ok, we have all had our debates over what company is the best. in my opinion, they all stink. so until the debut of the Aquaskinz waders, it is a never ending quest for the right pair. since Orvis changed there return policy, i am looking for some new ones. i will be getting breathables, and i have always had boot foot since my first pair, but the comfort is lacking. now they have lace-up boot foot waders which i have heard good reports on. so, what do you use?

I'll never go back ta boots. stocking for me

Hodgeman stocking foot waders and boots. I think they are awesome....comfortable and you can walk for miles in em'! Tried a couple pairs of boot foot waders and did not really care for them. My size 15 feet moved around too much in the waders I had and did a number on my feet. Try the Hodgeman T-Lap, I think you will like them! :huh:

Whoops....sorry, the Hodgeman are breathable gortex!

i loved the orvis Pro-Guides i had before the warrantee got pulled. i guess the 8 or so pairs i went through in about a year and a half didn't help things. too many of us doing that made them smarten up.

stocking foot guys: do you run into much trouble with sand build up inside the wading shoes? what do you use for gravel guards?

Both... you didnt leave that option..
I like my hodgmen boot foot for the sand, and for a while wore my stocking foot's on the rocks, but now mostly use hippers and splash pants on the rocks/b-ways... more comfortable IMHO,
Now i need a new pair of bootfoots, mine leak like sieves and have too many years worth of small holes to try and patch...

I used stocking foot this past fall and they were comfortable until I got in the water. No matter how tight I tied my boots I would get tons of sand in my boots and it made very uncomfortable. I just bought a pair of Orvis Bootfoot Breathables from Ebay, hopefully I like these better.

pricy but "Wicked Tough" :laughs:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=36473&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=3934&cat4=1109&shop_method=pp&feat=ssdpa1109

no choice :(

boot feet all the way :rolleyes:

excited :happy: to put them on again soon. :D

5 weeks to Spring :)

I use hodgeman gravel gaurds. I get little sand in my boots. Because I mostly fish rocky shore I'll often put them under my waders, it adds alittle more support around the ankles.

i contacted Orvis in regards to there guarantee. i am NOT satisfied with the fact that they changed the return policy. waiting to hear back as to the procedure for getting a FULL refund as to the guarantee they have:



The Orvis 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
For over 100 years, we have offered
the strongest return policy in the business:

We will refund your money on any purchase that isn't 100% satisfactory. Anytime, for any reason.

I have the orvis silver label lace up boot foots and they are the best of both worlds, no complaints at all except for the warrantee now. The next pair I am getting are Simms. From what I've been looking into they always lead the independent company tests. Simms doesnt seem to have all the problems that the orvis waders had in construction and design. The prices on their waders have come down in the past year too. Their warrantee is pretty realistic and i havnt heard anything negative about them.

I used to use bootfoots all the time . then tried stockingfoot 9 years ago and love the support for rivers and rocky shores , bootfoots lack here bad . I get some sand in the top of my shoes under the gravel guards . Ive tried them without gravel guards same thing . but for the long walks cant be beat . I havent tried the new hiking boot type yet but that should be the next variety I try . One thing is for those in a hurry bootfoots are much faster to get you in the blitz quicker . BUT !
As far as brand ? Ive used all if not most . there are really only a couple companies that make them OEM for all the ones out there . so they all are about the same and Ive been buying for warrenty alone for some time . Ive had good luck with orvis and hodgeman , LL bean has a good warrenty , orvis used too but still better than most . Im not sure what the policy is either as Ive gotten different stories . Simms has a good product and a good warrenty but they are pricey . who is their OEM company ? cabellas will stand behind them for a time ( but I wont shop from them ) . how long I dont know .

From what i've been told simms makes their own stuff in the USA. For each model they make the wader like a pair of pants and then add the bootfoot or stocking foot later depending on the orders they get from retailers. Another thing to watch out for with stocking foot waders is what the sole is made out of. If it is regular neopreme it will eventually leak from the constant compression of walking. I know simms has addressed the problem and uses a special material. The old orvis clearwaters had this problem and i never knew it at the time and didnt really care because you could just bring them back and get a new pair no questions asked.

Anyone try Cabelas?? I have a set of Ice busters and a set of the newest neoprene/cordura style. The Ice busters are like iron 1000 denier have had them 4 years use them mostly out in canoe/boat. The neoprene/cordura waders I use when I am walking they fit real nice and walking is a breeze, they seem pretty tough this is my 3rd season with them. I always giev them a plug when someone is looking for waders I dont think they can be beat.

