As I am about to buy my annual pair of waders, usually orvis or ll bean.
anyone have good luck with any other brand, I prefer felted bootfoot but maybe will try stocking foot. No matter how careful I am they all leak after a year or so. :confused:

simms. From LL Bean ;)

Get them from LLBean. No questions asked return policy. That's where I'm getting my next pair.

I usually get a season + out of a pair of Hodgmans believe it or not, and need to do light repairs after.

I got some White River Fly Shop from Bass Pro as I needed some quick and they sprout leaks faster than senators at the congress bar.

Might go the Bean route this year.

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& advised Simms, and he was right. Money well spent in my experience. Leaks are a fact of life with waders. As long as the seams are good (Simms seem to be), all you can ask is for something that is easy to fix yourself. Simms fit the bill (for a lot of bills). Get the g3 or g4's....they are the best protected.

expensive (similar to simms) but i like patagonia waders.

i got a pair on sale a few years ago and just bought a new pair at full price i was so happy with them.

Hodgeman wadelight... $79.00 had them for 3 solid seasons... I fish about 50+ nights per season... mostly rocky areas w/sharp barnacles... very little sandy beaches... not even close to one leak... so happy with them!!!

also, i'd recommend getting tall waders if your anywhere close to tall. having alittle more room in the leg seams to really help the seams hold up.

simms. From LL Bean ;)

Do they stand behind them just like they do they're own products? I didn't think that they did. Basically, can I send them back as often as I need to like Cabelas brand or Bean brand waders?

It depends on where you fish but i would have to agree with Numb and Nebe. I purchased the simms G3's about 4 years ago and never had a problem.... Hey but then again its all your preference.

simms g4 may be what's under the tree.
God, I'll have to beg.

I was going to go the LL Bean route until I found a deal to good to pass up on flea bay. There from bass pro but seam to be good so far. I would buy the LL Bean ones based on the trade em in each year policy. I bought my first pair of waders in 08 when I was living on Long Island. I bought a cheap rubber wader from Mordells Sporting Goods. They lasted about one season. I did not like the flexibility I had in them. I bought the above this sommer and they are breathable. What a differnce. I like them a lot better. When I used them this fall I put on 1 pair of long jones with them and I was good to go.

Believe or nuts, I just finished a sixth season season in a pair of Cabelas Dry Plus lace-up bootfoot waders. They were light, snug on the ankles and had neoprene pads sown into the knees.
They started to 'weep' leak this spring so I got another pair ($129.99) that I'll break in in the spring. Hope they last half as long.

"Do they stand behind them just like they do they're own products?"
Warranty is exactly the same for LLB and non LLB items.

Orvis Silverlines going on 7th year! Have worn out the boot bottoms. But haven't leaked. LLB going on third year, no leaks. Both breathables.

Don't matter how much you pay and what brand. Waders leak it's what they are. I hate the darned things. If only the CEO's of the companies that make had to wear them for 10 straight days on the trot in ice cold water then maybe just maybe we would get someting that was remotely any good. Just for the record my Simms G3 sucked right out of the box and right after Sims supposedly repaired them. If you can get one to two years out of a pair of waders mostly leaky free or the slowseapage you will do well. Up to the end of November I wear a wet suit now and a Kayak top. Much more practical for the surf for me at any rate.

Mike

i've been dstroying a couple sets of waders a yr for better than 30 yrs an to be honest none are made to last through what striper fishemen put them through in the rocks an on the beaches. I've managed to get my hands on a couple sets of the simms guide level for a great deal. very nice the zipper works sweet but if you can get a couple yrs out of any of them feel lucky. LL Bean has the best no question warrentee out there. 24 hrs a day 365 days a yr no questions an if your on a trip they'll send them to you if needed. Someday they'll even take care of the hole in the top that nuts like me fit into.even with a dry top the waves still make it to my toes LOL. Beans is trying a new system on their seam taping that is supposed to work better than past styles. they gave me a set of the new ones to try since I've destroyed all they got me in the past. The simms are working on 3 yrs an holding, ist for me. Tight lines Ron

In my experience, breathable waders that don't leak is an oxymoron. My llbeans leaked and then the model I liked was discontinued. My orvis leak... I could go on. Only ones that haven't leaked were my rubber pro lines, but after about 10 years the metal snaps rusted away.

WAders and leaks go together. I have a pair of Simms Blackfoot, which is there lowend model . They are four years old and now have some seep leaks. These are stocking foot and I use LL Bean wading shoes. Not the best for cold water fishing.

Simms Bootfoot are my current and first choice to date. I've had to aquaseal but only after a lot of use. I've worn the seams where the boot joins the wader on the inseam from walking and rubbing the material through. It's a good idea to pick up some inexpensive backups though to keep in the car too.

Pot luck, or perhaps company change material, probaly luck to get a long lasting pair. This is why i got a wet suit, if I`m going to get wet! than so be it :fury: Knowing this the wet suit give me more option:uhuh:

Simms bootfoot, 4 seasons no problems