Wader recomendation help

[lavelanet]

Not 100% sure this is the right forum for this request for advice/recommendations but my wife wants to get me my first pair of waders for Christmas and I don't know squat about waders other than they'd be nice to get me better casting angles sometimes.  I'm in Massachusetts and fish in spring, mostly summer, and early fall.   I fish both ponds and streams/rivers but don't own a boat of any kind.   I think I've narrowed it down to breathable with attached boots.  I'm looking for any advice at all on waders or brands to look too or stay away from.  I know that with a lot of this gear most of us like the same sort of equipment so I'm hoping there's a gold standard wader out there that I don't know about.   As for price range ...... well the bait monkey has been silent for a while and short of dropping a lump of gold down on a boat there's really nothing I need so I'd rather get a pair of waders  I'm going to be happy with than cheap ones.  I'd rather not drop the $400+ for the Simms ones but I could live with spending $200 plus but if I don't have to I'm even happier with that.  

So masters of the dry feet let the advice begin..

[flechero]

I have an older set of Orvis that I got on closeout for $100.  But i took a quick look at Cabela's and they have a big selection of breathable both insulated or non-insulated in your price range.  You probably know this but in a bootfoot wader, you really need to try them on in person.  BPS also has a decent selection.

[archer292]

If money were no object I'd say the Simms. Can't go wrong with the Orvis waders, they have a good selection and they pretty much stand behind their products. I still say if you're gonna put them to the test Simms is the way to go.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Pair these http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat350005&rid=&indexId=cat350005&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat350005&id=0011541

with these http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0026722830518a&navCount=3&podId=0026722&parentId=cat20616&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20431-cat20616_TGP&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20616&hasJS=true

and you should be good to go for under $200.

Hope that helps,

Wayne

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I personally dont like bootfoot waders. It is waaaaaaaaay to easy to get a hole where the two are joined, IMHO.

Wayne

[Bean Counter]

I have a pair of Orvis Clearwater Endura bootfoot waders and I like them a lot. I got them pretty cheap on Ebay. I went to the Orvis store & tried on a pair before I bought them so I had the size right. If you buy from ebay, don't buy used waders look for new ones. Used waders usually wil leak.

If money was not an issue, I would buy Simms. They will last forever.

[lavelanet]

The main reason I thought the booted wader would be the right one for me was that they looked like they'd be a lot easier to just slip on and go.  Rather than having to get the waders on then get the boots on then lace them up.  I tend to fish a lot but I don't always have a lot of time to fish so I do a lot of fishing that's less than an hour at lunch time and I was thinking the booted waders would be quick enough for me to slip on over my pants and start fishing without eating into my fishing time.  But I've never worn waders and can't emphasize enough that I know nothing on this subject.  Am I just thinking sort sighted on this?  

I'm looking for advice here because I don't want to get the wrong thing and then after some experience say something like Yeah I should have got stocking feet with boots  Can you tell me why getting them separately may be better? I can see the advantage of being able to replace only one piece if I have a problem.  And I can see that I'd have more customization in boot size vs wader size with them separate.  

And I've read several reviews of wader boots now saying how durable the felt is on those Cabelas master guide boots.  And I'm having a hard time imagining felt holding up that well as a boot sole.  Why would I want felt vs rubber tread cut boot soles in a wader boot anyway?  Sadly the nearest Cabelas is in Penn and the one in CT doesn't open till Fall 2007 so right now it looks like I may have to wait till my annual trip to Minnesota to hit the Cabelas there on the way so I can try these on.   But like most guys I hate trying cloths on so I'd like to be reasonably sure of my decision before I go to try things on for size.

[GAMEOVER]

If your using them for just 1 ocassion or every so often and not more then half the time you spend angling I recommend you just go and buy the cheapest pair you can find and then return them after your done. It might sound like the wrong thing to do but the Gander Mountain near me told me I could as im pretty close with the fishing staff up there. Just a suggestion.. Thats what I did on my Salmon trip here ->

[roadwarrior]

Gameover,

It doesn't surprise me that YOU would do something like that, but it is TOTALLY unethical and wrong. If management or the owners of Gander Mountain see this thread, I suspect they will FIRE the fishing staff at the store you shop. Whether you could be prosecuted is uncertain, but by your own admission it appears that your intent is to commit fraud.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Yea, Please refrain from giving advice that could get people fired or arrested, Geez.

Doing somthing like that may be somthing you see as "OK" but I'd rather not lead the youth here to thinking that's how honest adults do things.  Kids,...it's NOT.

I use my waders once a year.  Just a $39- pair of rubber booted waders, I use them on opening day so I can get in the water and untangle the kids all morning.  I just layer up underneath and I'm fine.  Oh yea,...buy them a size or 2 too big to accomodate the clothing involved with using them in colder water.

[Glenn]

Gameover,

What you are suggestion constitutes fraud and is illegal.  I don't appreciate any member on this site seriously advising people to commit crimes.