Hodgman Wadelight stocking-foot breathables. Love 'em.

Some of the seam tape came off on the last pair I bought 6 yrs ago (don't leave yours in a plastic container in the truck bed for the summer!!!), so I called the retailer and Hodgman and told them. The NEXT DAY I picked up a brand new pair and gave them mine. No questions, no arguments. Still in great shape after 6 yrs of crawling the S. shore.

I like stocking foot because I permanently attach Korkers to the boots, have another pair of boots for driving and walking around, and just put on the kork'd ones when I head for rocks and slime.

They're light, tough as hell, comfortable--hot or cold, and huge--coveralls fit inside them; about $200 for waders; about $75 for the good boots; about $25 for cheap knock-around backup boots; about $50 for the light Korkers.

T- Orvis is having its tent sale in Westport till next Sunday. 60% off everything. I just bought another pair of BF breathables for $89. Its in the stores by the library if you or Wahlie go. Definitely worth it
I had a pair of Hodgeman breathables, they were the worst. Poor seam taping had it leak within a month :(

I have the gold Carbela breathables stocking foot and I love em for the rocky areas, but I will be buying my umpteenth pair of good ol bootfoot neoprenes for the sand cause theres no stoppin that sand from gettin inme boots. I'm also gonna try out a pair of the lace up bootfoots for the warmer months. Good luck T-Lap...just get 1 of each:D

Got a pair of neoprene 3.5's that the ex bought for me 4 years ago...
They rock, no leaks and very warm, but not too warm.
Spent more on the deluxe Korkers than she did on the waders.
Just my .02
Later,
Rick

just ordered a couple of days ago some boot foot breathables from LL bean. around $200, lifetime, no ? asked

Toby,

What changes has Orvis made?...

I just got the Proguide Bootfoot this past season, and would hate to think that they will not honor returns...

I don't like boots on my (waiters) they mark the boat up and sometimes they trip and spill my drink on the deck and then its all slippery and I could fall while fighting a fish!!!!!!:smash: :smash: Oh wrong waders!!!!!!

I was going to say what the hell do you know about waders ? I bet you do know waiters well though . you like em young !

What a Primmadonna! :rolleyes:

Yes they can carry more drinks that way and are much better at netting the fish for you to.:laughs: So long hair you still going Sat.???????

That's it!...

I'm gonna go out and buy some cleats!

Originally posted by Bliz
Toby,

What changes has Orvis made?...

I just got the Proguide Bootfoot this past season, and would hate to think that they will not honor returns... it is no longer a free exchange. you now must get them repaired at your cost or you can get a new pair at a discounted price. i talked to an Orvis representative last night. you can ship your old pair back to them and they will give you a 100% refund of original purchase price because of the satisfaction guarantee they have. they person said it will be about 1-2 weeks for me to receive a refund check. now i'll have $315 to spend on a new pair from another company. :happy:

Only one allowed on the boat with cleats is Bloo:eek: :eek:

Let us know if you find a bonafide guarantee when you do...

I may just want to do the same... :(

:bshake:

I don't get it they will send you back the money you paid for them but if you want a replacement pair you can buy them but at a discounted price. Seems like a bad move to me because people are going to do what you are doing TL, take the money and then buy from another company.

Hey Don are you at work????/ If so go back to sleep.....:eek:

Why don't you go around & do some sales or sumthin?...

Don't you have some scallops to bake??? :laughs:

:rolleyes:

yeah old man Im going . so now that you know that you can stay home !

Oh boy there goes the neighborhood!!!!!

Now I know why John is charging admission!...

yup he charges to keep out the undesireables , but not too steep to keep me out .

the neighborhood is already shot since , when did you say you moved in to town GB ?

Originally posted by t.lapinski
pricy but "Wicked Tough" :laughs:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=36473&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=3934&cat4=1109&shop_method=pp&feat=ssdpa1109

I'd go with those.... plus with the llbean warranty you should be all set.
I've been using a pair of cheapo proline breathable waders and gotta say I love em, but If I had the cash, I'd go with the beans...

i may give the LLbeans a try. it would only cost me the boots as that is about what i paid for the orvis.

