Choosing the right pair of waders for YOU - For Beginners
Choosing the right pair of waders for YOU
By Dan Gray, Wolf Mountain Fly and Tackle, Colstrip, MT
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Here you are, sitting alone on the river
bank with your $400.00 rod and reel combo
in hand wearing your $75.00 vest loaded
with $250.00 worth of flies, leaders,
tippets along with a whole sundry of other
fly fishing related paraphernalia freezing
your butt off because the seams in cheap
waders are leaking. Let's see, the guy at
the garage sale said they had only been worn
twice failing to mention that was ten-years
ago and they had been stored in the old utility
shed out back every since. Or maybe you bought
them because the salesmen at Wally World said
his second cousin's brother-in-law had a pair
just like them and he thought he was pleased
with them, but he hadn't talked to him in over
a year ever since he ran off with that waitress
from the Waffle House. Maybe they don't leak
at all maybe they just don't fit right and the
boys are busy screaming in protest.
None of this really matters right now. What
really matters is you are sitting on the bank
like apiece of old dried out driftwood while
your buddies are out mid-stream fishing to
their hearts content. Why you ask? Well,
since you asked, I will tell you why. You
didn't do your homework when it came to
picking out your waders. You spent three
weeks try to figure out what type of drag
you wanted on your reel; another two on the
color of you fly line and one hour on the
type and size of your waders. You knew
neoprene was good, but didn't think that
there was that much difference between 3mm
and 5 mm. "What kind of measurement is mm
anyways?" you remember thinking at the time.
"What's wrong with inches, so a fella could
figure this stuff out?" It kind of falls
along the same lines has 7X and 2X my friend.
Well, let's let bygones be bygones and see
what we can do to make sure that this is the
last fishing trip ruined because of your
wader selection.
Number One: What are you going to use the waders for?
Are you buying the waders just for fishing
or do you plan to wear them when you hunt
ducks and geese? Since most folks can only
afford one good pair of waders, this is an
important question. If you fish more than
you hunt, then the type, thickness and color
of the wader should be considered when compared
against the type of fishing you normally do.
The same is true if you hunt more days than
you fish. What is the temperature of the water
going to be the largest percentage of the time
when you have waders on? It is a lot more
bearable to be a little warm on a hot day
than a whole lot of cold on a chilly one.
Number Two: What kind of material should I choose?
There are several different types of materials
that you can select from when choosing your
waders. This is the time that you really
want to consider what you will be using the
waders for and how often.
Neoprene is probably the most popular wader
material and for many good reasons. One,
it is very durable and can take a lot of
abuse. Two, you can select which thickness,
3mm or 5mm that would suit your needs best.
If the weather where you fish is mostly
moderate with an exceptional cold day or if
you have to walk a ways to get to your fishing
spot or just walk a lot while you fish, then
the 3mm would probably be your best choice.
If you live or fish in a colder climate, or
plan to use your waders for hunting, then
you might want to consider a pair of 5mm.
Neoprene waders come in various colors from
the more traditional dark brown to green,
blue and even camouflaged. Other than
getting a pair of dual purpose hunting
fishing camouflaged, the color selection
is strictly a personal choice.
Over the past ten years or so, breathable
waders have grown in popularity and are
slowly replacing the neoprene wader as the
wader of choice. One of the main reasons
for this shift in popularity is the material
from which the breathable waders are made.
Breathable waders are constructed from a
permeable membrane such as Gore-Tex®, which
allows moisture to escape through the wader
even while in the water. The versatility of
the breathable wader is another huge selling
point. They can be worn in the hot summer
months and sweat will not become an issue
and they can be worn in the winter months
with a set of sweat pants or fleece wader
pants that will help keep moisture away
from you and protect you from the cold
water. The typical loose fit of breathable
waders also make them a great choice for
fishermen who have to walk a long ways to
the secret fishing hole and they are extremely
comfortable to use during a long day in a
float tube or pontoon boat.
You can also go "old school" and check out
canvas waders, but they are getting pretty
hard to find anymore. They are cheaper than
neoprene or breathable waders, but you are
going to sacrifice a lot in flexibility,
breathability and in overall weight of
the waders. But, canvas waders are about
as durable as the come and a great choice
for somebody just starting out in the sport.
