Breathable Wader Review

[eelman]

I have owned the Simms G3 Gore tex waders now for about a month and fished in them 7 nights a week since, putting them to the test in some brush, a few slips, and fish fins. I have to say I have never been so comfortable in waders ever in my life, so much so that I now put them on at home before I go out and they are like wearing sweat pants, no binding at all and just like having sneakers on and shorts all night absolutly fantastic! I was very skepticl especially at the $425.00 price tag but now that I own them I would never go back! Wearing these things is a treat I can see now that with a little common sense these things will last, I rinse them at least once a week but, Simms told me I dont have to do that. The gore tex is extremely tough and the best thing is these waders really do breath! I know its alot of cake for a pair of waders but these are worth the money very well built durable product. So this is my best new fishing related purchase by far yet...

[reelecstasy]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

especially at the $425.00 price tag

[Pete F.]

Boot or stockingfoot?

[JoeP]

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&-

I used the Orvis Pro Guide for a year or 2 -- they leaked at the neoprene foot seam. I have used the LL Bean Wicked Tough Gore Tex waders for the past year or so -- Three pairs leaked at the neoprene foot seam.

I finally did what you did and I bought a pair of the G3 waders. Just got them this week. I hope they will be better. I rinse my waders off after every time I wear them.

One thing to note that probably makes the Simms better than the others -- Simms is the only one made in the USA still (the Orvis and Bean are made overseas, probably making them cost less but leak more).

I will say however that the LL Bean warranty/customer service is second to none -- full refund no questions asked each time.

Joe

[Pete F.]

My Pro guides are weeping just above the boot. I looked at them when I took them off Sunday and it looks to me like it's just above the seam maybe rubbing on the seam of my jeans. I will have to look again, maybe the only cure is a pair of BM pants. Do they come in boring colors?

[eelman]

I have the bootfoot, anyway, the foot section is supposed to be made different and the built in brish guard really protects it well, they make the bootfoot of the simms with a patened material that is not all neoprene which is why they hold up? I dont know but these waders are built tough! I am going to start rinsing after everytrip also, It may be a good idea to get that eel slime off once in awhile!

You can certainly balk at the price but I still say if you buy couple of pair of cheapos every season what does that add up to over va few years?

The most important thing! is the comfort, that to me is priceless!! They are the best waders made...........

[eelman]

I would also never wear jeans under my waders I either wear shorts or sweats.

[Nebe]

those waders are nice #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&... my only thoughts are 1- how long will they last, and 2 when they give up the ghost, how will sims treat you....

Orivs used to have a good return policy on their waders, now it looks like Sims and LLBean are the top dogz...

[Pete_G]

Simms warranties a product for the life of the product, not the life of the user.

This means they are going to cover anything remotely manufacturer related. They are also pretty liberal with non-manufacturer related failures.

If you get picked up by a 15ft rogue wave and rip the waders from your ass to your ankles they are understandably going to tell you to pound sand.

As for non warranty repairs, the first one Simms covers for free and I believe the following repairs are $30 each.

I'm sure I could get a Simms rep to stop by if people wanted more details.

Lastly, there are lots of "breathable" waders on the market but no waders remind me more that they are in fact breathing then Simms. You can literally feel them dry out when you come to a stop after a long hike.

[Pete_G]

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&-

Are those bootfoots or stockingfoot? Last I checked the G3 was only offered in stockingfoot. Hopefully I'm wrong, in which case I may have to harass Simms for a pair to "test"...

I may order up a pair to try even if they are stockingfoot; I've been a bootfoot guy for years but I may try stockingfoot again, at least for the rocks.

[eelman]

Pete, My waders are Stocking foot, I was always a bootfoot guy myself but again, these are fantastic! I have the simms L2 Wading shoe with felt bottom, very nice shoe. Since I dont fish beaches much I dont worry to much about gravel. As far as I know they dont make it in a bootfoot model. The gravel guards that come with the G3 Are very nice and protect well. I love these waders, They do breath well and are always dry when I take them off and I walk alot!

[Thom]

Pete G next time you see the Simms rep ask to please use gravel guards on the next step down from the G3 I bought a set of them while I like the waders I was pretty surprised that they didn't come with them built in. For the price they should have them on every model. THomT

[spence]

I've never had sand problems with my LLBean stockingfoot waders. The built in gravel guards seem to do the trick...

-spence

[Skip N]

I've only owned LL bean west branch waders and they seem pretty damn good! I've had some leaks on the first pair i owned and Bean replaced them no questions asked. I don't mind paying good money for waders from LL Bean because i know i will never have to buy another pair with thier warrenty. Certainly better than buying 2 pairs of cheepo waders a year. Invest in a good pair from LL bean and your set for life! Never tried Simms but i hear they are top notch also. Both Quality and service.

