Anyone used the Cabelas Moisture Management underwader fleece-lined pants? How about the ones from Orvi$?
I was on a trip recently where I spent a lot of time driving from one spot to another trying to avoid the gusty wind, and found it a little strange to be walking around the parking lots and roadsides in my tight fitting fleece pants. Something that resembles a khaki pant is in order, just hoping to get some recommendations. Those fleece lined pants seemed to look like they’d fit the bill, just wondering what the quality is like. FYI, I usually fish in waters that are 55 degrees or colder.
In colder weather I wear a pair of Cabela’s fleece wading pants. They are the cheaper pants, and not the moisture management pants.
Do you really care what you look like when you are going fishing? You’re going fishing not to a formal.
If you are self conscious get a pair of sweat pants and wear them over the fleece.
In warmer weather I wear a pair of the Cabela’s supplex pants with the zip off legs. Maybe you could wear a pair of those over a pair of polypropolene long johns if you want to look less dorky?
I prefer to look dorky, normal looking people give me a wide berth.
I have never been a fan of any of the store-bought under wader fleece products. Most of them are ‘unisex’ models which is modern babble for ‘too cheap to include a zippered fly’.
If you have a seamstress in the family you might try having a couple sets of underfleece custom built. You can pick out the weight of fabric you want as well as the color and have them tailored to your size. My wife has made these for me in Polartec 100,200 and 300. They are built off of a sleep pants pattern with slash pockets, elastic cuffs, a zippered fly and elastic waistband. The big pluses to these besides the fly are the ability to carry both wallet and keys and walk around in public without looking like a total geek. They are comfortable enough to use as pajamas in cold camping conditions and very useful to lounge around in or do camp chores. And best of all the material cost is around $15 a pair. I am assuming the labor will be a labor of love and hence no dollar amount is estimated. Ive
Seeing that you’re also in Texas, I may have a solution for you with something extra thrown in free. If you fish some at the coast that is.
I came to the realization that getting my legs stung at the coast sucks, and its usually jellyfish that do it. (never been sting-rayed) Wearing light nylon pants while wading fixes that problem. Mine are light enough to be perfectly cool, and dry out quick too.
They’re also thin enough to wear on top of your fleece pants that you wear under your waders and keep you from looking like you’re wearing tights.
If you never fish at the coast, just try wearing them when wet wading. Prevents burning those legs that are more used to seeing the underside of a desk than UV Rays. Keeps you from jumping when the minnows nip at your leg hairs too!
Ha ha ha ha, you’re right Tim…who cares what you look like as long as you’re catching fish?
The only reason I thought about it, and I should have mentioned it, was that one of the stops I made was at a public access site that also happens to be a lookout point above the water. I fish out of state most of the time and didnt know what to expect where I was going. I hopped out of my truck in my form fitting fleece pants to find myself looking at 3 kids, one of whom screams out “Mommy! There’s a man in his underwear!” SO, it just got me to thinking, there has to be something that looks a little better.
As far as i can tell, the Cabelas pants do not have a fly, just a drawstring waist. the Orvi$ pants appear to have a button waist and a zippered fly.
Just wondering if either pair is comfortable, do they keep you fairly warm, do they do decent on warm sunny days after a cool morning, etc etc? No seamstresses in my family that can still sew due to arthritis.
Those exOfficio pants would do the job, but they’re just as much as the cabelas fleece lined pants.
Maybe there’s another pair of fleece lined pants that dont look so much like underwear that I haven’t found yet?
I got a flyer from Bass Pro Shop in the mail. They have the supplex pants with the zip off legs on sale for about $ 20.00 depending on your size. They look like a pair of Cargo pants and they have pockets for your wallet, keys, etc.
I’ve worn my Cabela’s version of the pants with lightweight Thermax long johns and they keep me plenty warm under waders here in PA even in the winter. The Thermax long johns don’t absorb moisture and neither do the pants.
You could always be like me. Once I put my waders on for the day I leave them on, even while driving.
