I am relatively new to fly fishing. I am in the process of looking for waders to use for both float tubing and wading. I see that Orvis has a relatively inexpensive breathable wader, their Clearwater Endura. Would anyone care to comment on this line if they have had any experience with it? I am aware that there are much more expensive waders out there but I really wanted to start with something with reasonable quality at the lower end of the scale.
Thanks in advance.
Randy
Randy,
Orvis is a respected name with a long history of quality products for the fly fisherman. No reason to think that they won’t do just fine for your first pair of waders.
Cost issues effect all of us. Buying an inexpensive pair of waders, or anything else you need, is preferable to NOT buying them and thus not geting to fish.
You might find that these are all you’ll need for many years of use.
Get what you can afford and go fishing. Have some fun.
If you find that later on you want a different or more expensive set of waders, and can both afford and justify the purchase, then do so.
It’s about enjoying the experience. If you can’t fish comfortably, you can’t have any fun…
Good Luck!
Buddy
i have had a pair of orvis enduras for a year now. like you i use them for both float tubing and wading. have not had a problem. orvis customer service is bar none were you to have trouble with them. i’d recommend them.
I must say I don’t know about those waders, but if you haven’t waded or haven’t done much of it, I would make sure your footing had felt or some type of none slip bottom on them, no matter how much you pay for hip or chest waders they are not gonna do you any good if you can’t stay upright in the water. I’v seen that mistake, (including myself) happen more than one time…
Dear Randy,
I have been wearing Orvis breathable waders for the past ten years with no problems whatsoever until the seam on the foot of my 8 year old Clearwater’s developed a leak a couple of years ago. With easily 350 to 400 trips in a pair of $ 189.00 waders I figured I got my money’s worth out of them. I am now in my second year with a pair of Orvis Silver Labels and they have been trouble free. The Endura’s are the replacement for the Clearwaters that sold for about $ 129.00 a couple of years ago, and they have some improvements over the originals. With care you should get several years out of them.
It is a fact of life that nothing lasts forever and all waders will eventually leak. As the wearer of the waders you have a lot of input into how long they last. Sliding down rocky paths on the seat of your pants and blasting through briars and thorns that would stop a charging bull will destroy any waders in short order. I make it a policy to take the path of least resistance to the stream even if it takes me a few more minutes to get on the water. I figure if a pathway looks like it would draw blood if I walked it in shorts or thin cotton pants it’s not going to do good things to my waders so I look for an alternate route.
You can easily spend 3 or 4 times the cost of the Clearwaters on waders and still ruin them in a season if you don’t pay attention to what you are doing. I view waders from a background in the heavy construction equipment industry. Waders are a wear part and they will require periodic replacement, the frequency of replacement depends entirely on the care and maintenance you give them, just like it does with tracks on a bulldozer or tires on a payloader.
Best Wishes,
Avalon 
Some of the most durable waders I have ever owned are some Hogman breathable waders I got from Cabelas, I don’t recal the model (silver label?) but I paid just a bit over $100 for them about 8 years ago. Several tubes of Aqua-Seal later and I am still using them!
Orvis Enduras are a good choice in that price range.
Let me tell you a little story…
The other day, a fishing buddy had a small leak in one foot of his Orvis Silver Labels and we took them in to the area Orvis fly shop. They took his waders in for repair and gave him a pair of loaners to use until his are returned from Orvis. He paid $30 to have them drop-shipped to his home. That was it.
If you live within a convenient distance of an Orvis fly shop, buying Orvis waders is a pretty good idea.
Randy - Orvis has the Endura waders on sale for $89.50 right now. That should save you enough to get a pair of gravel guards that the Endura waders don’t include. Don’t forget, you’ll need a pair of wading boots to go with those stocking foot waders as well. Not a bad deal on a decent pair of waders…Ed
thanks all for the responses - and I’ll check out that sale price that was mentioned. I live in Canada and even with the exchange and shipping the Orvis waders work out to a good deal dollar wise. And I am realsitic enough to know that they are a replaceable item like most every other outdoor item.
I appreciate all the comments.
Randy
Winnipeg, Manitoba
I am in my 5th year in a pair of ORVIS Silver Labels,with no problems with them, i fish for 10 months a year,I think i will have this pair bronzed.