Buying Waders, need input

[Wildfowler]

Maybe it's just me but I am convinced that all waders suck. Some may suck worse than others, but they all suck. Either that, or I have the worst luck ever.

The longest lasting pair of waders I've ever owned at the original Hodgeman's. I had two pair of them bought back around 1986 that lasted nearly 10 years. The inside seams did eventually wear thin from walking, but it was nothing that a little "shoe goo" couldn't fix. The only complaint that I had with the Hodgeman's is that they are not warm or particularly comfortable to wear for a long period. But 2 pair of Hodgeman's lasted nearly 10 seasons.

I get a little older, and start making more money, so I think I need a more expensive pair of waders. I started with the Cabela's Ice Buster. I loved the heavy duty cordura nylon outer fabric, it's extremely snag resistant. The problem was the seam leaked and the boots were way too thin in proportion to the toughness of the upper material. I found this out one day when I completely tore off one of the boots of the ice busters. 2 pair of icebusters, in 3 seasons.

Next, I decided to try a pair of the Cabela's standard brush buster. Same heavy duty cordura upper material, same lightweight, flimsy boot. I didn't have any problems with the boot ripping off, but I had to send them back due to a leaky seam. Cabela's gladly replaced them with another pair of brush busters. These too developed a leak in the seam before they completed a season. 2 pair of brush busters, in 2 seasons.

Thinking I obviously have been buying inferior quality products. I decided to step up to the Lacrosse brush tuff neoprene. I must say that they win the prize for being the most comfortable wader I have worn, but they too had problems. My first pair leaked in the seam around the boot right out of the box. They were replaced with another pair of waders. I don't know how long this pair lasted before they leaked, because I was never in water over my crotch until the last weekend of season two years ago, much to my surprise they too had a leak. Luckily, I figured this out before they were a year old. Mack's gladly replaced them. The new pair made it through this past season without a problem. 3 pair of Lacrosse brush tuff, 2 seasons.

Oddly enough, I bought a pair of brown neoprene lightweight fishing waders about 3 or 4 years ago. Rocky's and have no protection to the neoprene. I bought them for teal season, and as a backup pair of waders. I've had absolutely no problem with them. I did snag one small hole in them, but fixed it with the kit that comes with the waders. That kit works like magic on raw neoprene. Other than that they have been a great investment.

I am convinced that I can either go back to the original Hodgeman's, or buy a new pair of waders each season, or else I can plan on getting wet.

Just my opinion. I get to hunt around 75% of the available time each year, so my waders do get a lot of usage.

[gator]

i'll add my vote for the brushtuff...although, sometimes they get a little warm...i just hope that saying i like em don't jinx me

[Drake]

I have to go with the brushtuff too. I have two pair, one for a backup, and I've only had two problems in about 4 years. Both problems were self-induced though. You can't expect to stay dry when you fall in over your head or trip over a underwater log. The second problem is that I cut a gap in the rubber boot part when I was busting ice one morning. I should have been a little more careful in the way I walk. As far as the seams go, I've never had the Lacrosse to leak on me, knock on wood. Maybe, I've just been lucky so far.

[MemphisStockBroker]

Being a big guy, I have tried several different types trying to find a proper fit. Dang boots get wet, and you can't get them on - not a funny sight at 4am. If you have to walk any distance, the boots are heavy

A couple of years ago, I hunted with a buddy at my office, and he used the stocking-foot waders and a pair of old Wal-Mart ankle boots. He was in his waders and ready to go before I could get one leg in mine. We walked almost a mile to our hole. He was fine, and I was tired from walking in the heavy duty boots. It didnt take me long to buy a pair....

Stocking-foot waders. They never leak around the boot connection, cause there ain't one. They are extremely lightwweight. They are like walking in tennis shoes....

If they get wet on the inside, you turn them inside out and within 15 minutes they are dry. They are extremely warm, because you can vary the clothing under them all year. You don't have the problem of your pants leg coming up at the ankle. Yes, the boot you wear gets wet - but it does not matter at all. The stocking foot goes in them even though they are wet. They are way easy to put on.

They are MUCH less expensive than the ones with a boot attached....

The only problem I have ever had was if I get into mud that comes into my boot, and the boot tries to come off. But I have had the same problem with boot-type waders getting stuck...

They might look a little goofy, or 'not cool'... but I don't buy my hunting clothes to make a fashion statement.

[GulfCoast]

Buy high back style waders. You can get "a little deeper" if you have to with that style. I like Rockys, detest Lacrosse.

[judge jb]

i tried the high-backs but it made trouble for the wardens to pull my hands behind and cuff..... got a pic i MIGHT share one of these days....haha......

judge jb

[mallardchaser]

I've always been a cavas hodgeman guy. I just bought a pair on closeout for $59.00. My last pair lasted about 12 years. I borrowed a buddies neoprenes, that was the hottest I've ever been in my life. I have another buddy w/ the hodgeman lakestreams; he loves them. If and when I go neoprene, that's what I'll get.
Wildfowler, if everyone hunted everday like you do, they too would wear out some waders.

[DUCKAHOLIC]

I got a pair of Itaska (sp) 2 years ago and they have held up as well as any wader I have ever owned. Vans has had them for as low as 125.00

[DuckyDan]

I've got a pair of old Hodgman 3.5mm neoprene waders that I like really well and never had any problems out of. I was extremely careful with them and wore chaps most of the time also though. I bought a pair of Lacrosse Brush Tuff waders two years ago, and as far as I'm concerned, nothing is better. If I were you and were going to spend that much on a set of waders, I'd get the Lacrosse ones! Mine are the brushtuff 1000's and they burn me up, so I can only imagine the 1200s! Also, watch out for waders that have velcro on the shoulder straps to secure them. I have a couple of friends who bought them and after a couple of seasons the velcro doesn't want to stick too well, especially if it gets wet! That's another thing I like about the Lacrosse waders, and the fact that they back up their products. I won't go in the duck woods without my Brushtuffs and my Columbia Jacket!

[Dutch Dog]

I hope this takes. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 1854583191 Try that...it takes you to a set of waders on ebay like i was talking about.