Nylon waders are also great choice for
beginner fly fishermen. Nylon waders
are a slight step up from the rubber
waders that most beginners start out
with. Nylon waders are lightweight
and will keep you dry and warm. One
disadvantage of nylon waders is that
they can be hot, and because they are
not breathable, it can cause a problem
in the colder months when sweat builds
up causing the fisherman's clothes to
become damp or wet. Not only will this
cause discomfort, it could lead to
hypothermia if the angler should become
too cold. The same is true even in the
summer months when clothes become damp
or wet and a fisherman is spending extended
amounts of time in an ice cold mountain
stream.
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Rubber waders are another choice, but they
are continually losing their popularity due
to the drop in prices of the neoprene and
breathable waders. While the price of
rubber waders might be attractive to
somebody on a tight budget, you should
consider that you will be giving up
flexibility, breathability and weight
with rubber waders. Due to the
construction of rubber waders, they also
pose a bit more of a safety problem than
other types of waders. ALWAYS make sure
you wear a wading belt securely fastened
around your waist when wading with all
waders, but especially true with rubber
waders.
Number Three: Wader Fitting
Now that you have selected the type of
material your waders are going to be made
from, let's talk about getting them to fit
right. While keeping dry and warm might
be our first priority for a comfortable
day on the water, having a pair of waders
that fits right is a close second. If
your waders do not fit right not only
will you be uncomfortable, but also you
will find that you will tire much easier,
which could lead to a potential wading
mishap. Improper fitting waders can also
restrict your range of motion while climbing
over rocks or getting in and out of a boat,
all of which could also contribute to a
wading mishap or fall that could cause
personal or equipment damage.
Often, anglers purchase waders that fit
too tightly. After all, we want to look
svelte in the pictures of us holding up
that trophy fish. Well, let's put our
vanity aside for a moment and consider
a few things. Wouldn't it be nice to
have a pair of waders that fit loose
enough to allow us to put on an extra
layer of clothing on those cold winter
days when the steelhead are running?
How nice will it feel to walk a mile
down to Fisher's Hole without having
to fight our waders all the way?
Nowadays, many of us order from the Internet
and have to take our chances on how our waders
and boots will fit. Email the owner of the
site and give them your height, weight and
shoe size and they should be able to fit you
that way. If you purchase from a fly shop
or sporting goods store, take the time to
try them on. Do a couple of knee bends and
walk around a little bit. See if you can
put a foot up on a stool. Remember you may
be climbing up and down stream banks. Look
too at the length of the legs, too long will
cause folds which can rub and wear causing
leaks. Sure, a couple of the other shoppers
might think you're a little loose up top, but
you will find it to be time well spent.
Number Four: What type boots and boot soles to get?
Boot and boot sole selection is a lot like
wader selection. Once again, what are you
going to be using the waders for and under
what types of conditions? Some waders have
the boots connected to the wader in one piece.
These are called boot foot waders. If you are
going to spend most of your time in cold weather
and water, they are by far the right choice.
They provide the best cold-water protection
and most of them come insulated. Another
advantage to the boot foot wader is they
are low maintenance and are very easy to
put on and take off. Because rocks and
sand can't slip into the boot, there is
no need to put on gravel guards to protect
your feet from getting rubbed raw. Built
in boots have no laces, which is a bonus
and you don't have to worry about arriving
at the river with only one boot or with your
wife's boots as I once did.
Stocking foot waders are probably the most
popular type of waders on the market mostly
because of their weight advantage. They have
the same type of construction as boot foot
waders; but do not have the attached rubber
boot. Instead, stocking foot waders have a
neoprene sock attached to the bottom of the
waders, which means you will have to purchase
of pair of wading boots. In some ways this
is good, because it allows you to purchase
different boots for different river bottoms.
It also allows you to wear flippers when in
a float tube. The big disadvantage is that
sand or gravel can find it's way through your
gravel guards and you will have to stop and
clean out your wading boots. If not properly
looked after, sand and gravel will eventually
wear holes into the stocking foot, causing your
waders to leak. Buy lugged sole boots if you
are going to be fishing muddy-bottomed water
and felt soles on rock or gravel-bottomed waters.
Make sure to follow the manufacturer's
recommendations regarding the proper care
and storage of your waders and boots especially
if it's going to be a long time between uses.
~ DG
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