Anyone know about waders?

Messiah Khan

Messiah Khan

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Alasdair Fowler
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I could do with a pair of waders (Probably chest waders) for wildlife photography. Anyone use waders? What should i look out for? ?I won't use them very often, so the cheaper the better, but I want them to be fairly decent so I don't drown or freeze. What is better, rubber or neoprene?
 
May be worth while going into a fishing tackle shop to buy them and seek out experienced staff.
Ask about safety when wading. It can be dodgy, esp. in moving water. When fishing I always carried a long staff to probe the bottom and for support when moving.
 
I have a pair of Greys breathable chest waders, they have neoprene stocking foots and also require wading boots too.

The whole set was around £140 for both from the Glasgow angling centre iirc.
Still going strong :thumbs:

I'd recommend visitng a store though, getting the correct fit is quite important, for both comfort and safety.
 
Oh dear... this sounds like a D300 getting soaked :P
 
Keep an eye out on ebay for a cheap drysuit with a broken shoulder zip .. they make excellent waders. Just make sure they have fitted braces and the boots are the right size ;)
 
DON'T get rubber thigh or chest waders - you'll sweat your own body weight out in a matter or minutes. They're antiquated and made for fetishists ;)

Breathable are great but expensive; look at brand like Airflo, Greys or Scierra (Hardys are terrible - stay well away). You'll pay a lot of breathable chesties (at least £100) but providing you look after them they'll last years. They're much more comfortable to wear than any other type and you can layer long Johns etc underneath to regulate heat. Some have boots built in but the majority have neoprene socks attached that allow you to wear additional boots over the top. These boots cost about £50-70 on top. Breathable can rip but are easy to fix.

Neoprene waders are much cheaper and come in thigh and chest varieties (Shimano and Shakespeare make very good ones) but are warm and better suited to cold water conditions. Mind you, if you're staying static this may be a good thing. Most come with a wellington-style boot that will have good grip but make sure you try them on because not all boots are that roomy and getting the right fit is important to prevent chaffing. You can get a good pair for about £45.

This is a good place to start; http://www.sportfish.co.uk/fly-fishing/waders-boots?gclid=CPKdgKO0g50CFZQA4wod9VRz1A
 
I use waders a air bit for fishing off the rocks - I would not recommend anything other than combination soles - a felt sole with tungsten studs in, they give the best grip on wet rocks and weed covered rocks, be careful on wet grass though!

Breathables are fine if you layer warm clothing underneath. They are lightweight and allow plenty of freedom of movement. Unless you pay for top quality ones neoprene are quite restrictive. Don't get bootfoot waders, get stockingfoot ones - then wear whatever footwear is suitable over the neoprene stocking feet. For lightweight work an old pair of trainers will do, or crocs, or proper wading boots.

Fly Fair is at Trentham Gardens in early November - you can get some incredible bargains there. I got a pair of Hodgmans breathables for £60 last year! These are high quality and normally around £120. If you look around you can get good bargains, Simms and Orvis make good waders that cost in excess of £450, then you buy boots!
 
Waders make your crotch sweat, that is all I know about them...................:D
 
I'm not too familiar with waders other than to say be aware of the riverbed you are on.

Nearly lost a friend 3 weeks ago, he waded out into the river (something he's done for years without incident) and stepped into a hole. Within seconds he was up to his neck and being dragged downstream, luckily he was able to grab the branches of an overhanging tree and managed to get the waders off. Once the waders were gone, he managed to drag himself into the bank.

When he told me of this incident, he did mention something he usually wears (like a belt I think?) to prevent the waders from filling, in this instant he failed to do this. Incidentally, he managed to keep hold of his camera!

Nigel.
 
GarynLea said:
Keep an eye out on ebay for a cheap drysuit with a broken shoulder zip .. they make excellent waders. Just make sure they have fitted braces and the boots are the right size ;)
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This is the last thing I would do. If you do fall over and the suit fills up with water it will drag you down and you will struggle to get out the suit while under water, if you get out at all. Best advice I can give is goto an angling shop and ask their advice.
 
as a keen fisherman, Ocean are the best waders available, but are rubber(either studded or cleated soles). i have a pair of snowbee neoprene chest waders and have lasted about 6 years or so without any problems.

cheap and cheerful waders, have a look at the ron thompson nylon ones, but they do rip fairly easily.
 
The nylon ones are a complete waste of money. They are just not durable at all. I'm currently using Daiwa neoprene ones but the river bottoms round here are mostly silt. If your on rocks or stone then studded soles are a must.
 
spaniel said:
I'm not too familiar with waders other than to say be aware of the riverbed you are on.

Nearly lost a friend 3 weeks ago, he waded out into the river (something he's done for years without incident) and stepped into a hole. Within seconds he was up to his neck and being dragged downstream, luckily he was able to grab the branches of an overhanging tree and managed to get the waders off. Once the waders were gone, he managed to drag himself into the bank.

When he told me of this incident, he did mention something he usually wears (like a belt I think?) to prevent the waders from filling, in this instant he failed to do this. Incidentally, he managed to keep hold of his camera!

Nigel.
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Yes, very dangerous incident and the belt idea can bring trouble too. The waders become the most bouyant part of you and go to the surface and keep your head down.
 
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