The standard by which all other waders are judged.

[theartoflee]

I have a pair of guide waders they are one of the original models and they were great. I never had to send them back to the company for any repairs till this year. I am sure there are more then a few pin hole leaks in them but none bad enough to complain about. If I hadn’t tore a hole in the stocking foot doing the long walk I wouldn’t be sending them back. Reluctantly in recently got a new pair of their newer waders they cost about a hundred dollars more and are the line above the guide model I first bought. The company mentions that they have all these additional feature a boast about "-increased puncture and abrasion protection, and 20% more breathable".

I have fished with them the past two weekends and am beginning to think they will never fill the shoes so to speak of my previous guide waders. Between the last two weekends I have already experienced a few issues. When I fish my right foot gets wet and cold. I guess this is because these waders in the manufacturers eyes are "..as tough as waders get." that is unless you want to spend two hundred dollars more then you will receive waders that are better. You may wonder how tuff is as tough as waders get? They are so tuff other then them leaking the left waders gravel guard is already broken after two weeks use. I would get a good laugh out of these new waders if they didnt cost so much. I wish they were as tough as my car. If you notice I said car I dont consider it a truck. However when I hit a deer head on doing about thirty my car was fine it didnt have any real damage I got away with murder so to speak. My cars manufacture owns another company that produces a higher line of cars and their modo is built trough tough. They dont make their trucks out plastic so they will be much tougher. I wonder what damage I might of had if I hit the deer with a "truck tough" vehicle and not my car.

I guess I should have shelled out the extra two hundred bucks and bought their top of the line waders they are about two hundred more dollars they claim to be built" with unprecedented performance through increased durability, design, and features" Well if you magnage to get this far here are two pictures from my fishing trip..

 

[dcabarle]

I hope you return to the place you purchased them and get a new pair or your money back.

On another note, that's a hell of a catch you got there. I'm assuming it's a good 17" or so! What did you get it on? I can't believe the size of it! I would imagine it put up a helluva fight. How long did it take you to get it in?

 

[theartoflee]

I hope you return to the place you purchased them and get a new pair or your money back.

On another note, that's a hell of a catch you got there. I'm assuming it's a good 17" or so! What did you get it on? I can't believe the size of it! I would imagine it put up a helluva fight. How long did it take you to get it in?

Good news guys apparently the manufacture has a "30 Day “Across the Counter” Wader Exchange" my experience could have been as the expression goes just an example of what some call growing pains. As large as this company has gotten since I first purchased my inital guide waders they are still very polite to their customers. In fact they were beyond pleasant when I spoke to them. One thing I would like to point out although these waders do cost a pretty penny they still manufacture them in the USA. So by the end of the week I will have a brand new pair of waders that are very comfortable when they dont leak.

Dennis as for the pics I am glad you enjoyed them. It was great getting out I even saw a big bird that looked to be a bald eagle.. although I am not sure. I thought for some of us who just enjoy getting out a pic of that bird might have made the trip.

 

[theartoflee]

They suck...

I recently got back from a four day fishing trip. One day into the four day trip my new waders started leaking like a strainer. Last time my issue was the gravel guard had broken as well as the waders started to leak. This time the gravel guard held up but something else didnt.

I mention above when I spoke to the manufacture before they were extremely kind. So kind in fact that I decided to have my older waders repaired. It was a difficult decison as it cost me $130 to repair my older waders. Well as the expression goes they "killed me with kindness" because now I have a new pair of waders with leaks and older pair of waders that still leak after paying $130 to repair and the start of a new fishing season.

Apparently the one thing this company can get straight is their marketing campaign . I will be certain to keep every one posted as to how this situation turns out.

 

[AKSkim]

Don't you just hate it when you shell out a large sum of money and receive less that adequate product in return.

Last August I brought a new pair of LL Bean waders. Good thing about them, they leak or fail in any other way.. I just send them back.

I guess it is nice to have Orvis, Bailey, Simms and all the other fine waders, but for me, I like the no hassel send them back policy.

