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In my 12+ years of fishing in the Pacific Northwest I’ve owned many pairs of waders. All eventually fail but many, even expensive models, failed far too quickly especially when compared to other similar technical garments.
Here is a list of the waders I’ve owned ranked from best to worst:
– Simms G3 Guide Waders (100+ trips): bassproshops.vzck.net/Yg6dGO
– USIA Waders (70 trips): Out of business
– Simm Freestone: (60 trips): https://amzn.to/3tRt55g
– Orvis Pro Waders (60 trips): bassproshops.vzck.net/jWk10n
– Frogg Toggs Hellbender: (less than 5 trips X 2): https://amzn.to/3TUr6aL
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it’s corporate greed
Bring back the days of Redball waders for 35 bucks, they last forever, until you run into barbed wire, or they wear out. But wear out means the welded seams never do, all fabric has a lifespan. But Redball lasted a long time. Unless maybe you fish in a desert, they were as cool as goretex.
A lot of recurring videos on the reliability pf high end waders. I’m pretty new to fly fishing. been doing it for 3-4 years on a regular basis and have the same first Simms Tributary waders. Maybe I just got lucky but no issues yet, however the idea of "upgrading" once this set runs it’s course sounds far less appealing at this point.
That is the exact reason why I don’t use waders anymore but wet suits made from Neopren for fishing. Much warmer, more comfortable, and more durable.
Flex seal patches will make waders last forever. You’re welcome
I did lots of sewer work for a living. Wading in deep muck and crap. Good waders were a must have. I looked for the ones with the least seems and best suspenders. I didn’t have a favorite brand but the most expensive ones didn’t seem to last any longer than the cheap ones. Thankfully I had a company credit card. Even a small leak wasn’t tolerable. Not in the sewer business, it isn’t fresh water your feeling!!!
I have had my Simms waters for 12 years and not 1 leak. Plus if i do get a leak i put a little super glue over it
try dryft waders
My cheap wader outlast my expensive one not sure why.
Fishing waders suck!
Great video. I agree with you. I feel companies are making incredibly expensive one season waders. Essentially disposable.
Most of us are incredibly careful with them.
I have had really good luck with Dryft waders. I fish steelhead all winter in New York my current pair are going on 6 years old.
my old neoprenes lasted many years through fishing and gold panning. I do not like the look and feel of the new style of waders
Buy a wetsuit, it won’t drown you and will keep you warm.
yup they build things to break. Everything is like that. The whole system is dumb. They have to break so they can make more and people work. Why capitalism is illogical.
The advantage to neoprene (cold weather is too obvious to list) is that they are infinitely repairable. You can even make minor adjustments to them. I learned the secret to them on Bering Sea Gold. As a boatbuilder, I should have guessed: 3M 5200.
That’s what ‘Flex Seal’ is for.
High n Dry or Dan’s waders are the way to go.
5 decades in waders and never found a pair to last more than a season. Manufacturers need to read this. We sent folks to the moon 50 years ago!
I like to use wader pants when I fish and have for years and years. After watching this I searched for dry suit pants and found a bunch of them. Does anyone think they might work as fishing pants?
if they made stuff to last then they would sell less and make less money.
The best waders I’ve ever had came from the bass pro shops brand white river fly shop waders. Half the price and I go fishing 1-2 times a week and these are still keeping me dry. I love the bass pro shops brands they never disappoint for the price point
I guess I’ve been lucky with my Frogg Toggs. First season but I have 20+ days so far and they still look brand new.
Got 30 dollar waders from Amazon work great reviews says they last a while, if they leak just buy another pair. Even came with patches and glue.
Have you tried wychwood gorge are very good
I just use my hunting waders jf its warm i just go shorts
Line from an essay titled "Does Flyfishing have to be expensive?: "If you are paying more than $200 for waders, you are paying for a name".
You’re right however if you walk through thorns often like I do, cheap waders will perforate more easily than something made of multiple layers of Goretex.
Cut offs and tennis shoes, all I ever needed
Gore-Tex has to be the most overrated material ever made
Do you spray them with kiwi waterproofing spray each year? It’s good for tent waterproofing and shoes.
I am now 69 and only use waders a few times a year these days. I use cheap hip boots more often now. Getting into and out of waders is just too hard, and they cost a lot.
Has anyone used neoprene waders? Im looking at a pair in my local fishing shop. They are comfy and warm, but I dont want to invest if they are gonna be crap.
Of course they make them to fail so we spend more money 100% facts
I’ve tried multiple waders over the years and they all fail sooner or later. Never get more than a couple of seasons out of them. I bought a pair of Simms years ago with a lifetime warranty and every winter when I get busy hunting I send them into Simms and they send me a new pair. Closest thing to a solution I have found.
gosh if you’re upset about waders wait until you buy a wetsuit or cycling bibs
I stopped using waders years ago! Now i just use dry ice bombs and scoop up concussed fish with a net in a boat.😂
I invested more money for a pair that has basically a lifetime warranty.
I bought kobuk and I’m impressed for 110.00. neoprene chest waders.
My old simms lasted me quite a long time. Ofc that was before they sold out. The new simms dont even last 2 seasons.
I’ve done okay getting 2 -3 seasons out of cheap stockingfoot waders. I hike a ton in them too and brush bust, etc. What I do is wear a plastic plastic bag over the foot and inside the boot. This cuts down on friction at the heel where wear is profound. Look at all your worn out socks. The weakest aspect is the neoprene boot. Protect this and you have a chance. Everything else you can’t control
It’s the economy. Keep electing Democrats and keep seeing things get worse.
Could you glue a thick rubber patch onto the areas that rub together to add more mass to the areas that wear away? Maybe that would make them last longer. So many people talk about how important sustainability is these days, yet nobody worries about the engineered obsolescence tactics that manufacturers of products use to create shorter cycle times/product life turnover and our landfills pay the price. Almost all products made today could be made to last longer at a very cheap cost, but companies will not do that because it will decrease their sales. Its up to us, the consumers to figure out how to take products which are intentionally engineered to break quickly and modify those products so they last a reasonable amount of time.
What about a wetsuit? Might that be a good choice for river fishing?
The old Red Ball were the longest lasting waders. Mine never leaked and after 20+ years I finally ripped a boot away from the top material. Happened out in the marsh. 😅
Screw waders. Stocking-foot hip boots are all I need. I think of them as insurance. They keep my feet dry and prevent me from doing something stupid, … like drowning.
Goretex warranties their product. They replaced a pair of boots for me that were well out of the manufacturer’s warranty.
I paid $60 for a pair of hip waders at Walmart, although ive not used them a lot ive had them for 3 years and they dont leak at all
I’m soo glad I saw this vid you just saved me allot of money
You don’t support Patagonia because why? They do more for conservation than any other company on the planet right now, so confused