I just need some input here. I have a pair of Dan Bailey waders and I like them but cannot figure out if they are defective or after 2 years of use need replaced. I have had other waders that get a hole in them and know what a leak feels like. These waders do not seem to have any holes, but, everytime I use them my levi’s will be damp. Not saturated with water, just damp. If most of the water I waded was knee deep then both pant legs will be damp when I remove the waders. If most water was thigh deep than the levi’s from the thighs down will be damp. If this is considered condensation, then I am going to freeze this winter! It seems like water is just soaking through the fabric. Is that possible?
Warren,
I have that problem when I wear Levis under my waders. I just feel tacky when the waders come off. If I have on fleece under them, they stay dry. So I’m guessing it’s the material of the pants, rather than the waders. Maybe wear regular fishing/nylon pants? With longjohns in the winter.
Betty
Totally off topic, but a funny to share …
A few years ago I tried to purchase a pair of hippers from Cabela’s. When they came, I tried them on, with Levis, and found they didn’t fit at all well. When I called the main store about returning them for the next size, the guy wanted to know what the problem was, so as I told him they didn’t fit with Levi’s under them, he asked about wearing them without the Levi’s. I started laughing, and he wanted to know what was so funny. I had to tell him I just had had a vision of me wading with a very cold tuckas! He sent me the next size up waders.
I wear Levi’s with mine (Simms) all the time and never feel damp. You likely won’t feel as damp with fleece because it tends to wick the moisture away from your body - cotton doesn’t.
Wading in really warm water (90 degrees) reduces the effectiveness of all breathable waders - you will have condensation form because the inside water vapor doesn’t pass through the membrane at that temp. Dirt on some of the fabrics likewise can reduce their effectiveness.
Before spraying any breathable fabric, you should check with the manufacturer first. You could cause more damage than benefit.
Ditch the Levi’s before you replace the waders. Cotton is notorious for absorbing moisture and Levi’s, or any demin jeans, take a long time to dry. They are perhaps the worse thing you can possibly wear under waders of any type.
I suggest that you get a pair of supplex fishing pants. Bass Pro Shops has them for about $ 20.00. Check Sierra Trading Post as well, they often have closeouts on “name brand” supplex pants for about half price or less.
In the winter a pair of polypropolene longjohns worn under fleece pants will keep you plenty warm in a pair of well-fitted breathable waders. You’ll notice even in the winter that the fleece pants will feel damp on the outside, but the polypro longjohns will wick the mositure away from your skin and keep you warm.
While I agree with the “ditch the jeans” suggestion; keep in mind that almost any water, from even the tiniest leak, will eventually wick up after coming into contact with a 100% cotton garment.
When I first went the breathable route I bought a pair of Simms Guidewear waist-highs and had the same problem. I considered sending them back but held off until another problem forced me to do so. When I got the waders back from Simms they repaired the bootie, (the reason I sent them back), BUT they also repaired the seams. So I guess Simms found another problem which was the cause of my damp jeans.
I suggest sending them back to Dan Baily for evaluation if you can spare them. If nothing else you can at least eliminate the leak suspicion.
I agree totally with not wearing cotton under waders…they will hold moisture whether from leak or condensation…so that doesn’t address your problem…it’s just not a good idea to go with cotton.
Something to consider…I had a a pair of waders that that would only leak when I was wading in fairly rapid flowing water…I suppose a pressure effect…I can’t tell if your leak occurs then…[or is aggravated]…but I’m going to bet on a seam problem and would go back to the manufacturer.
Warren - does the outside fabric of the waders look darker, due to wetting, than it used to? Some breathable fabrics depend on a measure of water repellancy to function.
Gore-Tex is made with Teflon, which is processed to create tiny micropores. Since Teflon is a fluorocarbon polymer, it naturally has a high contact angle with water and repels it.
Some other materials use different technology and depend on supplemental silicones or fluorine compounds to provide the surface repellancy.
If you suspect this is the case, try spraying the outside with Scotchguard or a camping water repellancy treatment and see if that helps.
Yes, the outside of the waders will be darker at the depth I was wading. I plan to go tomorrow and I am going to see if the inside of the waders are damp. If not, then, I may just have a condensation issue. If the inside of the waders are damp, then I have an issue.
warrenp, let me know what you find out. i have a two year old pair of dan bailey’s (bare bones model i believe) that i have recently begun to experience the same issues with.
No question about it, the waders are evidently allowing water in at the seams. I know this because I own another pair of Dan Bailey waders that I bought because they were on sale as discontinued. They are a blue in color and the only draw back to them, that I did not like was that they did not have gravel guards and I kept loosing the wrap around gravel guards in the river or woods. I paid $89.95 for them on sale. This past Saturday and Sunday I wore the blue waders over my Levi’s and no problems with any moisture when I removed them. I was as dry as a bone. I guess I will be using them until I purchase new waders. Not to sure that I will be purchasing Dan Bailey’s though. The waders that are now allowing water to come through the seams will be 2 years old in December this year and I do not feel that is good quality plus they cost me a lot more than $89.95.
well warren, that stinks. my dan baileys are also not quite two years old. don’t suppose there is something we could treat the seams with to remedy the problem.
Warren;
Dumb thought!! How about the Seam Sealer used on tents?! Comes in a dobber bottle and you just paint it on the seams. Flexable, transparent, and long lasting.
I’d test it on an area up high to see what it does to the material, just a couple of inchs for starters.
I plan to do some research on sealers and will do some experimenting. If I am successful, I will let you all know what either worked or did not work. Fortunately, I do have the other waders plus another set from Cabela’s that are boot foot waders. The boot foot ones are not real comfortable, but, they do not leak. I will let you all know what I try and if it worked or not.
Have you considered returning them to Dan Bailey’s? Here is their guarantee.
Our Dan Bailey Guarantee…
We’ve been making quality flyfishing products since 1938. Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality flyfishing equipment at affordable prices. Our staff conducts extensive testing on all of our products long before they are available for sale. This allows us to produce highly functional flyfishing equipment. You can rest assured that before you ever purchase a Dan Bailey product it has been put through serious field testing.
We are so confident that our products will meet your high standards we guarantee all Dan Bailey products to meet your satisfaction 100%. If at any time you are not satisfied with the performance during the normal life of the product, please return it to the place of purchase or to Dan Bailey’s for prompt service.
If you have questions or comments regarding Dan Bailey products or our guarantee please contact us
If you feel that you got adequate use out of the waders then I can understand being reluctant to return them. On the other hand, if you don’t feel they served you well you seem to have the option to return them.
I have decided that I will box them up with a letter and mail them back and they can either do nothing or do something. I am not one to raise a big stink with anyone. They can either reply with something or nothing and I will go on my way. Life is too short to get all bent out of shape. After reading their guarantee, I guess it will all hinge on the definition of, “fail during the normal life of the product”. Who will determine what the normal life is of anything.
I certainly think it’s worth a shot boxing them up and sending them back with a note of explanation.
Good luck with it, and if possible please post and let the folks here know how things work out. I’m sure there are more than a few people who will be interested in knowing how this all plays out.
