I just moved to Montana from Massachusetts and am finding that wet wading in October is rather chilly. Since I usually dont wade past my crotch anyway, I was thinking about saving some money and just buying hippers but I wanted to get the opinions of some of the more experience fishermen here. I know that I will go over the top of these waders (probably more often than I want) but at about half the price, it seems like a sweet deal.
Thanks for any and all advice,
Geoff
is one days not fishing worth the money you would save? when you count gas, time etc the amount in difference is cheep insurance for a pleasant day fishing in the spring fall or winter. I would save my money and buy when they go on sale, somthhing will come up in your price range.
Eric
I would get some breathable waders that could be used for spring summer fall and most of the winter except for the coldest days. dan baileys are a good brand to look at as well as cabelas, orvis, patagonia etc. make sur to wear some sort of thermal protection layer during early spring and late fall.
you might also take a look at waist high breathable waders vs the hip boots.
I had completely forgotten about Dan Baileys… I live about 45 minutes away from his shop… I am so ashamed… But I will check out the waist highs.
Hippers are okay, I guess. Just seems like an accident waiting to happen. Quick step into an unseen hols and your wet. Worn during the chillier parts of the year a dunking, besides ruining a pleasany days fishing, could also let you in for hypothermia at worst or a cold at best. Like was mentioned by others, I’d wait and buy some chest waders. I’d just add a wading staff to the list of things to have.
REE
There’s an old adage:
“Hip boots are a great way to measure how deep the water was when you got wet.”
:lol:
I like having both.
My canvas bootfoot hip boots were factory seconds and were only $20
I love 'em. Easy on and off you go.
You can’t wear them all the time though. Look for a good deal in some breathables, it will be worth it.
One of my best friends wears waist highs all the time. He says they keep him from being tempted to wade in farther than he ought to or really wants to. I’ve never seen him go in over them. I on the other hand do so more often than I want my wife or son to know in my chest waders…
Just another thought.
ED 8)
Ditto to REE’s comments…be sure the chest waders come with a safety belt.
My problem is if I used hip waders, I could only wade in VERY shallow water…might as well just have tall rubber boots. 
:shock:
Breathable Chest Waders
You might want to see what they have at clearance at Sierra Trading Post
I just looked, not a lot of sizes, but they do have some good stuff cheap
What do they call people who use hippers?
Wet!
LL Beans has breathable chest waders (likfetime guarantee) for $69.00 add cheap boots for $30 and your set. Upgrade to better boots when the money is there.
jed
It really depends on where you fish and deep you wade.
I wet wade 90% of the time and wear hippers just about all the rest. I like the lightness of hippers and some other obvious advantages when nature calls… :shock:
I HATE chest or even waist highs and only wear them about 4-5 times a year in the few places where either the water is too deep in the winter or early spring. As soon as the air temps hit the 50’s; it’s wet wading time.
Just my 2 cents worth here. If you are young and can take the cold wet wade or get hippers. Me I ain’t so young anymore and chest waders are the only way to go. To many times I have been in water to my knees and then bang one step and I am over my waist. I bought mine at wally world for about $50.00. There are cheaper out there. Just my 2 cents
I second the Dan Baileys chest high waders. They are very comfortable and come with a built-in belt that you can’t forget.
Greg
I wore hippers for awhile. I won’t ever do it again. I was always wet. If not from falling and filling them up. It was from kneeing down and sitting on the wet boots. I always had a wet butt.
Taking a leak is a pain with chest waders, but at least i’m warm and dry.
Hippies have there advantages as well as disadvantages as others have pointed out. You have to analize just what you are going to wear the waders for and then make a decision.
In my case I have a set of rubber chest waders. They can be bought for less than 50 bucks and will last me about 2 years. They are kinda heavy to walk in, but then I don’t hike around much and usually wear them only when fishing still water or for hunting. I also have a set of hip boots that I wear a lot when fishing the small creeks. A pair usually last about a year. Of course I get a wet rear end now and then but I carry an extra set of clothes in the truck at all times. Another advantage of the hips is that after they have served as waders they make pretty good attire when sneaking around wet woods chasing whatever.
Tim
Chest waders! Remember - you never regret your extravagencies and you always regret your economies! (especially when it comes to fly fishing)
I have a pair of the Orvis Silver Label breathable bootfoots (chest) and love 'em. Orvis has them on sale now for $149.00…think I could return a year old pair?
I don’t suppose you live anywhere around Bozeman and are lookin for work, are ya? Simms Fishing Products is always looking for good help and they offer excellent, excellent employee discounts on all their gear. I’m a former employee and I got six pairs of waders from them and didn’t pay over $115 for any of them. Just a thought.