looking for duck waders...what kind you got?

[Deer Sausage]

Well the last thing I did at the end of duck season was toss my old waders. I had some lacrosse old school rubbers and they were heavy but totally bombproof even in thorns/kneeling in a boat/river drift wood piles etc .... eventually time got them. To my dismay they don't sell those anymore!! Now I need to get another pair and I'm hoping that anyone who hunts ducks can tell me what they're using and how good or bad their luck has been with them. I like using real world testimonials in purchase decisions..let's hear the good news and the bad!!!

[Ian F.]

I've been wearing Cabelas brand waders going on 15 years now and would highly recommend them, there warranty is second to none! Over that time I've owned or still do 5 or 6 pairs, with my hunting waders seeing over 30 trips per season. I do not baby my stuff, nor abuse it, I use it as intended, so with this in mind if you get 5 years from waders I think you're doing pretty good!

Since I don't know you or where you hunt it's hard to get specific. For me, I' "hot" and since moving to BC find it warm, so I bought breathables and love them! If you're on the cold side, or hunt in colder areas (glad I don't anymore!) neoprenes are the way to go! I like buckles over velcro, and have switched to bootfoots over stocking.

Very best,

ian

[Chessieguy]

Ditto to what Ian said...The cabelas I have had great luck.

I have a pair of 5mm neoprene now (not sure what I will use then for once I move out here) they are bordering on to warm, even in -10c weather.
Next pair will be breathables.

[Samsquantch]

early in season-Simms G3's breathables. Pricey for most people but i use the hell out of them fishing and working. If you want cheaper but still decent quality breathables look at North Rivers (~250 or so). Their second model improved vastly over their first model with better quality neoprene booties and the all important microfleece hand warmer patch inside the chest pocket.
Late in season- Bare neoprenes. Cant beat the neoprenes for sitting around waiting for birds and watching your heat dissipate into marshland fog.
I have both in stocking foot models which means i gotta buy wading boots. But like others have said, go with the boot foot models if you are not doing a ton of walking.

[fowl language]

i second ian,s opinion.cabelas breathable are fairly warm and flexable,and are long lastng....fowl

[kyleklassen]

on my second set of cabelas brush busters ...yep they are tuff barb wire no problem. to bad the boots don't match the uppers. sharp stick can poke thru the boots. ..... i beat the sh*t out of my stuff anybody with the least bit of patience or thriftyness would probably have no problem with the boots.

[303Brit]

I had simms in the past when I lived back east, I was very impressed with them. They lasted me approx 4yrs of passive hunting and active aggressive fishing. They were one part wore out, one part out grown.
I currently have a set of Sport 3 by BARE, they have seen 5 seasons of active fishing, and one season of active hunting(pretty much all field) so far the only thing wrong, was a pinhole leak at a seam end(lil awuaseal and good to go)
they are on the warm side, but not too hot for the most part.

303

[huntcoop]

What about footwear?

[303Brit]

Right now I'm using a set of columbia goretex hikers that I didn't use for hiking anymore. They have taken it pretty well actually, I got 2 years hiking with them and 4 years using them as wading boots, gone through a tonne of laces but thats bout it. They stay wet from Sept till Dec, between fishing and hunting.
Before that I had whatever $50 dollar wading boots were on sale. Didn't care for them much and they wore out pretty quick, but ya get what you pay for.
I had a matching set of boots for my Simms, they looked like the freestone boots.

303

[huntcoop]

I guess the felt sole is not that big of deal if your hunting?? Or is it...

[Samsquantch]

wading boots range far in price and quality. If you go that route instead of boot foot waders spend the extra dough and get something that will protect your neoprene stockings. I used to wear hodgmans cause they had the best felts and were light as hell, but they shitekicked my old waders stocking feet because they had no inner protection. I am now using simms riverteks; better protection but the felts kind of suck. Many wading boot manufacturers are now using vibram (rock climbing rubber) soles to help curb river snot/rock snot transfer between watersheds.
You can get carbide studs to caulk felt bottom wading boots if you need more traction.

[Deer Sausage]

Thanks guys...this isnt the first time I've heard good reports about the cabelas waders...they're already on the shortlist...and moving up...appreciate the feedback. Cheers.

[Dutch]

Cabelas for me,2nd set in 15 years worth every penny..

[porcupine]

In 1981 I got a pair of Wardell 5MM stocking foot neoprene waders in camo custom made for me. It cost about $125 then. The best decision that I ever made re hunting clothing. They still fit and really blend in and work great after 29 years! I highly recommend neoprene, as if you get a blackberry thorn in them they self seal. I get lug sole wading shoes from Cabelas to wear with them, and they are pretty cheap. If you wanted, you could go get a cheap pair of tennis shoes and fit them over the stocking foot. That said, if I had to replace them, I'd look at the Cabelas.

[Ian F.]

Porky,

That brings back memories! I too got a pair of wardell customs around that time, but they didn't have camo, had them for years until the neoprene in the feet colapsed. The original Wardell made killer waders, I bought another pair from "them" same name new owners and not the same.

Ian

[huntcoop]

Do you guys use the same waders for river fishing? Would you have a different pair of footwear for fishing and hunting?

[Ian F.]

I wear them for both, but have stockingfoots too

[kastles]

I just picked up the Cabelas Supermags and love 'em. And I have two other buddies who have them and they would post the same response

kastles

[Deer Sausage]

Do you guys use the same waders for river fishing? Would you have a different pair of footwear for fishing and hunting?

yeah for sure...fishing waders should focus more on comfort....hunting waders have to be more durable...difference is hunting kneeling in a twiggy piece of brush on frozen mud or casting from a knee deep wade on a gravel bar.

I've pretty much decided...between the input here and the cabelas online customer reviews (of ALL makes) i don't think anything has as good a chance as the cabelas...ill try em!