Offseason wader storage solutions...

KThompson

KThompson

Active member
Disclaimer: If you have ducks to hunt or you're easily annoyed by over-analyzing of things that are really too complicated, stop reading now.

Has anyone found their version of "the perfect" off-season storage solution for neoprene waders? I've been fortunate to have received my own closet for hunting stuff in our new home and been thinking of modifying the length (shortening/cutting away from one wall) of the bottom shelf & clothes rack so that I can add a boot hanger on far wall to keep my waders in the offseason. I'm thinking this is great becuase I can keep them climate controlled, away from UV exposure, and prevent keeping them folded up in the original box because that has to create some kind of stress in the folded joints over time...

So being me, I 'm seriously overthinking it and wondering if there's a good style of wader/boot hangers that will cradle the boot without causing too much stress on the contact areas between rack and rubber. I've seen some 1-4 configuration sets of boot hangers from Cabelas/amazon but didn't know if something hanging on them for 10mths at a time would take on permanent indentations at the contact points. I guess could always make something out of wood but it would need to be beveled at the contact point.
 
what about storing them "standing up"? hang the shoulder straps to the closet rod and clip them so that they store with the boots on the ground?
 
I have just a couple of the cheap plastic hangers where the waders hang by the boots. Each end of season, I liberally wipe down the rubber boots with Armor All. I have not yet lost a pr of waders to damaged boots. Mine have eventually failed in the neoprene or been cut.
 
I use "U" shakes lag bolt type hangers. The ankles slide in easily and the rubber costing provides friction.

The one in the Pic needs a bit of repair/replace, but they're 15 years old. In your closet, a 2x4 accessed into studs would be the mounting surface you'd need, or hang the boys 16" oc apart.... Had to crop quite a bit to meet the photo size req's. But one of these for each boot, hang upside down.

View attachment IMG_20151210_102747.jpg
 
for some reason my post from my phone kind of died....

Here's a link to the u-hooks I put in my garage to hang my waders from. You need one for each boot. The ankles slide between the stems of the "U".

http://www.amazon.com/Industrial-Grade-4ERX8-Screw-Coated/dp/B004KFL53C/ref=sr_1_16?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1449765329&sr=1-16&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A3976370011
 
How about supporting them in an upside down position, similar to using a boot drier. PVC tubes in a wooden base plate, tees and a short length of PVC towards the toe area for the top ends.
Slip the boots over the top and let them hang wrinkle free. You could even wrap padding at the top to prevent indentations inside the boot.
 
If they are in a shed or garage, mouse-proofing is something to consider unless they are off the ground or secured in a closet.
 
Boot drier works fine, OR, just hang by suspenders from a hook--Dark, coolish place, like a basement. Probably, heat and light are a wader's worst enemies.
 
I've been using a plastic truck box for the better part of 10 years. Keeps them out of the light, dry and rodent free. I lay the boot over so the neoprene isn't in stress by folding over the boot top edge. I have two sets a neoprene hip boots, (1) pair of neoprene waders and a pair of breathable waders in the box with no problems.
 
what about storing them "standing up"? hang the shoulder straps to the closet rod and clip them so that they store with the boots on the ground?
Click to expand...

Dani - I love to do that for short spurts during season (a day or two between hunts when my dryer is drying another pr) to help dry but long term storage that way will eventually ruin/modify the memory of the elastic in the wader straps.
 
I have not yet lost a pr of waders to damaged boots. Mine have eventually failed in the neoprene or been cut.
Click to expand...

I'm usually fortunate enough to hunt 25ish days a season so I usually end up in the same situation... it's just now that I finally have a room of "my own" I'm excited about all the possibilities for keeping order... no more boxes under kids beds or stacking clothes in bins in the corner of a non-floored attic, ha!
 
If they are in a shed or garage, mouse-proofing is something to consider unless they are off the ground or secured in a closet.
Click to expand...

Fortunately this is a room inside so no issues this time... the previous homeowner/builder even did a good job with the garage so I'm rodent free there at the moment as well. Just have to maintain his level of upkeep.
 
Kyle, like many have already mentioned mine tend to stay on my wader dryer or folded nicely in a wader bag stored in the crawl space. Also i remember the last new pair of waders I bought mentioned coating the rubber boot with armor all to help keep the boots from cracking when storing. I've done this the last three years. Which helps because they aren't getting used as much these days.
 
Kyle

I made a new wader rack this past week so Thomas and I could hang our waders in a new spot in the garage that used to be occupied by a pegboard before I moved my workshop. I don't have a picture but it's simply a board mounted to the wall with pairs of 1" diameter 12" long dowels sticking out that you slide the boot into. The dowels are nice because there are no sharp edges nor do they crease the rubber. The waders hang upside down. The project is fresh on my mind and very simple to do. If you'd like to make one to custom fit your closet I'd be happy to help you. Maybe an hour of shop time is all it takes.

Eric
 
I always put swim "noodles" in all my rubber boots,waders and hip boots. These are the foam tubes kids use in the pool.
They prevent hard creases in the rubber. Not so important with neoprene but the rubber boot bottoms don't crease that way. I store them standing up. I an still nursing a pair of LLBean Wellies that must be twenty years old and I think that is why they have not given up the ghost yet.....LLBean stopped making them and I refuse to pay a hundred bucks for a rubber boot.
 
what about storing them "standing up"? hang the shoulder straps to the closet rod and clip them so that they store with the boots on the ground?
Click to expand...

Dani - I love to do that for short spurts during season (a day or two between hunts when my dryer is drying another pr) to help dry but long term storage that way will eventually ruin/modify the memory of the elastic in the wader straps.
Click to expand...

I hang mine by the suspenders, but I am sized such that during the first season of use I have already "modified the memory" of the elastic. "Modified and then some" my wife would say.
 
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