Waders

[Dustin07]

my buddy is getting tooled up for waterfowl. What's the best bet for him on waders right now? seems like the worst time to buy as everything is more expensive. Any recommendations? I'm a fan of neoprene over breathable as it floats in that rare emergency situation.

[vandeman17]

Where are you guys going to be hunting? What is his price range? I just picked up a new pair a few weeks ago.

[Dustin07]

i'm not sure if he has price restraints, he asked me what to expect and said everything was looking to be about $200. I thought that sounded high but then realized I bought mine at a 1/2 price sale inbetween end of duck season in WA and beginning of spring snow season in Missouri... so I got lucky.

we hunt everywhere. Puget Sound, farm land, rivers, lakes, islands, up north, down south, to the east.  (literally). It will likely all be Washington this year though... possibly a BC hunt.

[vandeman17]

Dustin- I have seen the LaCrosse brush busters on sale lately and those are a good all around wader. I mainly hunt the eastside so I got the cabelas heavy duty waders. It is my second pair and I really like them on those cold days!

[boots]

If you are walking a lot the 5mm neoprene w/ 1600 gram boots gets a little warm, but when you are sitting in the blind on a cold day it is nice to have

[Dustin07]

If you are walking a lot the 5mm neoprene w/ 1600 gram boots gets a little warm, but when you are sitting in the blind on a cold day it is nice to have

true, I'm almost thinking it's worth having 2 pairs depending on where i'm going.

[Tealer]

I run breathables all season now and layer accordingly. Believe me if you never sweat you never get cold.

[h2ofowlr]

I have several pairs to wear.  5mil in the boat, 3 mil when it's not to cold and breathables for most of the time.

[Blacktail135]

  For one set, 3Mil Neo's will be fine. X-tra size bigger will allow him to dress up for our 'rare' Westside colder times. Don't depend on Neo's to save your bacon if you get yourself in a situation where you could be floating! They'll help 'keep you warm'  but, use your noggin', USE A LIFEJACKET when in a boat! A Velcro closure front pocket is nice for a Leatherman type tool and a baggied cell phone as well as a handwarmer pocket behind said pocket could come in handy. Air-bobbed sole's get damn good traction in my opinion. Velcron shoulder strap's with a buckle are nice (convinience and surety)!   

[Dustin07]

  For one set, 3Mil Neo's will be fine. X-tra size bigger will allow him to dress up for our 'rare' Westside colder times. Don't depend on Neo's to save your bacon if you get yourself in a situation where you could be floating! They'll help 'keep you warm'  but, use your noggin', USE A LIFEJACKET when in a boat! A Velcro closure front pocket is nice for a Leatherman type tool and a baggied cell phone as well as a handwarmer pocket behind said pocket could come in handy. Air-bobbed sole's get damn good traction in my opinion. Velcron shoulder strap's with a buckle are nice (convinience and surety)!   

thanks for the feedback. the one time my bobbing neo's kept me afloat there was no boat involved. I was walking through a flooded field right into a channel that nobody could have known was there as the water was about knee deep. the terrain never changed to clue me in, and before I knew it I was bobbing and never touched bottom.

[vandeman17]

If you are walking a lot the 5mm neoprene w/ 1600 gram boots gets a little warm, but when you are sitting in the blind on a cold day it is nice to have

This is all very true. What we do on our long hike in is bring a change of clothes so that once we get out there, we change into dry clothes so we don't get cold later from damp, sweaty clothes.