Well, as of today (Father’s Day), I’m set up with a noobie combo complete with video, and a fly tying kit. I’ve spent my entire 37 years in Colorado and Wyoming, and never picked up flyfishing- decided it was time. My wife was afraid to get the wrong thing, so I got to choose that stuff. Whether I chose well remains to be seen. I didn’t get waders because I know how bad they can be. So my question is this- does anybody make a set for $40 or so that generally don’t leak? Which brands should I avoid? I tried to click the link for Bare that Castwell posted in one of my search returns, but it was dead.
I’d also like to say thanks for the most helpful and informative site I’ve found so far, and thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.
The closest thing I have found that is cheap and good is not that cheap, but is that good. It is the LL Bean Emergers. I think they cost about $100. Mine are in their third or fourth year of hard use and I have not put on a single patch. Plus if you ever feel that you did not get your fair share of use from them you have the LL Bean 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
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You didn’t say if you are after chest waders or hippers.I have a pair of hippers that I bought about ten years ago from Cabela’s that cost me around $50. I have never had them leak as of yet. And Cabela’s is great with customer service also.
A short word on quality, … While I don’t endorse one brand over another, … factoring OUT the marketing and $$ for a name, … We DO get what we pay for, … or more importantly, … don’t get for what we DON’T pay for.
There are some fine $$/price products out there, … ask around here and you’ll get some good ideas.
I’m tough on my stuff and I expect waders to last over 10 years so the whole familly uses “guide weight” stuff. We don’t have thorns and stuff on our river banks, but we wear our stuff 12-16 hours a day, many many days per year.
Perhaps you get what you pay for. I have a pair of chest waders by Simms. Gift from wife so don’t know price but think very spendy. But I really like them and wouldn’t even try anything else right now…because they are so good…and breathe. I have never had Cabelas but have heard several people on the stream complain about how hot they get in them.
As Fcch stated “We DO get what we pay for, … or more importantly, … don’t get for what we DON’T pay for”.When it comes to comfortable and reliable Wading I treated myself to a pair of Simms Waders.There are Manufacturors that have Waders that are in alittle high in Price that you stated.Hodgman comes right to mind.Here’s a link that you may want to look at.http://www.fcsurplus.ca/shopping/sho … est+Waders
I have never heard about the Manufactor of these Waders but you do have some options.You can also visit Sports Authurity cause they carry inexpensive Waders which also includes Hodgman.Check Ebay to.
I baught a pair of breathable waders from Sports Authurity on sale for $49 they are just fine and made of the breathable material you find on Hodgeman, Orvis, Simms and other wader brands. I have used them now for the last 5 months every week and they work great. They are regularly priced at $99 so go check Sports Authurity.
This is exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for. The Cabela’s thing is good to know, since I’m only a couple hours from their main store where both my father-in-law and wife have worked, and would have been inclined to go there for quality stuff. I found a set of Hodgman’s something or other on several websites for around $50, 3.5 mil. Starting to think the L.L.Bean ones might be the answer I was looking for.
While I strongly agree that "you DON’T usually get what you DON’T pay for, it doesn’t always work the other way. Knowing Cabela’s, the waders they make that people are complaining about probably cost more than other brands of the same quality or better- my main reason for starting this thread. I don’t want to spend $100 on a name brand if the same thing is available at Walmart for $20.
Maybe I just haven’t paid attention, but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen someone wearing a regular ol’ wetsuit fly fishing. Why not? Seems like it would do just as well, and be useful for other things as well. Gonna need to justify such a purchase to the boss, and I could find uses for a wetsuit, like rafting.
I think that most of these replies refer to breathables or looser fitting waders. The 3.5 mil that you refer to are neoprene. OK when it’s cold, but you will roast in those things and be bathing in your own sweat. The other kind, especially breathable, you can always layer under for cold weather.
Bob…believe it or not & if you have a Costco handy, they have had Stearn’s lightweight waders for around $70.oo…& they seem to hold up well…have to play with sizing a bit, but, IMHO, not a bad bang for the buck!!
“…so many fish, so many flies…do I have enough time?”
'Methinks Jayhawk Jeff knows. That is the way my Simms work. I can go out in two pair of socks, long underwear, a pair of camo fleece pants and blue jeans over all that and still so comfortable I do not notice my waders at all. Mind is on fishing cause the waders are a non issue. On the other hand, like today at the lake, nuttin but blue jeans and still perfect. My Simms were crossed in the back…ie fed wrong through the black triangle plastic thing. Easy to miss by quality control cause you have two black straps going into a black plastic triangle and two black straps coming out. I think they should have still caught it. But called them and 2 days later had 2 black trianges free. One to break off the original and run straps thru a new one and pop together. And a spare. And she kinda talked like that gonna be looked into and bet that never happens again, that problem I mean. She also wanted to know the vendor where I bought them (Orvis) because they didn’t back the Simms product up. (Orvis just said I had to call Simms.) I still say you get what you pay for…and I am in no position to throw money at any issue.
Well, I feel plenty informed now thanks to you guys, and know I would have made a huge mistake (or several) if I hadn’t asked here first. The people I know who flyfish have a LOT more money than I do so they’d probably point me wrong, and none of them are my size, so no chance of getting a $500 set they have laying around the garage . I’ve looked at some of the brands mentioned here, and looked on Ebay- don’t know why I hadn’t thought of that earlier. The 4th will be my next day off, gonna try this stuff out then.
Thanks again,
Don’t ignore the post about wet wading as you get started. You’re either in or close to the time of year for it. Check your local water temps on the net to find out if it will work for you.
YOu can wet wade in anything, but long nylon or other synthetic pants suit me best. They dry out fast when I get out. Can usually find them cheap at Sierra Trading Post.
You can wet wade in old sneakers, but you are probably better off to find some cheap wading boots with felt soles. The felt means less slipping on moss covered rocks.
The wet wading will give you an idea of how deep you like to wade. That will let you determine what waders to buy. For me, it is waist highs. To tell the truth, I could probably get by with hippers as I don’t feel comfortable wading deep. The shorter the waders, the less they cost. Generally, not always.
Learn to buy on sale and watch for the sales. There is absolutely no reason why a lmited budget should prevent you from being a successful and happy fly fisher!
i bought a set of simms freestone at a show. with felt bottom boots, suspenders the whole match for 129$, worth it… i now want neoprene for my cold water journeys but these are good for now. i just wear sweats under to keep warm… no leaks…
. I’ve looked at some of the brands mentioned here, and looked on Ebay- don’t know why I hadn’t thought of that earlier. The 4th will be my next day off, gonna try this stuff out then.