 

[mang]

I will reiterrate something I said in a previous post. All waders will eventually leak. I'm sorry your new ones leaked soon. I've given up trying to buy the new and improved, "best of the best," and have resorted to buying a new, inexpensive pair each season from Cabella's. For $44.95, it's piece of mind every year. They're quite comfortable. If your interested, check them out for yourself. They don't breath, but when it's warm, I'd rather wet wade. Good luck with your situation and let us know how you make out.

 

[mang]

never mind

 

[podobed45]

all waders leak. it's a fact of fishing life. i'm sorry your's leaked so soon. best of luck and let us know how you make out.

my waders have not leaked in 2 seasons. and they were a cheap model by cabelas. unfortunately, my size foot put me in the bind to get a cheaper pair. size 15 or 16. my left heel and ankle STRUGGLE to get in the stocking foot *mainly because of the numerous breaks and 10's of sprains ive experienced over the years*, i've looked all over for large size stockingfoot waders, anybody know a dealer?

 

[theartoflee]

Just got off the phone and even though it is beyond the manufactures 30 day satisfaction period they still stands behind their product. They are sending me another pair of new waders in an attempt to rectify the situation. Lets hope the old saying "The third time is the charm" holds true.

As for my repaired pair of waders that still leak at no charge they will inspect and try and find all the leaks that had not initially been discovered. They did inform me that initially when they tank tested the older waders they found a total of 40 pin hole leaks. I know forty is allot but for over a $100 I would expect them not to leak at all. One thing I did learn is that they do not submerge the waders completely when tank testing them. The waders when being tested are submerged to what they deemed to be a safe wading level.

Upon receiving the waders from repair I was at a loss as to why they did not spray the waders with Revivx. If this had been done it would ensure a longer life and would have undoubtedly taken care of the leaks in the upper portion of my waders.

I think in the long run this situation will be taken care of I just find it to be a bit frustrating to say the least however they are very nice on the phone and are trying to remedy the situation.

 

[stumpy]

I have a pair of featherweight red ball backpaking hippers I bought 20 years ago, used heavily for about 4 yrs, then used them a few times about 10 years later, still watertight. last year,I pulled them out again for an unexpected guest on a fishing trip, and thay were still ok! I know they'll eventually leak, butam amazed how well they've held up! think I only paid $20 or so origionally.

 

[flyman23]

I bought a pair of Red Ball neoprenes about 11 years ago and they are still going strong. Don't use them for anything but the cold, ice and snow. This winter I installed sheet metal screw in the soles for traction. Worked great. Now I have a warm pair of studded waders for the winter.

 

[Green Butted Skunk]

I have leaky waders....again


GBS

 

[Eagle Claw]

Orvis finally did ok by me, at first I was annoyed. I sent a pair of Orvis Guide waders back for repair and while they were out I purchased Simms wader and figured I would keep the Orvis for spares once they returned, I put them away and then had an ocasion to use them one year later and they leaked again after being repaired. I sent them back a second time and today recieved a new pair. I will now put these new ones away as a spare and use my Simms but Orvis did ok.

 

[DoubleHaul]

I am not nice to waders. I do a lot of hiking to get to were I'm going & have found that cheap waders are just that-cheap. I have spent a lot of $ on many pair over the years, sometimes more than one pair a year. I finally went top shelf & got the Cloudveil 8X last month & have fished them 6 times since then. Once you put them on, you know there is a BIG difference. I actually had to buy a size large wading boot because the stocking was that much thicker. So-far-so-good. Made in America.

 

[rford]

Just sent back Orvis PG leaky waders, refused to let them repair for 5th time in 2 years and demanded a new pair, they said ok, plus they would pay for shipping.

So with that said, whats the trade off ? Warrenty for quality?

I did not trade up to the final level or try and do the simms swap because once you do that, Orvis is out , you have to deal with simms. Also I did not want one penny out of pocket on this one, sick of paying shipping charges, this pair has already cost an extra 100 bucks in shipping back and forth.

Funny thing is I have a pair of Orvis silver labels I bought at outlet store 4 years ago for 29 bucks. They have never leaked!

ralph