Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all. Well my wife presented me with a new pair of waders for Christmas a gesture that was unexpected by me. She was aware that I was in need of a new pair since the ones I purchased at Dick's last April lasted only one season[of course I lost the receipt]. The problem is-she got me the SAME ones and purchased them at, you guessed it, Dick's. They're the neoprene felt sole ones. I know all the cons about felt soles and was planning on purchasing the stocking feet waders then buying the boots that fit over them. By the way the waders she got me are made by Field and stream. My problem is, other than the possibility of returning them and hurting her feelings, is are these waders actually rated pretty decently and should I just bite the bullet and postpone the stocking waders/boots till another time?
Give us a try!
Welcome back to the new NEFF. Take a break from Twitter and Facebook. You don't go to Dicks for your fly fishing gear, you go to your local fly fishing store. Enjoy!
New Waders
- Thread starter sonny
- Start date
Oh yes, I think you should.
As you stated that make only lasted one season. You can live with that.
Then next year (after they some how leak because of a Ka-Bar knife being thrust through them) you can leave hints around about the LL Bean waders.. no receipt ever needed for their return should they ever leak or not provide you complete happiness.
I would return the waders and get a pair of breathables with some extra money. i have the least expensive level simms waders and got chased down by a goose in the spring slid across rocks and i have zero leaks till this day a whole season later. i would never go back to neoprene waders again even in the winter. just make you sure you layer. the only thing if you want to be warmer is boot foot breathables for the winter. otherwise, most of the time, stocking foot are my preference. you wind up staying warmer because there is no sweat plus you can walk miles in breathables compared to neoprenes because of the weight and fit difference. back to dicks and go to shannon's.
CTobias
Professional BS'r
Neoprenes are for old men who sit in the Fly Zones in the winter time on the Salmon River. I say this because they never move, they fish the same stretch of water the whole day and think they are awesome because they are fishing in a barrel.
Breathables are the only way to go. Unless you're an old man in the fly zone.:nose-picking:
Breathables are the only way to go. Unless you're an old man in the fly zone.:nose-picking:
I still have four pairs of neoprene boot-foot waders but only wear them in the winter for steelheading. IMHO the real disadvantage of neoprenes--even for winter fishing--is their weight which really takes its toll on my stamina. Another disadvantage is they seem to shrink with age (and I get bigger around the waist) making them more awkward to put on.
Like everyone else, I use stocking-foot breathables for the vast majority of the season and think that's your best bet.
Like everyone else, I use stocking-foot breathables for the vast majority of the season and think that's your best bet.
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Joe D
Registered User
Andy,
I have that same problem with breathable waders. I've tried several brands to no avail. 30-40 years ago I never had that problem with canvas/rubber waders. Maybe I have to go back to the Converse & Red Ball's.
Exposure to cannoli ruined my neoprene's years ago...
mbwmn
“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”
skipper3245
Barbless Hooks save lives
Simms rivershed or LL Bean emerger would be my choice. I would go with the new Vibram bottom boots as well. Especially for winter. Stocking foot just only makes sense to me. The boot fit always rips at the seam on muck models and when they do, you have to buy a whole new pair. With stocking foot, you just need to replace the waders or the boot. Cheaper in the long run and you can maneuver much better. No brainer.
ps AK thanks for the advise on the salmon...one of my best trips yet.
ps AK thanks for the advise on the salmon...one of my best trips yet.
Eagle Claw
Trout Hunter
I like breathable but always keep a second older pair in my trunk just in case. I use Simms models but when I buy a new pair I send the old one into Simms and pay a small fee for them to fix the leaks. That way for a small fee I have a reliable backup and can use them
while my primary waders are out for repair.
while my primary waders are out for repair.