[Redsoxticket]

I also have the llbean west branch waders which were chosen for the warranty.
If I fish like #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& which I would like to I would get the G3 Gore-tex if they honored the warranty in replace with no hassle.

[Pete_G]

I wonder if LL Bean will change their warranty policy on waders eventually.

No manufacturer I know of has EVER made money doing a no questions asked policy on waders. Most have lost money, Orvis, for example. Then again, with LL being the last one maybe they're pulling it off and can take the hit of all those returned waders due to higher sales.

What really killed the "no questions asked" polices was all the waders going back that didn't leak. I know for sure that's what made Orvis stop offering it. Well over 3/4 of the waders they were getting back didn't actually leak.

I think Simms is ahead of the curve offering a reasonable repair fee for user inflicted damage.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

I wonder if LL Bean will change their warranty policy on waders eventually.

No manufacturer I know of has EVER made money doing a no questions asked policy on waders. Most have lost money, Orvis, for example. Then again, with LL being the last one maybe they're pulling it off and can take the hit of all those returned waders due to higher sales.

What really killed the "no questions asked" polices was all the waders going back that didn't leak. I know for sure that's what made Orvis stop offering it. Well over 3/4 of the waders they were getting back didn't actually leak.

I think Simms is ahead of the curve offering a reasonable repair fee for user inflicted damage.

I don't think they will change their warranty. Bean's warranty is something they pride themselves on and have for all their years. The warranty is great as it applies to every item Bean makes. L.L. Bean wants complete customer satisfaction.

[Nebe]

LLBean makes millions and millions of $$ on clothing alone..the waders are such a small % of their income, i believe they could care less if they lost $ on them.. Plus, they have many customers like spence, who fish so little that they never wear out their gear

[wader-dad]

Anyone ever use Patagonia waders? I got a gift certificate that I can use on them. They just came out with new ones.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Eben

Plus, they have many customers like spence, who fish so little that they never wear out their gear

Perhaps you should start wearing LL Bean shorts there a$$ rip boy

-spence

[Nebe]

nyuck nyuck nyuck

[Redsoxticket]

I would assume that llbean would increase the quality control or only offer the top of the line waders then change their policy.
Also the cost to manufacture and the mark-up will probably equal several returns before they lose.

[MAC]

L.L.Bean warrantee and I quote " Our products are guaranteed to give 100% satisfaction in every way. Return anything purchased from us at any time if it proves otherwise. We do not want you to have anything from L.L.Bean that is not completely satisfactory."

I agree with Eben. Waders are only a very small percentage of their sales. They won't drop them or change anything that might upset their tradition.

[MAC]

Oh I forgot to add that Bean's carries the Simms waders so that alleviates the warantee issue.

[NIB]

I pee in my waders no time to stop fishing I would bet they love it when they get mines back an examine them closely for leaks.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by NIB

I pee in my waders no time to stop fishing I would bet they love it when they get mines back an examine them closely for leaks.

I did marine construction in Florida back in 89. During the winter we wore wetsuits and when it got cold that was how ya warmed up.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Eben

LLBean makes millions and millions of $$ on clothing alone..the waders are such a small % of their income, i believe they could care less if they lost $ on them.. Plus, they have many customers like spence, who fish so little that they never wear out their gear

Orvis is a clothing company. 85% or more of it, anyways. They sell a "life style", these days. Fishing, and waders in particular, is an extremely small part of the company.

Orvis was in an uproar about waders a few years ago before their policy change. Letters in the mail warning of the policy change, reps specifically mentioning surf anglers, and returns of waders just so people could start a new season with a free new pair really got them worked up. I just have a lot of trouble believing that the LL Bean warranty policy for their waders is, at least financially, good for them. In terms of developing customer loyalty, maybe it balances it out.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by MAC

L.L.Bean warrantee and I quote " Our products are guaranteed to give 100% satisfaction in every way. Return anything purchased from us at any time if it proves otherwise. We do not want you to have anything from L.L.Bean that is not completely satisfactory."

I agree with Eben. Waders are only a very small percentage of their sales. They won't drop them or change anything that might upset their tradition.

If I could find an old Orvis catalog it would say the same thing. It still does, for everything but their waders.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by wader-dad

Anyone ever use Patagonia waders? I got a gift certificate that I can use on them. They just came out with new ones.

The old ones were pretty nice and held up well through the years. The new ones are new, so it's tough to say if they're going to be as good as they look. If they are, they'll be some of the more durable waders on the market. They're over built almost; the material is REAL heavy. Considering the performance of the old ones, and the build quality of the new ones, I'd definitely have to give them a .

[cheferson]

ANyone in s.rhody carry the simms G3 waders?, think im gonna bite the bullet and get em. Im on my 3rd pair of ll bean west branch breathables and all 3 have leaked in the crotch and feet after only a short time, these made it about 6 weeks.