I was thinking about buying some neopreme waders for colder weather fly fishing. Is the 3.5 thick enouph for northeast fishing in the winter? I’d like to use them for PA and maybe for winter steelhead sooner or later. Right now I have lightweight breathable waders and wear long johns for the colder months.
Dear jkilroy,
The 3.5mm should be plenty thick enough for winter fishing. Actually, you might be able to just buy some quality layering undergarments to wear with your lightweights and still stay plenty warm in the winter. Think about fleece pants and wicking long johns. I haven’t worn neoprene waders in the winter for years.
Just something to think about.
Best Wishes,
Avalon 
I agree with my old buddy Avalon 
…3.5 is more than adequate. I stay warm during late November duck hunting with nothing more than old poly+ underwear underneath.
At this time of year I really like my 5mm wadders.
I fish in so.Mo. and the water gets plenty chilly down there ,the guys that fish Tannycomo will back me up on this. I have yet to feel like hypothermia has set in when wearing them. I have stood in the water with sleet building up on the top half(oh gawd was it cold that day)and the bottom half wasnt too bad. The best of both worlds is to have a pair of each. Can a person have too many waders?
I contend not on a bet .
Also like to have them with me when I fish up north.
p.s having been in these warmer climes (midwest) has softened me and some of my natural native Vermonters love of things frozen seems to have ebbed away.
Up here in the Northwest, 3.5 is lite. 4 is more normal, but many use 5mil. Standing in the icy ocean can get darn cold.
5mm? :?
How do you guys expect to get acclimated to the cold wearing those?
I usually don’t wear waders at all until well after the 1st frost.
Personally, I think it is a mistake to buy neoprene waders these days when there are so many breathable waders that, with the proper under layers and footwear, will keep you just as warm and much more comfortable.
However, if you just have to have neoprene (for some strange reason) then I’d most definitely get bootfoot ones for winer fishing, and the size and insulation of the boot is more important to keeping you warm that the mm thickness of the upper part of the waders.
John
John
Bootless is the only way to go :lol: and considering the price of neoprene today, I don’t think it’s a mistake.
P.S.
Below 40 degrees breathable vs. neoprene is a mute point.
We both use 4mil. bootfoot neo’s for the ocean and stockingfoot breathables for freshwater rivers.
If you have poor circulation in your legs and feet, as do I, neoprene waders and wicking long johns are a must in winter fishing. I have very bad varicose veins.
Buy the stocking foot waders and a good pair of wading boots. You can always wet wade with the boots in warmer weather. Make certain to wear wicking socks as well.
I have Cabela’s neoprene stocking foot. I think good bang for the buck and when I went to purchase them, the lady in the boot department went overboard to make sure mine fit and I was happy with the deal. Also they were very inexpensive.
I posed this question only because my legs and feet get get when I wade in the winter. Even with underlayers.
I’ve graduated (transitioned?) to the 5mm sometime back. Something happened when I passed the 70 mark; in real cold water I just can’t cut the mustard like I could 50 years ago. (I don’t expect you young’uns to understand … but you will if you hang around long enough!)
There’s advertisements on TV that have liked to use the phrase “best by taste test”; well, best by cold water test with these skinny old legs, 5mm have no equal. And I’d like to think I’ve given the other types a fair shot. Not my favorite for looks or wearing comfort, mind you, but I can hold out longer in real COLD water.
Dale
As a ex-Michigan steelheader who went from Red Ball canvas, to neoprene waders to breathables waders… all’s I can say is I’ll never go back to canvas or neoprene.
Think for a minute what actually keeps to warm in waders… trapped air that your body warmth heats.
With neo that warm air and its associated dampness has no where to go so you get damp and clammy.
With the right fuzzy layering under breathables you still get the insulating value of neo but the dampness wicks away leaving you drier, thus more comfortable. Besides that, breathables and fleece are WAY easier to put on and take off.
I also opt for bootfoots for several reasons, ease of use (no frozen laces). easy on/off, and room for insulation in the foot area. For 90% of my wading I use stocking foot waders but when it’s very cold, I’m sitting in a drift boat, tubing or sitting on a bucket ice fishing the room in the bootfoots makes me far more comfortable and allows a lot more circulation.
I went today to spend my gift certificate at Gander Mountain and the guy at the fly shop talked me out of the neopreme wader’s. He said the neopreme are colder. All the guides at the Salmon river use breathable’s layered. So I bought a set of cold underarmor to try out. We’ll see.
You made a wise choice…Jackster echos my experience…especially when you have to get physical like going after downed ducks 
While we’re on the subject of Neoprene. Does anyone know of a manufacturer currently making a 3.5 or 4 m.m., high back, stocking foot with “no” knee pads?
Thank you, Dave
Dear Dave,
These people make the best custom neoprene waders in the business in my opinion. They don’t have a website but here is contact information. They will make you whatever you want.
Benik Corporation
11871 Silverdale Way., NW #107
Silverdale, WA 98383
Tel: 800-442-8910 360-692-5601
Fax: 360-692-5600
President: Tim Baumgartner
Benik offers chest, waist high and hip waders in a variety of colors. We also offer wader accessories and other products. Call for more information.
Best Wishes,
Avalon
Hi Avalon,
and a happy new year to you.
Now I’m really confused ( nothing new about that ).
Regarding: " These people make the best custom neoprene waders in the business in my opinion."
~ " We also offer wader accessories and other products. "
Are you Tim Baumgartner?
If so, you’ll be pleased to learn that you now have a website, http://www.benik.com/contact.html and that it accurately portrays the contact info you listed here.
I’ll be getting in touch with you when businesses reopen.
Thank you for pointing me towards Benik.
Best, Dave
If anyone else knows of an off the shelf brand that fits the bill, 3.5 - 4 m.m., stocking foot, high back with no knee pads, I’m still open to ideas.
Thanks everyone.
Dear Dave,
The contact information I posted was cut and pasted from a Field and Stream magazine website that listed wader manufacturers. It never occured to me that someone might mistake it for an advertisement, sorry about the confusion.
I’m nothing more than a customer who had Benik make me a pair of custom neoprenes many years ago. I’ve never been able to find a website for the company. I ordered my waders through a fly shop that I frequented in PA. They made a pair for my brother at the same time and he was as happy with his waders as I was with mine.
Best Wishes,
Avalon