Your longevity and membership here is in jeopardy at this point.

Glenn

[GAMEOVER]

The owner knows me because my late father use to work for them and dicks sporting goods. The owner does not care as long as I take them off the discount rack. Their all marked and packaged anyway upon return. They do a lot of other similar things for loyal customers from what ive heard and no way am I in the wrong.

[NEBassMan]

Even if the owner says it's ok, why would you do it?  You don't see it as wrong or unethical at all??  What if you bought something you really wanted, only to find out some other jerk used it for a day, week, whatever and then returned it.  I don't know about you, but when i buy something new, it dang well better be NEW, not used and abused.

Jason

[lavelanet]

Ok so as for the advice that keeps daddy out of prison.  Let's all move on and stay on that track for the rest of this thread.  What I'm really looking for here is advice on quality waders that I can keep.  The point of doing this research and getting this advice was so that I could benefit from the experience of others here at this forum in making a long term purchase that I would be happy with for some time.

As I said I do tend to fish a lot and I can just picture all the places I'll be able to get to with waders on.  I'm hoping to use these as regularly as time allows and for years to come.   So are there any law-abiding members who have any comments on waders for me?

On a humorous note the thought of my wife having to explain to our kids that the reason daddy is in prison is because he stole some rubber pants did make me laugh.   It's like an episode of My Name is Earl

[roadwarrior]

I HIGHLY recommend Cabela's neoprene (bib) waders WITH boots. There are a number of styles and a wide range of pricing points to fit your budget. I don't know exactly which set I have, but I bought them more than ten years ago. I had to replace the boots once, but the waders themselves have stood up to years of rugged use.

[fishinyank]

I like neoprene too - very warm! Plus they're snug to the body and dont get caught in branches and get a hole whenbyou're walking through the woods to your favorite hole. Some people say neoprene is too warm and to that I say, if its so warm out (water and air) that they are uncomfortable, then you dont need to wear waders in the first place! Put on a pair of shorts and get in the water!

[Guest avid]

Neoprene is the only way to go for serious wade fishing.  I understand about the boot.  I use the one piece system for the same reason, but when I was fishing fast current in cold rocky trout streams (catskills) there is no doubt that the stocking foot wader with quality boots gives you the most secure footing by far.

[NEBassMan]

I also use the Cabela's brand neoprene waders with the attached boots.  I really like them. Comfortable, not expensive, and work great, especially if the water is chilly.

Jason

[justfishin]

Please tell me that the post by Gameover was just a joke to pull a newbies chain and to get a reaction.

[cart7t]

Please tell me that the post by Gameover was just a joke to pull a newbies chain and to get a reaction.

It was no joke.  It appears Gameover is over and done.  

[timmyswetarded]

I HIGHLY recommend Cabela's neoprene (bib) waders WITH boots. There are a number of styles and a wide range of pricing points to fit your budget. I don't know exactly which set I have, but I bought them more than ten years ago. I had to replace the boots once, but the waders themselves have stood up to years of rugged use.

i just bought a pair of cabelas 5mm neoprene chest waders for duck hunting/trout fishing and i love them, super warm during the freezing cold mornings, and if you fish cold streams or rivers, insulated waders are the way to go; they have double the neoprene on the "stress points" like the knees, butt, and crotch, which i like because it just so happens you might meet a barbwire fence getting to your destination, and when you do it is very very possible you might take a chunk out of your waders....guilty.

the only thing i could see going wrong with the stocking foot waders is that sand and debris can get in your shoe if your not wearing a gravel gaurd and tear up the foot of your wader, it just seems theres too much wear on that one area, though i do like the idea of being able to have a few different shoes with different soles.

oh and with rubber boots, there is less of a chance that if you kick an underwater stick or sunken pole that it will puncture your boots, with wader material going all the way down to your ankle the possibility of puncture goes up.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Ok, Gameover's post was ridiculous....dont pay attention to him.

As far as my reasoning for the separate waders, Avid hit the nail on the head. You will likely get a sloppy, uncomfortable fit with bootfoot waders. They are, after all, one size for everyone basically. Neoprene is nice in the winter, but is FRIGGIN' HOT after the spring time. The breathables I have allow you to layer clothing so that cold is not a problem.

The felt on boots will hold up, believe it. And the first time you are in a slick rock situation, you will completely understand the reasoning behind it. There is a compromise however. Muddy banks become very slick w/ felt soled boots.

If you plan on fishing lakes with your boots, go with the rubber sole. If you plan on doing mostly river fishing, opt for the felt.

Wayne

[lunkerman30]

I recomend white river breathable wadders, stocking foot, then get you some good wadding boots, it doesnt take that long to get them on, and i wade fish three times a week for smallmouth, these are the best i have used yet, the neoprene waders get really hot, unless the waters cold go for the breathable, and the boots on boot fit waders are very uncomfortable. Just my suggestion, and dont take them back when your done, thats really wrong.

[Troutfisher]

Gameover, that's just not right.  And it is also illegal.