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Anybody use these light weight breathable waders?


I want to buy a pair. I find my self getting hot more than cold while hunting.

looking at the cabelas brand and the Basspro brand.

any input ?

Interested in opinions as well. Ive heard various reports from how awesome they are, to how they dont last.

I had a pair of Cabela's breathables that lasted 5 seasons. Only reason they didn't last longer is they ripped from the boot to the knee on a metal ladder on one of our blinds last year. I loved them and am planning on getting another pair. Neoprenes are just too hot to wear when I'm hunting a field and moving around a good bit.

I've been wearing breathables most of the season for the last 2 or 3 years. I did get a little cold Friday standing in the water when it was below freezing and I didn't dress for that.

LaCrosse Alpha Swampfox has been the best breathable wader I've found. The old style was so comfortable that I wore them instead of rubber boots on many occasions. I thought that they had been discontinued for good but just saw that they were put back into production. I've got a pair of the new drop-top style as well but haven't really put them to the test yet. The new style does have more features and abrasion resistant padding. Just layer up combinations of a breathable base-layer and fleece pants, and you'll be fine.

Old style: http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/perform ... aders.html

New style: http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/perform ... -600g.html

cajun squealer wrote:LaCrosse Alpha Swampfox has been the best breathable wader I've found. The old style was so comfortable that I wore them instead of rubber boots on many occasions. I thought that they had been discontinued for good but just saw that they were put back into production. I've got a pair of the new drop-top style as well but haven't really put them to the test yet. The new style does have more features and abrasion resistant padding. Just layer up combinations of a breathable base-layer and fleece pants, and you'll be fine.

Old style: http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/perform ... aders.html

New style: http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/perform ... -600g.html

i still remember the day you ripped a pair wide open!

I have been a big fan of Cabelas breathables, and am probably on my tenth pair. Have worn them forever with few problems. But I did see several guys in the new Banded waders this weekend, and I was pretty impressed. A lot of features on them that I had not seen before. They appear to fit more like bib overalls than waders, extra layer of protection on seat and legs. Good looking boots. They are pricey, but loaded with features. If they last, they might be very worthwhile.

eSJay wrote:

cajun squealer wrote:LaCrosse Alpha Swampfox has been the best breathable wader I've found. The old style was so comfortable that I wore them instead of rubber boots on many occasions. I thought that they had been discontinued for good but just saw that they were put back into production. I've got a pair of the new drop-top style as well but haven't really put them to the test yet. The new style does have more features and abrasion resistant padding. Just layer up combinations of a breathable base-layer and fleece pants, and you'll be fine.

Old style: http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/perform ... aders.html

New style: http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/perform ... -600g.html

i still remember the day you ripped a pair wide open!

Lucky that's all I ripped! Put you and Biggie together in a duckhole and something's bound to go wrong! I patched up that boot and still got another two years or so out of them.

cajun squealer wrote:LaCrosse Alpha Swampfox has been the best breathable wader I've found. The old style was so comfortable that I wore them instead of rubber boots on many occasions. I thought that they had been discontinued for good but just saw that they were put back into production. I've got a pair of the new drop-top style as well but haven't really put them to the test yet. The new style does have more features and abrasion resistant padding. Just layer up combinations of a breathable base-layer and fleece pants, and you'll be fine.

Old style: http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/perform ... aders.html

New style: http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/perform ... -600g.html

just ordered these.....

I wished they offered more camo patterns than that bright axed duck blind or max4. Looks like a golden nugget in the woods.

I had a pair of Mack's that lasted a good year and a half then began to leak all over. Everywhere from the boot seam at the top to the crotch. Last year I bought a pair of lacrosse and they are much better I think. No sign of any leaks yet after one full season. They are comfortable and I like the way the straps attach.

I bought a pair of macks last year, that were clearly not designed for a big guy. I ripped the front pocket off 2 or 3 pair. They didn't have any more of em so I got my money back, no questions asked, and ended up with a pair of banded insulated. They're very comfortable but haven't got to put em to the test yet. Hope they hold up. The boot is extremely comfortable.

I've had Cabela's breathables for years now and love them. Never cold with decent pair of wader pants and Cabela's breathable waders. Very light weight, comfortable and durable. I will never buy neoprenes again. neoprenes are heavy and bulky to me and are only good durring main duck season. I wear my breathables in warm weather fishing, teal hunting and cold winter with ZERO problems. Cannot do that with neoprenes.

Bought a pair of Herter's breathable from Cabelas this year. They fit much better than the Bone Dry from Bass Pro. The Bone Dry are pretty poor.
The Herter's were $135 or so. I also got a pair of 3.5mm neoprene from Rogers. Long story and don't ask why. It involves falling off of an Argo. A Oneshotpayne kinda deal. Similar to my OSP story of my camp house bedding that blew out of my truck bed. So if you see a purple box on I55 with some low-grade bedding let a brother know.

I wore the Rogers' this weekend in flooded timber and was impressed. Of course the final test will be seeing how long till the crotch leaks.

slayem wrote:I bought a pair of macks last year, that were clearly not designed for a big guy. I ripped the front pocket off 2 or 3 pair. They didn't have any more of em so I got my money back, no questions asked, and ended up with a pair of banded insulated. They're very comfortable but haven't got to put em to the test yet. Hope they hold up. The boot is extremely comfortable.

+1 can't stand Belding......but the waders are great, if they hold up...I bought them for the boots....did have to go up a size tho.