How many seasons do you get out of a pair of waders?

[Swimmer]

I have several pair I use, or tried to use this year. Oversized xtra large neopremes which I wear extra clothing under for early fishing. Large neo's that I wear very light clothing under for later spring fishing, and wadealites for warm weather. I have had waders leak in the past and just kept using them, and then at some point they end up in the trash. Not any more. I am going to save that box they came in and if they leak just a little they are being sent back. I sent those two pair of Hodgemen's back this year and it cost fourteen dollars. They sent me two new pair, one neopreme and one the expensive wadalites. I don't think thier is a wader out there at this point that doesn't leak, so I am going to continue buying Hodgemen and just make sure I send them back within the time constaints of Hodgemens two year warrenty. So for the future sending back waders is going to become just part of using them. Just make sure you know the length of warrenty and you should be all set.

[Rockport24]

got my first pair of brethables this year from Cabelas in May, they are super confortable and they have an attached wading boot, so you get the best of both worlds, but low and behold, the crotch started to leak in October. It think it was due to climbing rocks, that's all I did all summer. I called Cabelas and they're gonna replace them. Do you guys also think that most waders (with the exception of the Simms maybe) are not really made for Saltwater abuse? I mean, LLbean and Cabelas seem to market their waders to the flyfishing river crowd. I tried to stay on top of giving them a freshwater rinse after each use, but it's hard when you fish all night and just want to crash....

[STREETFIGHT]

i expect to go thru a pair a season- if i get a season and a half out of them great..... for years i swore by the orvis silver labels (but they did leak) last fall i bought a pair of simms they have a small leak in the right knee- over the years ive come to expect all waders leak so i deal with it- 1 wave in the face far outpaces the small leaks anyway.

one observation i have made over the years is that a good pair of waders out of the box in the spring i.e. that do not have any leaky seams hold up fine thru the summer unless i tear them.... usually by sept. the seams in the ankles, knees and crotch start to leak. i leave my waders in the truckk 99% of the time from april thru december- it seems that being in the "hot car" breaks down the glue they use to hold the seams together.

[Clogston29]

I used cabelas waders for about 2 seasons and never got more then a month or two out of them before the seams started to leak. They'd replace them but it got to be a pain. Picked up a pair of Patagonia's on sale in mid summer this year and had zero problems with them over 3+ months. Hopefully that will continue.

[Notaro]

Originally Posted by Rockport24

got my first pair of brethables this year from Cabelas in May, they are super confortable and they have an attached wading boot, so you get the best of both worlds, but low and behold, the crotch started to leak in October..

It happened to me once. Last summer 2005, I had a hodgman breathable wader and it seemed to be in a decent condition to me, but after fishing for a while, I foudn my crotch area to be wet while wading (no funny ideas, men). Then I went home to inspect and found no holes. Can anyone tell me how can it happen?