your size.
Thanks to all…I will check these out. By mid-priced, I mean around $200 or so. I expect to pay around $100 or less for the boots. I hate being budget-conscious, but my accountant (wife) does not seem to understand why it costs so much to go fishin’ these days.
My previous boots have all been felt-soled. Do the rubber/studded soles really grip well on slimy algae-covered rocks?
Redington Sonic pro.
My husband and I have worn Cabela’s ultralight felt-soled shoes for several years now and they seem to wear well and are comfortable. They also come with studs if you want to insert them.
No, not in my experience. On my Simms boots I had to use add on cleats. I use the Alumabite Star Cleats. The soft aluminum grips better than carbide though it does wear faster. It might take a couple hundred days on the water to wear them out though.
I think almost everyone who has purchased a rubber soled boot from us has ended up getting cleats later if they did not get them with their initial purchase.
As far as the waders go, the higher initial cost might well provide a much higher long term value. I’m on my third pair of Simms. The first two pair, which were on the lower end of the Simms’ price scale, each saw well over 300 days on the water, with 4-6 hours per outing on average. The current pair is on the higher end of the Simms’ price scale, and they look like they will last noticeably longer than the earlier / less expensive models.
As far as boot soles go, the expected use is the major consideration. I do a bit of winter fishing and felt soles are the last thing I want on my boots. I also do a bit of hiking in my wading boots, and get on some mud and wet grass on sloping trails and banks, and I really prefer rubber soles for those conditions. I don’t encounter a lot of slime stuff so I do quite well with the Simms’ Streamtread soles, even on some of the cricks considered tough wading.
So far, I’ve seen no need to add studs to the Streamtread soles. But if I did, I would go with the Alumabite suggested by tailingloop, for the reasons he gave.
John
I love my Redington sonic pro waders for fit and durability. For boots I have to go with Simms because I have eeee feet
JimBob, not anywhere I fish, that is for sure.
LLBean. Can’t beat the warranty