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My alternative to waders (gear recommendation)

8K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  chunkeesoop 
#1 ·
Like you I really don't enjoy waders. They leak, they are expensive, hot in the summer, and generally a bit of hasstle and one more thing to store and maintain especially wet in my car. My boots from Simms are top notch but clunky nevertheless. I feel like an oaf

One of my favorite things about Spey fishing (aside from all the hot girl action it brings me) is I never have to put on waders. I can cast and hit any seam without putting my sneakers or sandals in the water. My single handed friends hate me for it. In summer I wet wade if I need to but it's just for fun.

There are destinations where waders are required.Of course. Or require crossing the water. Last spring I nearly lost my life when my almost new top of the line Orvis boots lost their soles on both feet during a high pressure fast river crossing. I'll never buy anything from Orvis again except rods.

That being said I find for my casting or just to splash some water on my face, I like to be a foot in the H2O.

I found these today. Great grip, roomy even my jeans and cords fit comfortable in them which means I can wear my flannel/fleece lined pants with them. Waterproof up to the brim and at $130 (you could find them for less now considering winter is almost over)

Plus they are made in the USA. Great company too. They will get me through the brush without me worrying about punching holes in them and they like me, are handsome as hell!

Now I just take my boots off and climb in my car. No more faking around with my waders after hours on the water

This might work for some of you and I thought I'd share
 

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#8 ·
You guys are incorrigible hah

What is a hardcore steelheader? Is that someone who doesn't like fishing for trout :)

These boots are made from neoprene and are very warm and I think they'd do OK on a raft. They are about an inch shy of my knee

I think if I need more traction in water that has algae I'll throw some of those ice cleats on that wrap around boots.

Almost every year I hear about someone drowning especially in rivers with dam releases. Scary stuff. I think waders give a lot of people false confidence

Anyway, good stuff
 
#9 ·
Waders and false confidence - totally agree. I find waders also encourage people to wade out too far, just like two handed rods can sometimes encourage people to cast too far. Too often I see guys standing up to their waist trying to reach the other bank, ignoring the very real possibility that they are standing on the fishes' head.

Sometimes I'm that guy...
 
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