I second the ex-officio pants choice. Those folks really make quality stuff, and the pants material is ver light and dries quickly. When its colder use the patagonia base layer stuff. They make three or four different thicknesses based on how cold it is.
The most important thing is this: NEVER WEAR COTTON.
Cotton keeps moisture so you will always be wet.
Wow am I lost here, 2 guys recommend the exofficio. A teflon coated pair of nylon pants. What good are these $60 things going to do to keep warm under waders??? I wear a pair of “quick-wick” pants that are great, they have a sturup to keep them from creeping up my leg when I put my waders on. Best of all they have a zipper and pockets. I wear them walking around and they look fine.
Yes I love the Cabelas Moisture Managment wader liner pants. I bought my first pair and loved them. I now have two pair to be able to rotate out. I during the winter in air temps in the teens and water temps in the upper 30’s to lower 40’s. They keep me very warm.
[This message has been edited by easttenntroutin (edited 14 March 2005).]
You wrote " have never been a fan of any of the store-bought under wader fleece products. Most of them are ‘unisex’ models which is modern babble for ‘too cheap to include a zippered fly’."
What do you need a zipper for, on fleeced under waders? There is no zipper on the fishing waders! So maybe it is because fishing waders are also ‘unisex’ models which is modern babble for ‘too cheap to include a zippered fly’!
~ Parnelli
“Just pulling your leg”
[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 14 March 2005).]
Can’t recall what they are called, but I’ve been wearing a pair of the Cabela’s wading pants with the tan nylon outside and black fleece inside for about 3 years now. Quality is good. I wash them after every trip and they’ve held up fine. I’ve fished with them in sub-freezing temps, with wicking thermo long undies, and have stayed very comfortable all day.
No zipper, but the cuff velcros work nice at keeping the legs in place.
Summers I either wade wet or in waders with some off-brand nylon pants.
Tim, I found the pants you referred to at the Bass Pro Shop. I got the flyer too I will definitely check those out for them hotter days here in texas. I typically drive in my waders too, but I’ve noticed that i spend a heck of a lot of time cleaning out my truck after each trip. I got a cool little wader/boots bag from orvis for $30 that keeps all the mud, gravel and grassy bits out of the car and in a place where I can rinse out later before I throw it back in my closet.
TWS - those campmor fleece pants are the exact same ones I have, and I HIGHLY recommend them to everyone! They keep me very warm and do not soak up water - something I know from a dunking experience. But be warned, 8 year old girls will think you’re parading around in your underwear in front of them!
Those orvis pants are pretty pricey, and with two recommnedations for the cabelas pants I’m leaning towards them. And I can live without the zipper, gotta agree with Parnelli on that one.
Its kind of suprising to me, that with all of the fly-fishing gear companies out there these days that I can only find 2 companies that make these. Maybe Ive needs to get his family seamstress in the underwader pant business!
I agree that Ex Officio is too expensive. I was working for a fly shop when I got mine at a deep discount. I only buy their stuff on closeout now. Its the best stuff out there, but damn sure pricey.
While I could never speak for Texas up in the NW the common fishing fashion statement is what ever you underwader wear of choice for the day is (fleece pants, long underwear, tights ect.) under a pair of hiking shorts. Usually ditched right before doning waders and put back on after the end of the day.
I’ve got 3 pair of Cabelas fleese pants and am going into my third season wearing them.
Even wearing non breathable waders they wick moisture away from your skin, you take the waders off and there’s droplets of condensation on the outer surface of the fleese pants but your skin remains dry, warm, and comfortable. Either model works fine but I prefer the heavy weight model with the zipper fly. These pants are well worth the money.
Spin
[This message has been edited by Spin (edited 16 March 2005).]
I don’t know how cold it is where you are, but you might also consider a pair of fleece lined blue jeans or chinos. Fleet Farm, Gander Mountain and LL Bean all carry them (although only Bean has em in lil girly sizes like I need).
