Wader Care

Larry J

Larry J

Active member
Is there any special care needed for the rubber boot-foot neoprene waders. I bought a pair of LaCrosse waders last year and they're great...would like to keep them that way for many years. I always hose off the mud after use if i'm in the swamp. Have noticed that my slightly older, lighter weight Hodgman waders already have split on the upper boot where it flexed with my walking. Is this due to being cheaply made?
 
Is there any special care needed for the rubber boot-foot neoprene waders. I bought a pair of LaCrosse waders last year and they're great...would like to keep them that way for many years. I always hose off the mud after use if i'm in the swamp. Have noticed that my slightly older, lighter weight Hodgman waders already have split on the upper boot where it flexed with my walking. Is this due to being cheaply made?
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I stopped buying anything hodgeman made since it didn't last worth a hoot....from waders to their rain jackets.
To get to your questions. When you remove your waders, always turn them inside out to dry out the INSIDE first, then you can dry out the outside. There will be perspiration...etc, on the inside and that must dry or you can expect mildew.
Any "pivot point" (i.e. boot to wader joint) that flexes is subject to cracking.
Lou
 
You'll do A LOT more damage storing waders than you'll ever do wearing them.

Make sure to hang them upside down by the boots, and never fold them or hang them over a clothes hanger. Dry rot is a definite if you do that.

Also, try to hang them out of direct sunlight in a cool dry place. I use those boot hangers they sell in Cabela's that screw to the wall and grab the bottoms of the boots around the ankles.

Take care,
Kirk
 
Do not hang them near an electrical box or service. The ozone produced will deteriorate the waders in less than a year.
Lou
 
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yea those hodgmans suck i bought a pair of rubber chest waders in october by last week the seem by the ball of my foot had split and one of the silver rivets that hold your suspenders pulled right out, good thing i took them back to the store and they gave me a new pair.

i figured a $50 pair of waders should last at least one season, same thing happened with some itascas i bought last year.

eddie
 
I have the cabela's ultimate hunting waders. I like them alot. I have done everything you're suppose to do to them. I bought them in the later part of Sept. this year. The only problem I have with them is that I am on my 3rd pair this season. They have leaked in the boot or a knee or old faithfut the crotch area. I am getting very disgusted with them. It now becomes a pain to drive over 2 hours to exchange them and with the price of gas it's even harder to go.
 
Waders, like outboard motors and trailer lights, suck. But they are a necessary evil. There is no science to their care, it is more of a black art. I have owned every brand you can name. I have returned three pairs in a single season because they leaked in the crotch. I store my waders in boot hangers in a dark garage. I dry them on a Peet boot dryer. Doesn't matter, the seams will leak and the rubber in the boot feet cracks and leaks. I was patching new leaks last night. And then I have had cheapo brands with Aquaseal repairs all over them that lasted three years. I always keep a spare set. I have found it less aggravating to buy a new pair of $100 neoprene waders every season than pull my hair out and return $250 waders. It is a long drive to Sportsman's Warehouse and shipping costs to Cabelas for a heavy ass box with your waders in it is just another aggravating expense.True, some guys get lucky and they will tell you about their XYZ brand that they bought five years ago that never leak. It is just their wader karma. There is something else in their life that doesn't work right. They can't shoot worth a shit or their dog breaks on the shot. It all evens out.
 
How true dwight, my itasca waders has been leak free for four years of hard brush busting hunting. And to tell you my dog breaks on the shot. She does fine in the field, but out hunting she's to geared up. I think that's worse than buying waders every year.
 
My current waders are 4 years old..but there's no ducks here. I leave mine laying around, peeled down to dry(haven't used my peet in two years) and they have been great...just no ducks...and my duck shooting at the three local ducks has been abysmal.
 
I know a guy that will treat any exposed rubber with armor all at the end of the season. I have never tiried it but he swares by it. he doesn't hunt many days but his waders have lasted 6 years.
 
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