Thought about posting this in the Buy/Sell/Trade category, but I'm just needing info about chest waders from your experience. Mainly, what is a good brand to buy and if I buy them online, does the boot size accurately follow the same size as work boot sizes? Do I need to order one size bigger or smaller than my boot and are there special things to look for or to avoid? Thanks in advance for your help.
Urethane is about the best material
I use chest waders as a last resort and when water too cold to be in.
It depends upon how long you want to keep them and how often you will use them.
I don't duck hunt and only use them if I need to be in the water for a limited amount of time and have gone to the cheap non boot style.
Store out of the sun and hang to dry completely after use.
Get them big enough for most anyone to wear, like size 12 or bigger if available.
I wore swimming shoes or slipon tennis shoes inside them for extra foot support. Having a bigger footprint in soggy ground is good.
Kris Morgan knows
just look at his avatar...he's been in that creek for a long time and still looks dry
I've had both cheapy vinylesque and urethane/neoprene. I would definatly stick with the eurethan/neoprene, especially if water temperature is a big factor. It's worth the money IMHO. I also prefer the built in boot type, as opposed to a sock like foot that you can wear other boots over. Also good to have a chest high front pouch that is easy to access to retrieve your ziplock enclosed ???
Wearing chest waders gives me the willies. When the water gets over the tops of those things, you're in big trouble.
I'm going to agree with Jim Frame, having lost a friend fishing in waders one night. He made a wrong step and went down. they fond him on the next incoming tide.
I have a full body wetsuit, an almost dry suit actually. I slip that bad boy on with heavy socks and long johns if needed. I even use it when I go oyster-ing!
I'd suggest checking wetsuits, as well as waders. booties, gloves and a hood, too!
Wet/dry suits are definitely the way to go for land surveyors. Maneuverability and the fact they are less tiring are huge assets for those big swamp boundaries.
I can also recommend a product called tuff waders from Cabela's if you don't have to wear them all day.
I appreciate the safety concern and believe me I have considered that. I will only be using them in some knee deep shallow areas to set beaver traps.
Might as well as go for some good hip boots! Mine have lasted for the past decade for duck hunting...
Jeff
Get the boot size about 1/2 size big. The insert that comes with most will fit your foot and the wader, but if you get your foot to fit the boot, then it will get very cold without the insert.
Be careful you don't step in a hole lest you get VERY Cold like I did evertime while I was duck hunting.
🙂
Jeff
If you are going with hip waders, always carry a sharp buck knife
ric
For trapping, I second the hip boots......
Jeff
Buy them big enough to slip out of if you do go under. Fell out a boat in a pair of hip boots that I hunted in. Good fit, ankle ties the whole spiel. 5' of water, one boot full of air and acting like a bouy and the other full of water, acting like an anchor! Had to be saved by a very amused villager!
Right now, I'm going into snowshoe mode. Needed the hip boots the last few days, what with our "storm of the century" flooding Nome!
-JD-
Simms G3s
I spend 40-60 days a year flyfishing in cold water, 12 months a year in Alaska. By far and away the BEST waders are SIMMS. They invented the breathable GoreTex fabric that is light, tough dry and you won't sweat in them. By far and away those who live in waders, like flyfishing guides will be in Simms waders. If your use is not going to be that heavy, there are other breathable waders that are pretty good and carry a decent warranty. Simms warranty is lifetime, no questions asked. I favor the G3 guide waders, and have about 300 days on my current pair. Most flyfishers use a stocking foot which is a neoprene booty that is integral to the wader, and you put on an overboot. If you buy boot foot types, generally most people go one size larger if you are going to double up socks, and regular foot size if you are just going to have a single sock.
Here is the link to the Simms G3 on Cabellas, if you can't swing the high price, actually the Cablellas waders have a decent reputation, but I have never owned a set.
Speycasting on the Deschutes River two weeks ago.
