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I am in the market for some new waders. I was just wondering if the Drake waders are worth the money.

I just bought a pair of drake waders and I love them so far. Only been on two hunts with them so far though. I got 1600 insulation and they keep me plenty warm. I would say go for it if you want to spend the money.

i love mine and think they are worth the money!!

Go with the Macks "Big Ditch" wader! You will thank me later!

I tried the big ditch waders, they don't fit right. I bought a pair 3 years ago and they fit great. The new ones are way too long.

i hope they are worth the money cause i had to buy a pair after my hunt this morning. fyi lacrosse sucks

they are comfortable but after 3 weeks thru this season, mine are leaking in the crotch area, the reienforced knee areas have come unstitched on my right leg and have the red padding stuff showing thru, and my left chest pouch has come unsewn. You put something in it, it goes strait out the bottom into the water. not very happy at this point with them and Drake said I had a new pair on the way 2 weeks ago and still do not have them. I would really hate to see how bad they would be messed up if I hunted hard in them. I am hunted knee deep fields in a layout and this has already happened. very frustrated I haven't gotten my replacement pair after they said I would have them in 3 days. And to top it off, I had to pay for them to ship the new pair and I will have to pay to ship back the leaking pair. Not very good customer service if you ask me. It's their product that has malfunctioned, I shouldn't have to pay all these shipping costs to fix their mistakes

rant over

i have a huntin bud in iowa with the same prob. they leaked after a couple hunts. i hunt hard and walk alot to get to places and have tried redhead, macks, and lacrosse they all last one year of my abuse if im lucky. I stick with macks now.

balljt5 wrote:I tried the big ditch waders, they don't fit right. I bought a pair 3 years ago and they fit great. The new ones are way too long.

It's because 3 years ago or when ever it they were made they were made by a different vendor. Macks, Cabela's, Drake, Bass Pro Shops, None of these people make anything! They have it made. There is only about 6 companies even make hunting waders. The 2 biggest are Lacross and Hodgeman. The others are Stearns, Pro Line, Frogg Togg, and Caddis. I would be willing to bet any good wader you buy from any of these "mail order" companies was made by Lacross, Hodgeman or Stearns.

I looked at a pair of frogg togg waders last week in Lakeway...didn't look too bad for 100$. Simple, seemed tuff and once again they're 100$. May be my next pair. I haven't found any reviews on them though...Anyhow I'm done with neoprene. Boots will be 1000grams and no more. I firmly believe my feet are sweatin' like hell on the walk in then I sit still and they start to freeze over. By the end of the season the neoprene has made me sweat so much I welcome a coffee fart to cover the smell for a brief moment. Which leads me to rant...

Why in the hell can wader manufacturers not come out with a 1 piece wader? You can buy all the fancy shmancy brush tuff/knee guard/ crock a shot protection you want and in 1 year-if you hunt hard like I do-If you walk in, bust through bushes- like I do-the crotch WILL leak. The boot WILL leak.

Now I understand there is a fine line between making a product that lasts and making a product that lasts too long but dayum...if they made a wader that was tuff as nails and seamless, they'd have a monopoly. I mean it truly is the LAST untapped product category in the waterfowling industry. I mean they can take a queer, and turn him into a woman...kinda. And you mean to tell me they can't make a seamless, 1 piece wader? I may look like some casserole eatin', yankee topwater queer next year, but I may just get stocking foot waders and wading boots. At least I'll solve the boot leaking problem. Luckily I'm only in crotch deep water when I'm crossing a run. Or bustin my ess like I've done 4 times this season.


Either way I am done with high dollar waders. Coleman Inc. here I come...

I appreciate all the input fellas, guess I'll just buy a cheap pair from cabelas. At least they will exchange them if something happens.

I have 2 seasons under my cabelas waders, I hunted hard in them last year. This year hunting has been as I get the time. But still no leaks and very comfortable. I would buy another pair

L L Bean makes a wader with less seams to leak but are 400 a pair

columbia 1600 are good. 179.00 at hunters hollow.A little thick and heavy for much walking though.

I'm on my second pair of the LST Drake waders. I like them, but had the same problem with the seem over the knee tearing. It didn't leak, but i didn't think it should've torn after only wearing them maybe 5 times.

Luckily Cabelas sent me a new pair with no shipping charge.