Fishing Waders

[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.

[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!!!!