Fishing Waders

[N.ShoreFisher]

Fishing waders....who's got em? What do you like/not like about them. Looking to get my first pair, but no clue; boot,no boot? Neoprene, or vinyle? Felt bottom, no felt. Need some direction. Thank you as always in advance. -N.ShoreFisher

[fishbones]

You'll get a lot of different opinions, but I like breathable stocking foot waders. I can't stand the boot foots. I have the cheap LL Beans and they've been good for the half season I've owned them. I used to have a nice pair of breathables that had the zipper in the front. I miss that because of the ease of getting in and out of them.

I also have neoprene stocking foots but don't wear them much at all. I think I wore them once in November last year.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by fishbones

You'll get a lot of different opinions, but I like breathable stocking foot waders. I can't stand the boot foots. I also have neoprene stocking foots but don't wear them much at all. I think I wore them once in November last year.

Yep...Pretty much the same here...but I do wear the Neoprenes when it is cold out early season/late season

[JackK]

I use breathable bean stocking foot waders myself. A good piece of advice is to buy two pairs of the cheap Emergers. That way when one leaks (which it will eventually) you have another pair to use while the first is being sent in for warranty replacement. Of course if you live near an LL bean that's not an issue, just bring it in and they'll swap it right away.

Personally I'm torn on the stocking vs bootfoot. I use stocking foot and a good pair of Simms boots for the salt, I like the ankle support. But I have friends who swear by bootfoot in the salt, because they feel they could shed them quicker if they ever somehow got swept into deep water. I'd like to get a pair of good bootfoots for FW fishing, can be easier to layer thick socks underneath. Both valid points. YMMV.

On felt, I've been fine with studded kling-on soles. Slipping hasn't been an issue. Never know where felt is going to be banned, so might be worth going with rubber soles. Or get the Korkers boots with interchangeable soles.

[bassmon]

I second the bean emergers stockingfoot - I live near an LLBean so I bring them back when they leak and they replace them on the spot - no questions asked- just replaced mine last week at the bean.

They cost about 140

[MotoXcowboy]

I started wearing hip waders this year. Upper bay / small wave spots. I like not having all that neoprene on up to my chest. I don't see the need to go chest deep in these spots. Also its nice having easy access to my pockets. (cellphone & radio-walkman)

When I go down to spots with more waves I wear a cheap set of chest waders to stay dry.

[Stewie]

Bean's. I bough4t the rapid river stockingfoots after my kittycat wrecked my emergers. The rapid rivers don't breath as well. I'd go with the emergers. Cabelas ultralight boots are nice. Just bought a pair of rubber soled ones as the felts seem to to be outlawed in more and more freshwater spots.

[Steve K]

Get breathable boot foot waders if you mainly fish on sand. Get breathable stocking foot waders if you mainly fish on rocks. I have both depending on where I am fishing. Love my Simms G3 waders.

[Pete F.]

I use beans emergers for freshwater mostly. I feel much safer wearing a farmer john wetsuit in the salt. A few more years, I'll be looking for a 8nBait rig and bringing a chair.

[spence]

It depends on your style of fishing. Dragging your arse through boulder fields the security of a stocking foot with a good boot is nice. If you're standing on a beach drinking beer a boot foot might be easier.

I've worn breathable waders with a decent set of thermal underwear on BI in November...it was freaking cold but my legs felt fine.

Durability is an issue as well if you're doing a lot of scrambling over rocks.

-spence

[hardbait]

i persoally like neoprene in the salt due to the floating neoprene but stockings in the summer also a wetsuit is an option

[bumpy]

I use the Rapid River waders from LL Bean for fresh water and salt. Studded rubber sole boots (felt is now discouraged) and they work great. I've used them in fast moving streams and climbing down rocks at the canal. Still water tight and comfortable after 3 years.

[GregW]

For me it is strickly stocking foot breathables , with studded wading boots. I can get double duty out of the boots and use them with my wetsuit and help cut on costs.

I have 2 pairs of the Bean emergers and 2 pairs of the studded wading boots. With a price drop and Bean compensating the price difference via a gift card and me then purchasing a second set i think I am all in for about $300 with a lifetime warranty. If one pair breaks down I have the other to use until it gets back to me.

I fished an average of 5 nights a week last year and had no issue minus a small leak in the waders which was quickly replaced by bean.

[JohnnySaxatilis]

The LL bean warrante is worth is alone. Told westportmafia this winter i got a pair his reply? "Best thing you ever did" lol. Drove up there for the first time to mansfield to replace a leaky crotch pair, took all of 5 mins. And the comfort factor going from neoprene boot foot to breathable stocking foot was huge, especially on long walks or if u wanna jump in the car and hit another spot. they're super comfy

[Pete_G]

If you're fishing the rocks or with time discover you are prone to destroying waders, which some fishermen do more then others - consider budgeting in a wetsuit to extend the life of your waders.

Use it in the sketchy places that tend to make your waders leak, weather permitting.

Warranties are nice, but being dry while fishing is nicer. Usually when I'm wearing waders I don't want to be wet (cold conditions for example) so I like to baby my waders as much as I can.

And since holes in your waders are like death and taxes, remember patching waders of any type is easy and effective as long as the leak isn't on a seam. A repair is usually cheaper and faster then the gas used to drive somewhere to return them or the cost of shipping them.

Aquaseal is close to permanent if applied properly and allowed to dry and UV activated glues are very fast and almost as permanent as Aquaseal. A UV patch (if you have a UV light handy, or the sun, which can be an issue for surfcasters) can literally be applied during the drive between spots. Good items to have around, and the UV stuff can be applied and cured in seconds.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Yep...Pretty much the same here...but I do wear the Neoprenes when it is cold out early season/late season

Exactly!!!!

[Rob Rockcrawler]

I use beans breathables and sure a couple pairs have leaked. Now the pair i have is patched and aquasealed in a few places and are working great. Even though i know i can return them no questions asked i still feel like i should repair them atleast once.

[N.ShoreFisher]

wow! Great info. I didn't even know that there would be different styles to think about based on where I fish. Of course it makes sense, since I have different rod and tackle set up for different types of fishing. Most of the places that I'd like to use the waders in would be a mix of sand and boulders, the later usually being the obstacle between me and the water. Great info everyone!! Thanks again.

[zimmy]

I have settled on breathable stocking foots, too. I have a nice pair from cabelas that is on their third season matched to Korker boots. I love them compared to rubber, neoprene, and breathable boot foots I have worn in the past.

[FinS 32]

i have orvis pro guides. awesome waders and are a stocking foot breathable. If you get stocking foot breathable make sure you have built in gravel guards it helps alot, and you will get almost no sand in your boots. I have bootfoot neoprene cabelas waders i use for loaners but i dont really like them, too hot and heavy and i dont have boot versatility.

This all said, i hate waders wetsuits are better

[JohnnySaxatilis]

ummm yea about that, just returned my second pair of waders in 3 months of fishing to the mansfield store due to multiple seam leaks in the crotch and leg area. Guy says this has been happening alot to this model... rut ro

[MAKAI]

Orvis just replaced my 6 yr old beat to snot pair. No charge, said it's a lifetime warranty, I'm happy !