What new waders are you guys using?

Tom Barb

Tom Barb

Active member
After a few years in my LL Bean breathables, they have started to leak around the top of the boot. Honestly, I have only used them (lightly as I hunt out of my boat and I would say less than 10 outings) a few times over the time I have had them, and they have been hanging in my shop otherwise. I am not super happy about this and plan to reach out to LL Bean to voice my complaint. My old cabelas supermags lasted about 10 years of heavy use.

What waders are you guys using? I have seen TideWe floating around online, but I am apprehensive of this "off-brand", if you can call them that. High n Dry seem to be reasonably priced, and then of course the high end Chene, First Lite, and Sitka.

If the quality really is that much better, I am considering one the higher end options as I tend to lean toward the "buy once, cry once" mentality over "this will last me a year" mentality.

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
 
Tom Barb said:
After a few years in my LL Bean breathables, they have started to leak around the top of the boot. Honestly, I have only used them (lightly as I hunt out of my boat and I would say less than 10 outings) a few times over the time I have had them, and they have been hanging in my shop otherwise. I am not super happy about this and plan to reach out to LL Bean to voice my complaint. My old cabelas supermags lasted about 10 years of heavy use.

What waders are you guys using? I have seen TideWe floating around online, but I am apprehensive of this "off-brand", if you can call them that. High n Dry seem to be reasonably priced, and then of course the high end Chene, First Lite, and Sitka.

If the quality really is that much better, I am considering one the higher end options as I tend to lean toward the "buy once, cry once" mentality over "this will last me a year" mentality.

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
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I have a few TideWe products. Missouri company selling Chinese-made products. I did not have good luck with their waders, but the turkey vest and "muck"-style boots from them have been great for years. Their range finder works also. I have yet to find a durable pair of breathables, but I also haven't spend $1000 on a set like Sitka or the other new high-end ones.
 
I have a pair of Roger elite 2-1 insulated breathable waders on order. Last year I bought Kubash 1600 neoprene (same as old Cabela's supermag 1600) great boot but I'm tired of neoprene weight and cumbersome.
 

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X2 on the Sitka Waders. I purchased mine in March 2023 have hundreds of hunts thru them with 2 repair clams of my own fault. They have been exceptional. IMO well worth the investment
 
I always went with rogers breathable insulated waders and liked them. I bought a pair of extremely lightly used Sitkas on here off a member and absolutely love them. I just wear heavier fleece wader pants and alpaca socks in them on the below freezing days and never have an issue.
 
Craig, I have been seeing nonstop ads for hollow alpaca socks. I wear merino wool first lite and have been happy for the most part but got cold toes on a few mornings. I'll pick up a pair to try them as well.
 
X3 on Sitka waders. I’ve had mine since they first came out. Only one repair on them and it was their very first boot style. Freak accident and took a branch in the neoprene ankle where the boot was bonded to the wader. Sent them back and they repaired and sent them with the newer lacrosse boots free of charge. This is season 5 on mine and only that one repair send in. Was in water up to my belly button this morning and still as dry as the day I first bought them. And I usually hunt 2 days a week for the entire 3 and a half month season.

I am going to give kuiu waders a try at some point since my buddy is affiliated with them so closely and may get in on some kuiu footage in the future. But I’m not in any hurry as these Sitka have been so freaking good to me.

I wear gradient pants early season and gradient pants late season (usually late November or early December to end of season). You will cook in the gradients if it’s 40 or above, but I sure love the comfort of them under those breathable waders.
 
Cheap neoprene Roger's waders. I've had nicer waders and they all seem to fail after a year or two of use. Then I repair them and they still leak, just less. I tend to push through a LOT of very thick brush and thorns in my hunting. My system now is definitely cheap neoprene, replaced every two years or so.
 
J. Overland said:
Cheap neoprene Roger's waders. I've had nicer waders and they all seem to fail after a year or two of use. Then I repair them and they still leak, just less. I tend to push through a LOT of very thick brush and thorns in my hunting. My system now is definitely cheap neoprene, replaced every two years or so.
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Me too. I have a heavy 5mm pair and a light 3mm pair for early season. I never wear more than one pair of socks and long underwear. Bulky but very warm. I stepped on two spikes in a piece of lumber the other day. It felt like they penetrated but I didn't feel a leak. Hope they last another year, that will be four years.
 