I think I must be cheap B#$$#D! I have fished the $89.00 Cabelas boot foot 3mm Neoprene for years. I have 3 pair that I rotate. The new ones last about a year before they have pin holes from dorsal fins. I have been successful in patching the holes with Aquaseal. Once they leak too much I just spend anothe $90 and get a new pair. I figure $90 a year is a cheap price to pay for 100+ nights a year of fishing.
I did buy a pair of the Featherweights form Cabelas last year and they were actually pretty good for July, August and most of September. Then I went back to the 3mm neos.

nothin like a good waders thread to get my loins-a- rumblin

Lets just imagine for a minute that all the wader brands had the same return policy, which is the same as Orvis' current one. Would people still buy the Orvis' Silver Labels?
What I mean is, are the silver Label waders good quality regardless of the warranty? Thanks!

I had the same hodgeman's that finally died.. About 4 seasons give or take, my memory aint too good...
In the market, but will probably go cheap again..
and Aquaseal rocks....

Stocking feets for me.

Why?

+ Stocking feet waders dry much faster than boot foots.

Why not?

- Sand gets into the boots, you have to empty it from time to time.

-WW

I have been reading everyone's input and waiting to personally respond. I fish what I feel is pretty hard (just about every night) and put a lot of miles on waders walking the beaches of the cape and later in the season, Rhode Island. I can see how people's opinions of what works for them really depends on the the type of environment they will mostly be in, i.e rocks or sand.
Last year alone, I went through 8 pairs of Orvis waders, with another pair waiting to go back. I think I am the main reason they changed their policy,(sorry).
I used to fish with Cabella's neoprene waders, but after too many close calls with heat exhaustion draggin fish, I tried a pair of the Proline breathables figuring they were a good value, a brethable wader for under hundred beans. Well, they didn't last a full season. They started to leak in the knees from kneeling with a lack of double knees, and they gave me that dreaded leg rubbing that would rub my legs raw where the boot met the wader material.
I figured I would go with the Orvis due to the great warranty that justified the 200+ dollar investment. I usually got about 3 weeks out of each pair before they started to leak in that neoprene strip between the boot and the wader.
I will say that they never rubbed me raw though.
After my 6th pair, they upgraded me from the regular Silver Labels to the hking boot model, and I'll tell ya, it was like going from 2 wheel drive to four wheel drive walking. Made a huge difference.
It seems Slingah has found what I warned him about based upon others opinions regarding stocking foot waders and sand. You just can't keep the sand out of the boot.
Gonna have to look into some of the other wader options suggested by many since Orvis no longer seems like a justifiable route.
But then again the nights I see guys out on the beach fishing in shorts and barefoot makes me wonder why I even need waders.

Just a thought but has anybody ever taken an old pair of neoprene waders that were heading for the trash, Cut out some strips that could be used as a make shift knee pad and put them on over the waders just to protect the knees from getting decked. or maybe even wrapping an Ace bandage around the knees for protection.

Just a thought...if its a bad one let me know...but please be gentle

Adding neoprene to the knees is a good idea, I need to remember that one :think:

Only had the Orvis Silverline bootfoot waders. Been treated well by them so far. Never had stocking models on before. Boot foot limits hiking ability, no question, but I wear two pair of socks to take up the extra room. I think they run large in the shoe size. Extra socks help with ankle chafe, which I have found to be very minimal. Have to give Orvis the thumbs up.

That said, they'll probably leak half of Mass Bay first time out this year:smash:

in my opinion, if not for the warrantee that orvis used to offer, their waders are not worth the cost. i paid for the warantee. i fish rocky, barnacle encrusted areas. no waders last me more then a few weeks at most.

I put an extra pair of insoles in my waders to fill up some of the space and it gives me decent cushioning as well.

By the way, I must fish like a real puss because I have a pair of $79 Cabelas waders and Ive been using them a couple of years now. :D

FWW gave me a pair of old Redball canvas and rubber waders. If I could find another pair of those Id be real happy. They were easier than neo and super tuff
Other than that I wouldnt spend over $100 for any wader, since they are gonna get trashed in a matter of weeks. Breathables leak within a month even after all the patching

Originally posted by PurpelNoon
I put an extra pair of insoles in my waders to fill up some of the space and it gives me decent cushioning as well. Dr. Scholls makes an insole for people that are on there feet a lot. they are green felt tops with black and red foam cushion under. they make standing on your feet all night much more pleasant on your back.