I heard someone mention on a post about not having leaky neoprenes for this winter, my neoprenes have been giving me a wet leg ;so I was just wondering how do you find where the neoprene is leaking if you cant see the hole?

If you arent able to find the leak with just a visual inspection try turning the w and wader inside out and filling the leaky keg with water twist the leg shut and squeeze where the water comes out is where your leak is. circke the spot(s) with a black marker empty out the water wait till the waders are dry then hit the spot with some aqua seal.

Alright I'll try that, nothin worse than having a wet leg in freezing weather, thanks for the input.

I'll never buy another set of Hodgeman neoprene chest waders. The first pair I got leaked soon after I got them. Now the replacement pair GI Joes gave spring a lead a while ago. I just haven't got the conscientous to get yet another new pair for free, in case it's a combo of my size and proclivity to slip down muddy slopes with the slick felt soles I must use with them. Now Mark Anderson, lighter than average and rarily slips on slopes with his type boots, has leaks in his Hodgeman's.

I don't know if it's worth trying to patch up leak after leak or better to get the more expensive breathable waders. What do you guys think? And what is the best value on a pair on lightweight but strong breathables (I don't bank fish enough to spend a ton on waders)? Thanks much guys.

RT

I've looked at the breathables and just don't trust them. They look like they'd end up in shreds, especially where I end up going. If I was just hopping out of a drift boat and banking it, then they look like they might work, but beating down devil's club, wading through blackberries, and falling down on beaver chewed willows, require neoprene.

Here's what I do to combat leaks. The first thing I do when I buy a pair of hodgeman's--is buy two tubes of aquaseal. I then coat each and every seam from the crotch to the toes w/the stuff. The heels always seemed to leak on me. Now they don't. If I get into some nasty blackberries and spring a leak, I just patch that hole. My current pair looks like they're 50% aqua seal. I'm too cheap to buy a pair of boot foots, because I also duck hunt. I just change wading shoes when I go hunting.

Also, on the breathable aspect. I just wear a pair of lightweight wool pants under my waders and a light wool shirt. If It's real cold I wear a pair of poly long underwear. I never get that clammy feeling while in neoprenes.

Good luck on the quest for waders!

Aaron

I cant remember a pair of new neoprem waders that didnt leak soon after they were purchesed.Four years ago I bought Simms Guide waders and fixed the first leaks this year.If you buy breathable waders you also need some thing under your waders to keep you warm.

First of all Hodgeman's are CRAP...any wader that you have to treat with Aquaseal before you even fish them is honestly, crap. You do pay what you get for and if you can get a pair of Hodgemans for $60 then they are, I guess, a decent pair of use and throw away waders but there is so much better on the market.

I fished a pair of Bare Supra bootfoot's for years and eventhough they sit in the garage now(b.c of breathables), they never had a leak, never had to treat them with Aquaseal and I beat up on my gear. They run around $300.

Simms has discontinued all their neoprene waders, as 2001 was the last year for their ExStream Bootfoots and 2000 was the last year for their midrange models like their NeoStocking Foot and NeoBootfoot. All of these are excellent waders with the ExStream Bootfoot the best. They feel like being trapped in a greenhouse-they do keep you warm. The EsStream's were $375 and Neo's were around $200. Expect 25% or so off these prices. The trick will be to find them as most shops will most likely be low or totally out but call around to your local Simms' dealers. You might lucky.

I would go with breathables though. If you layer up properly you will NEVER get cold. You can get into the Dan Bailey Lightweight's at $199 and the Dan Bailey XTH's at $295. They both come with limited lifetime warranties and have a very very low failure rate. I've seen only 3 Bailey's retunred in almost 18 months of sales and those few times that they were it was due to leaks where the Entrant and the Neoprene came together. If you buy 'em from a good shop they will just hand you a new pair, over the counter, no questions asked.

Then there are the Simms Lightweights and the Simms Guidewights with the Guidweights being the Cadillac of waders but they are pricey ($375). These are both excellent waders and for the money, the Simms Lightweights very good as I've yet to have to send a pair of the Lightweights back to Simms. I have seen the Guideweights come back but I guess that can be expected when the thousands upon thousands of these waders are sold. Most people you talk to, once they fish the Guideweights will never go back to anything else.

The only problem I've had with Simms is their warranty as for a while they turned pretty insurance adjusters and charged the customer for every pinhole leak etc. That has changed as of a month ago as the first repair, within a year, Simms will cover. I think though they are going to be much more leniant now as I sent back a pair of '98 Bootfoot Guideweights (which had been sent back in the past and were charged for repairs) and they repaired the leaks no charge and refelted the boots. So hopefully this a sign that things have changed.

I've got a pair of the Guideweights and love them. Will never fish neoprene again. They do have a couple leaks in them but I use and ABUSE them. I dont think twice about crashing through blackberry bushes or sliding down a steep slope in them.

[ 11-20-2001: Message edited by: RPetzold ]

Good Points RP,

If the only thing I did was fish, I'd probably own a pair of Simms, But, Because I hunt and fish for everything, and have a limited budget, Hodgeman's get my vote.

The $ just make sense to me. $60 for a pair of waders, $5 bucks for 2 tubes of aquaseal, $50 for treaded wading shoes (hunting), $75 for felt soles (fishing), 1 hr. of my time (to coat seams)let's say $30. Equals---$220. for a set of waders that will last me 5 years. That's how long I've got out of my "disposables".

I guess it's like anything else. Wood drift boats, Old shimano reels, making you're own slinkies, etc. I don't mind doing my own maintenace on my equipment. I build my own rods, make my own spinners, slinkies, etc. I make my own arrows, tune my own bow. I build my own boats. I just like to fiddle with my equipment. It seems like these days I just don't have as much daylight to get out and fish or hunt. So, the closest thing for me to do is fiddle w/my equipment. If I bought brand new-first rate everything, (with the exception of first rate, rods, reels, hooks, line and terminal tackle) and had someone else maintain my stuff, I'd go stir crazy wating for the weekend.

Sorry, I kinda got off track here.

BTW--How tuff are the breathables? Does anyone have a kevlar laminate for those things?

Aaron

[ 11-20-2001: Message edited by: Jellyhead ]

Hey jellyfish...just got to agree on about everything. Too close to home...

A tube of aqua seal works wonders. And a quick way to check for leaks is to use an air compressor and inflate your waders. Then a quick rubdown with soapy water will expose even the tiniest leak.

A good way to stay extra warm in your waterproof Hodgmans is to wear a pair of wicking socks under a pair of fleece socks. That way you don't get the cold foot syndrome that can be most annoying in the dead of winter. Toasty feet are happy feet!

Another tip for stocking foot wearer's is don't get too small of wading boots. Tight boots equals cold feet. Wicking socks are a must.

Aaron

I wish I had a good pair of water proof socks to wear with my Hodgmans. lol I like Jellyheads idea of coating all the seams with aquaseal. Ive tried everything to prolong the life of my "disposables". Ive even cut off just the feet of my old waders to make gravel guards, it also helped my boots from rubbing a hole in the good pair.

Nuthin worse that a wet crotch or soacked foot in freezing water. But thats fising =)