Neo Waders...

A

Andrew

Well-known member
Mine feel "clammy" "moist" call it what you want but they aren't "dry" inside.

So, I'll suffer through the season and purchase dry waders - no matter how they may be.

I know this question pops up on the duck forums all the time, but now that it's hunting season, can anyone recommend a dry pair of waders that are fairly rugged in the $150 range?

Got a black duck yesterday, dog made a great retrieve and I put 3 holes in Morton's Cackler by accident (waves coming at us at the dock, I turned the boat around while Dave was parking his jeep and I somehow got the boat under the dock). Feel crappy about it but Morton was a prince, he fixed the damage in 20 minutes.

Brant starts up next weekend here, can't wait. Thank you in advance and trust everyone is having a fun and safe season.
 
Andrew,

I think what you may be looking for are Breathable waders , check out Orvis they carry nice waders bought a pair of breathable from them for trout fishing , i am not sure how warm thay would be but you are welcome to give them try during one of our hunts . Fmallard man is looking to get out with us also , we will see how the week progresses . Talk to you soon



Dave
 
Polypro fleece wader pants..and a good thick pair of wool socks. The claminess you are feeling is the perspiration soaking into your pants. This tip only if you need warm waders.
 
Lee I used to need warm waders but our weather up here has been very warm this season. The birds aren't even here yet.

I experimented the last two outings. If I get the waders wet, they get clammy, if not, they stay dry (i.e. I don't perspire). It's not a seep, it's more like a dampness. I'm going to try wearing waterproof pants.

I wear fleece on cold days. Need some cold this week as the brant numbers are way down this year. Need some Northeast winds as well.
 
You don't perspire? So you don't waste money paying for breathable coats and hats?? Your body..unless you are a mummy....will give off moisture. Your feet and legs, ensconsed in neoprene will create condensation on the inside of the wader wheteher you break a sweat or not. You feel it when they get wet because of the evaporation effect on the outside, cooling the wader fabric. I quit wearing my 6mm neoprene in all but the most bitter weather and use my Cabelas brushbusters that have a silver lining and a bit of insulation up just above the knee...I love them and have had them for about 3 years now..no problems but they are still damp inside after each use so I put them on the boot dryer.
 
andrew, i use the cabelas 5mm 1600gram neoprene waders when its really cold but anytime its above freezing i use the cabelas dry plus breathables with 600 gram boots at about $175. there about half the weight and much more comfortable. but, with either pair i couldnt live without the PEET boot dryers. they make all the difference. best, mark
 
I use both neoprene and breathable waders. In either case wearing a wicking layer next to the skin has improved the use of both waders. I like under wader ware, but any wicking type material will work. Then I just add layers of warmth depending on how cold it is outside. Use the breatables most in warmer weather.

Tight Lines ... Fred
 
I am also a fan of the PEET boot dryers. My 5mm neoprene waders go on them everytime I use them and it gets rid of the moisture and funk.
 
Andrew, Have you checked your waders for a leak? What you describe is typical of my major problem with neoprene waders. Within a year or so I start to get leaks at the seams. The first seam pull usually leaks so slowly that it just adds to the "clammy" feeling. A couple of more leaks or a harder pull on the same leak speeds the inrush to the point that wet spots develop. I have reached that point with my 1600s. Yesterday I hung them up in the front yard and slowly filled them with water. First leak was a slow drip, low on the inside right thigh. The second that was a more continuous drip was right in the crotch.

In the last 5 or 6 years I have gone through waders by Lacrosse (brush toughs), Hogdon, other (can't remember) and now Cabelas'. I have to come up with a good way to seal seams. Guess I’ll do my own post on repair.

Scott
 
I'm a big fan of Lacrosse waders, I've been wearing mine BrushTuff's for 5 seasons now. 65-70 days of hunting each year.

JW
 
Hey Andrew--Get a peet dryer with the wader extensions. Cabelas has them. I put my neoprenes on it after every hunt and leave them on it until I put them back on (during duck season). Works great and they have a slight hint of warmth in the early morning. -j
 
Good stuff, thank you.

Filling them with water and checking for leaks is smart as hell - like the 6 year old who suggested to the truck driver to take the air out of his tires to get himself unstuck from the lincoln tunnel 20 years ago.

Thanks.
 
Andrew,

If you have any Building 19 stores down near you look there for inexpensive waders. You have to inspect them first for leaks and try them on but you can get some crazy deals there on brand new waders. I have been wearing building 19 specials since 2000 (the waders in my avatar pic are 6 years old and don't leak) and haven't spent more than 40 bucks on a pair of waders. They usually have $200+ 5mm neoprene hodgeman waders with 1200 gram thinsulate for 30 or 40 dollars.
 
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Aqua Seal is a great way to get your seams back to water tight. They also have a thinner that you can make the stuff penetrate a little better. Will stick like grim death and goes quite a while before needing updating. Nice and flexible as well. I still have cabellas OLD SCHOOL camo neopreen that go ice fishing, trout fishing and salmon fishing in NY as well as duck hunting. Getting toward the end but still working to keep the cold at bay.
 
Did they shorten your brant season too. Ours is running from11/23 to 12/27, they cut it short this year, I'm pretty sure it went right to the end of the season last year. I thought the numbers were ok so far this year we haven't had any problems getting our two each. I just bought a set of waders from cableas, they were the 1200ti heat retaining titanium construction 4mm thick and 1200 grams of thinsulate . They're a Christmas gift for my step son I'll let you know how he likes them. They're $180, they better be good. A few years ago I paid about $230 for the ones with the zipper and 5mm but I think they only have 800 grams or maybe a 1,000. The zipper comes in handy after a full thermos of coffee but you have to wax it every couple weeks or it gets to be a pain. Keep in touch.
 
Bob, thank you! What a great idea. I have always had trouble sealing stitched seams. Thinning the aquaseal should help. Have you ever used a vacuum on the opposite side to try to pull the aquaseal into the seam? I'm thinking of trying it.

Thanks again!
Scott
 
Yeah, short Brant season in RI this year. Aqua Seal, got it. Building 19, I remember that store from when I lived in Mass. I'll get on the web and see what they have.

Thanks again everyone.
 
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