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+--- Thread: Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help (/showthread.php?tid=510673)
Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - Leaky33 - 06-19-2009
Well, I guess you'd have to say I'm hard on waders. [mad] Don't know how I'm so tough on em other than I use em a lot throughout the year, Don't go through heavy brush and stuff??? Because of this I decided I'd be trouble and money ahead by not buying cheap neoprene and going to Simms Gore Tex. My neoprens would only last a couple of years.
Well,---------------, now I'm not so sure. [frown] 4 years ago I broke down and spent the extra nickels on some Simms Lt. Wt. stocking foot guys. It wasn't long before I started getting pin hole and seam leaks, (1-2 yrs.) and started in on the isopropyl alcohol and aqua seal regime. Am still doing it. I can more or less stop the serious leaks but in the butt and knee bending area I stilll come out damp after 6-8 hrs of tubing.
My question is, is gore tex really that much better or are there some other breathable products out there that are just as good and hopefully tougher and maybe less expensive??? Do I need to step up to some really tough guide or heavier models with a lot more nickels to get the durability and maintenance free performance??? [:/] Help please, I don't have many nickels.[frown]
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Re: [Leaky33] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - flygoddess - 06-20-2009
So far I am liking Rivendell for the price, but the season is just starting. I don't foresee any trouble.
I will say Pokymon bought the Simms G3's. He not only wears them on his pontoon but he does sprinkler so wears them to work. They are 2 years old now and still no leaks and going strong.
On the other note....you could get allot of Rivendells for the Price of the G3's.....[laugh][laugh][laugh]
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Re: [Leaky33] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - TubeDude - 06-20-2009
[cool][#0000ff]Unless you have heavy leakage, with water inside your waders when you remove them, it could be nothing more than perspiration and condensation. But, if you are getting water inside, you need to first find the leak and then repair it. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You bought good waders and Simms are known for quality and holding up for years of heavy use. But, all waders are subject to wear points from hiking long distances and rubbing against harmful surfaces. The use they get in tubes is seldom going to produce a leak. But, if you keep spiny fish and they bounce against your wader-clad legs on the way back to the vehicle you can get pinhole leaks there too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have my own ongoing quest to find the perfect pair of tubing waders. I try new makes and models every year or two, and almost universally the cheap ones start leaking far too soon. In spite of the good reports on Hodman Wadelights, they seldom last long for serious tubers. Many of them leak right out of the box. Others develop tiny pinhole "seepages" through the "breathable" fabric...especially just above the junction of the fabric and the neoprene boot sections.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Unless you always fish in a pontoon, with your rear completely out of the water, don't buy waist high waders. All models I have tried have the tendency to pull down in the back when you sit in your tube. Even though we sit high in our Fat Cats, there is the potential to take water over the back edge when seated. Instead, I buy chest waders and cut off the straps and roll them down around my waist. More comfortable and plenty of wet protection.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like most other aspects of tubing and tubing, your ultimate choice of waders will be a matter of combining budget with personal preferences. It is good to get input from others, and it can help you avoid costly mistakes. Even cheap waders are expensive if you have to keep replacing them.[/#0000ff]
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Re: [Leaky33] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - Illinoisgiller - 06-20-2009
I recently bought a one time used Fat Cat from a friend and a pair of new out of the box Hodgman Wadelight 3X waders were thrown in. Although they were far too large for my son, He tried them for a day in the float tube. Right leg leaked at the knee, and no overstretching.
My $200 range Cabelas breathable waders are 10 outings old and left foot full of water last 3 times out.
Needless to say, I share your fustration.
Tube Dude- I really like your idea of cutting off chest waders, but I'll have to get a pair without waranty before I could chance doing that.
Cabelas has exchanged mine 4 times at a total cost of $50 over original purchase price. Illinoisgiller
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Re: [Illinoisgiller] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - TubeDude - 06-20-2009
[cool][#0000ff]You don't HAVE to cut the straps off. You can roll and tape them to the tops of the waders so that you can roll the tops down for extra freedom. If you position the buckles right, it is not uncomfortable.[/#0000ff]
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Re: [Illinoisgiller] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - flygoddess - 06-20-2009
I am glad Tube Dude caught you on that one. There is NO reason to ever cut Chest waders off. They all will fold down and generally the suspenders are suppose to be the new belt. That is why the suspenders have two different clips,
I should say the waders I have seen do.
For that reason, if you could only have one set of waders, go for chest. Because it is two waders in one.
But I will also add not all waders are created equal. I now use Rivendell waist highs and get them long enough which means a little baggy in the leg JUST like chest waders, I do not have any problem with the back dipping.
I also know allot of people buy there waders with out crouching down. That is were you get the right fit.
I don't know if you are going to wear out waders quicker in a tube than a toon.
It is the legs rubbing together, or against the boat. The bend and straightening at the knees....all this (Friction) will were out any wader.
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Re: [TubeDude] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - Leaky33 - 06-20-2009
Thanks TD.
My suspicion is sweat, condensation/wicking from areas that have pressure and are in the water constantly. Being as I'm very "cheap" and don't spend any money until it's absolutely necessary, I'll keep on "keeping on". [
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Re: [Leaky33] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - Illinoisgiller - 06-20-2009
Thank you all, especially Tube Dude for explaining the straps comment.
You shouldn't have needed to explain that, I drop my wader tops every time I exit the water.
It's just not my day I guess, I filled my leaking wader leg with water, and found one tiny place on the outside seam that I have snagged it and broke a thread.
It did take Cabelas off the blame this one time.
Illinoisgiller
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Re: [Leaky33] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - flygoddess - 06-20-2009
Leaky, for as long as you have been tubing, I assumed you knew the difference between sweat and leak.
Just sayin'
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Re: [flygoddess] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - TubeDude - 06-20-2009
[cool][#0000ff]Hey, go easy on Leaky. Us old guys are sensitive about "damp" undies. We hate to admit it when it is an "inside job".[/#0000ff]
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Re: [flygoddess] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - Leaky33 - 06-21-2009
I agree with TD, when You get as old as dirt, and are easily
, "it happens", you'll get there kid, if you're lucky.[
] Lucky I got Sparky to watch after me with attacking moose, falling on my face in the river, getting stuck in the mud in the marsh, etc. Am currently training him how to use a cell phone.[signature]
Re: [TubeDude] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - peter805 - 06-21-2009
[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]Hey, go easy on Leaky. Us old guys are sensitive about "damp" undies. We hate to admit it when it is an "inside job".[/#0000ff][/quote]
Inside job- thats funny
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Re: [peter805] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - flygoddess - 06-21-2009
DEPENDS how you look at it[
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Re: [flygoddess] Speaking of waders - Gore tex????- Help - Leaky33 - 06-21-2009
"Depends", now there's a thought. [shocked]
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