J. Overland said:
Cheap neoprene Roger's waders. I've had nicer waders and they all seem to fail after a year or two of use. Then I repair them and they still leak, just less. I tend to push through a LOT of very thick brush and thorns in my hunting. My system now is definitely cheap neoprene, replaced every two years or so.
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This was the approach I always took, 3.5mm. My very first pair (Remingtons, bought in 1997) lasted 6 years. After that seemed like quality went down hill and I was happy to get 3 years of heavy use. Last 3 pairs I bought were all Magellans from Academy. They now hang in the shed, gathering dust. Sadness.
 
Tom Barb said:
After a few years in my LL Bean breathables, they have started to leak around the top of the boot. Honestly, I have only used them (lightly as I hunt out of my boat and I would say less than 10 outings) a few times over the time I have had them, and they have been hanging in my shop otherwise. I am not super happy about this and plan to reach out to LL Bean to voice my complaint. My old cabelas supermags lasted about 10 years of heavy use.

What waders are you guys using? I have seen TideWe floating around online, but I am apprehensive of this "off-brand", if you can call them that. High n Dry seem to be reasonably priced, and then of course the high end Chene, First Lite, and Sitka.

If the quality really is that much better, I am considering one the higher end options as I tend to lean toward the "buy once, cry once" mentality over "this will last me a year" mentality.

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I've been real happy with high n dry. And I'm harder on waders than most
 
Ditto on High'nDry! Only wader I have ever owned that didn't leak after two years. Primarily used for cleaning weeds out of our landing and but also for duck hunting. RM
 
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I have been using Chene Gear the past two seasons . Been real happy with them so far. Very comfortable boot
Used with no issues from teal season in Louisiana through the winters in Washington
 
I'm probably looking at getting new waders in the next year or so. I bought some breathable waist high waders 600 insulation in the boot foot from Cabelas where my wife was working back in 2012. I had neoprene before these breathable waist high waders I have now. Once I got the breathables I've never worn neoprene again. I've hunted and fished a lot in these waders and found a leak in the knee a couple of weeks ago. I've fixed that with some e6000. I've had a few leaks over the years, but easy fixes with some e6000 here and there along the way. I much prefer waist high waders, but they don't make these anymore. Hopefully I can find something at Scheels where my wife works now and the employee discount is ridiculous. I wear two insoles in my boots and never get cold. I also glued felt soles to the bottoms of the boots to aid with walking on slick rocks and I'm guessing that helps to create a little more distance from the frozen ground and my feet. The felt soles are getting pretty worn down. I figure it's about time for another pair, but have no thoughts of them lasting as long as these have.
 
I just bought some Roger’s breathable ones. 1200g boots . I’ve used them twice. No complaints. Wish I would have bought the two in ones. Same exact waders but has the zip in liner. I looked to see if I could buy liner separately but cannot . Found a guy in Ohio. (1hr drive) selling 2in1 w a hole and I said I’d give home the $40 to ship just the liner but he didn’t wanna deal w it
 
I am on my second year of the cheapest breathable Roger's Waders that have the zip out insulation. I have been very happy with them for the price. It is hard to wear my neoprene Waders now that I have been hunting out of these.
 
So far, my favorite is the Rogers Elite Breathable waders. For $249 I don't think you can go wrong. The buckles for the shoulder straps took a little getting used to, but other than that, I like them. The handwarmer inside the chest of the wader actually turned out to be a good thing. You don't have to worry about getting an external pocket wet if you wade too deep.

When these wear out, I'll probably face the music and buy a pair of Sitka. I want to try a pair of zip front waders next. If i am going that route, I want to pay up for quality.
 
I have the High and Dry breathables. First pair of breathables, as I always had the Cabelas SuperMags. I still have a couple pr of the SuperMags, but have not worn them since buying the High and Dry. My only complaint they have fixed since I bought mine was how the knee patches were attached. On mine the corners are beveled, but not sewn down, I assume to reduce stress and allow draining? In any case, I went to voice my suggestion at thier both in Easton, and saw that all the waders on display were fully sewn. Now I am wondering if mine where an error? In an case, though I am not hard on my waders, they are serving me well. They are local, on the Northern Neck of VA.
 
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