Breathable Waders

[flashyal]

Hi,

I'm looking to get new good hard wearing breathable waders this season. Any breathables I've got up to now have not lasted and I'm lucky to get a few months out of them. They must be able to take few thorns but none seem to be able to. Thorns are the big issue.

Anyone got any idea on a decent pair that won't leak too easy and can take a bit of hardship. I don't fancy getting Simms as I won't spend excessively on waders that may leak after the first few sessions. I've heard good reports on the Hardys EWS.

[steelheadnut]

If you find any, let us All know, then we'll make someone an overnight millionaire.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cap

[silverinvicta]

steelheadnut said:

If you find any, let us All know, then we'll make someone an overnight millionaire.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cap

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D I should say so

Si

[magpie]

One option you may look at are the waders which are neoprene from the boot to the waist and breathable from there up. That should protect you from the thorns etc

[flashyal]

I know that all waders leak at some stage, but what I'm asking is what ones have people found to be the most hard wearing and that can take some abuse. I don't want to get sucked in by brand names paying big money if they're not any better than cheaper brands.
One example is the Orvis Silver Label, I've bought them twice & never again as they cannot take any sort of abuse and I haven't even got a month out of them.

[kingfisheryh02nxs]

When i went to buy a pair of breathable waders i was told if i was walking through thorns or thistles then definitely don't buy breathable waders, go for rubber.

[riverkeeper100]

I have used for the past four seasons orvis pro guides (not the pro guide 3 which is the current model) and in my opinion it was well worth spending the small fortune they initially cost, but having said that I did buy them on a fishing trip to the US and paid half the price of what they are in the UK. The material they are made from seems to be a lot thicker than any thing else I have seen before or since and the legs are double skinned from the thigh down and triple skinned with foam pads around the knees and they came with a five year repair/replacement guarantee which I have never used.
I will admit to being carefull over where I walk and treat them with some respect and follow the care instructions issued by the manufacturer.I do think the wear I have had out of them was well worth what I paid for them.
The ones I bought previously to these only ever lasted about a season before I got very wet socks. In fact the worst I ever owned were made by snowbee they leaked the first time I put them on and so did the many pairs sent too me by snowbee as replacements.
My fishing mate bought some eye wateringly expensive hodgman guide waders on the same trip and to date the only leak he has had was in the neoprene foot caused by the seams on his boots rubbing the neoprene and after having them repaired he was given the tip too wear some thin socks outside them to stop gravel punctures and the chance of the boot rubbing thro the neoprene again.

[steelheadnut]

Thorns, barbed wire, jagged rocks, they are not respecters of any type of material.
I used to wear neo's, not too bad at handling small thorny punctures, but fishing in them any time from May till September was a nightmare, great if you're overweight and want to shed some pounds( hmmm, might get back to them then ;D ;D ;D).
Seriously, I was wetter coming out of them than when I put them on, so I tried some breathables.
First pair, total disaster, knew how deep I'd been wading by the tide mark around my shirt, ;D ;D ;D
So went for Simms Guide's(the originals), thought I'd had these for about 4/5 years, but after checking it seems they were bought eight years ago, they've had no special treatment, washing etc.
They've done five Canadian trips, a few Scotland trips,and one year needed an operation to get them off( was never out of them).
I've had a couple of punctures in the ar-e through siting on the odd thorn, which were sealed with patches on the inside, but apart from that they've been great, and are still in use as a stand by pair.
I now have a pair of the G4's, and if they last half as long (I wish)as the Guides I'll be more than happy.
Mind you the new Guides don't have the same goretex as the originals but the layering is the same, and after all it's the outer layers that protect from anything we care to throw at them.
They are also a joy to wear, very comfortable, and when you hit your half century(or more) comfort overrides just about anything.
;D ;D ;D ;D
Yes they cost a bit but what the hell, you can't take the green stuff with you when you go, and by getting rid of a few of those lumps in the mattress helps you sleep better at night( unless you're out there after the sewin of course)
If I had to chose waders then firstly Simms and a close second Patagonias.
Have a dry fishing season.

Inside your waders, that is.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cap

[Paul Dunstan]

My vote goes to the Orvis Pro Guides too. My first pair lasted about three and a half seasons until they failed - when they were promptly replaced by Orvis with a pair of the newer model proguides - that are of a sturdier construction, especially around the knees and seat.

Breathables do need some TLC and brambles, gorse and barbed wire are best avoided if possible. Also, they should be kept clean and stored carefully - hung up in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

If I've had a full week's fishing, out night and day in grotty wet and muddy conditions I give my breathables a treat when I get home.

Firstly I run the washing machine empty on its hottest setting to remove any traces of detergent and then I wash my breathables (cold wash!) with a cap full of Nikwax Tech Wash.
www.nikwax.co.uk/en-gb/products/productdetail.php?productid=4&activityid=-1&itemid=-1&fabricid=-1

Then I wash them again with a cap full of this direct, wash in, breathabilty restorer.
www.nikwax.co.uk/en-gb/products/productdetail.php?productid=3&activityid=-1&itemid=-1&fabricid=-1

It might seem a bit of a 'faff' but it pays dividends in the long run.

[flashyal]

I'll have a look at the Orvis Pro Guide Paul & Riverkeeper but I'm a bit sceptical about Orvis waders to be honest. No matter how careful you are in trying to avoid thorns sometimes it's just impossible. You ever try getting down through the undergrowth to try a nice patch of water, thorns and the like are unavoidable at times.

I tend to to slide down big steep banks to get to the fishing as well which doesn't help but if it saves a 10 minute walk. It's not as if I target thorns or barbed wire specifically. An as for using neoprenes they're good for the winter and nighttime but dufring the summer no thanks. I'm heard plenty of good thing about the Simms Guide Waders as well but I don't like girl thingyfooting around when I fish so I'd be terrified of them leaking afer walking through some undergrowth.

Anyone got anything to say about the Vision Extreme, or Hardys EWS, Guideline or any other brands that they find good.

[T7]

flashyal said:

No matter how careful you are in trying to avoid thorns sometimes it's just impossible. You ever try getting down through the undergrowth to try a nice patch of water, thorns and the like are unavoidable at times.

To be honest this is why I have never paid more than 40 quid for waders!! If you catch 'em on barbed wire they will rip no matter how much the price tag. I have been tempted by some of the pricey waders before but could never justify spending that much on something that might only last a dozen trips. The only downside I spose is getting a sweaty ar*e but do the breathable ones make that much difference?

[woodcockandsewin]

Highly recommend the Patagonias...should pick them up on ebay for around £100

[kingfisheryh02nxs]

The best purchase i made last year was a pair of breathable waders, they make those hot humid summer nights so much more comfortable, especially as i like to do a lot of walking. One thing i would say to anyone buying a pair, is take into consideration the places you are going to fish, its no good buying breathables if you are going to be trampling through over grown vegetation. The pair i bought are by Fisher's motion, available from Fawcetts. They are so comfy and a absolute pleasure to wear. Long gone are those days of wearing rubber chest waders and sweating my nuts of, (probably why i've started to put weight on last summer. ;D

[tavyrod]

Flashyal

I bought a pair from Snowbee a few seasons ago. They have spiked soles which are great. They are light and waterproof - walking in them is comfortable even if you have a long trek to the river and the footing is very good on greasy surfaces. But they are very cold when wading for a long period. At night I have to come out to warm up the knees - with some frequency!

The main problem with the breathers is that they keep springing leaks. They are easily repaired with a puncture repair outfit but they seem to seek out thorns - and leaks are always discovered when you have just reached that spot when after a tedious and precarious wad you can cast to the hot spot.

My neoprene waders have lasted and lasted - to my absolute amazement. Leaks are easily patched with a glob of evostick - but thorns do not seem to be such a problem. I was tempted to get a chest pair in the same material but when I saw myself in them, I thought I looked like a Max Wall impersonator. They do something special for middle aged spread! But what the hell - most of the time I will be in the dark and I am getting too old to have any truck with vanity. For night fishing deep water I will get a neoprene pair the next time around and blow looking like an olive Teletubbie.

[bash]

the one thing i do is buy from the states ideally from a shop or a shop on ebay.Dont buy simms L2sthey are not very durable as i have stated on a different thread.Mind you after some moaning to simms they sold me a pair of "cosmetically imperfect" G4 pros for $150 with the full warranty.the only thing i can see wrong is that the pocket is slightly squint.god bless america!!

[riverkeeper100]

just to go slightly off this subject I bought in the US some years back some felt soled wading sandals being as it was too hot for waders and to be honest they are brilliant for hot sunny days and warm nights just those and a pair of shorts and away you go. I did think it was madness when I first got home after two weeks of wading in the warm mid west sunshine and first used them in wales but i love them and would nt be with out them when the sun is hot.
And they are brilliant if you fancy some summer bass and mullet chasing.

[johnriverlune]

I too thought that sandals would be a good idea for sea trouting on those hot summer nights but only ever did it once, the walk to the river through thistles and brambles was a nightmare, give me good old fashioned oceans [the light green ones] I can put up with a bit of sweat.

[dangler]

Aye and the midges get into interesting places too!!!!

Mike

[plotter]

believe it or not, all i could afford at the time when i bought mine were cheap ron thompson ones, they are still going. If i had to buy a pair again it would be these and theyre cheap to replace... ive had them 2 seasons and theyre ok for this year too i hope.

[rio]

Vison extremes without the zip are excellent, though i have simms classic guides as well. The Simms are made of a heavier fabric compred to the Vison and i have a small tare on the gravel guard for the vision.

The most durable i have had are a pair of breathable Hardwear stockingfoots which leaked on all the seams. Once i aquasealed every seam they were fine, not as breathable as the others butt far more bush proof. Cost me £50 + 2 tubes of aquaseal and are still going strong. No breathing takes place with body parts in the water anyway, only when you are on land.

cheers,