What to Look for When Buying Fishing Waders

All about Fishing Waders

Styles 

Waders: In this blog post, we demystify fishing waders and explain what you should consider when buying a pair of fishing waders. We cover the main styles of fishing waders, including chest waders, wading trousers, and thigh waders.

Materials

We discuss PVC, neoprene, and other breathable fabrics.

Stocking-Foot and Boot-Foot

We’ll explain stocking-foot and boot-foot waders and look at the pros and cons of each.

Wading Boot Soles

We’ll also discuss the types of soles on waders and wading boots, including felt soles and rubber soles.

Care and Repair 

We’ll also explain how to care for your fishing waders and what to do if your waders spring a leak.

Safe Wading

We give tips for starting out in wading and staying safe.

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Why Buy Fishing Waders?

Fishing waders are an important piece of fishing equipment because they allow you to stand in the water without getting wet!

Waders are essential when fly fishing in running water, where you need to present your fly or nymph correctly; when float fishing on rivers and streams, when you want to trot your float perfectly downstream with the current; or when lure fishing in intimate rivers and need to cast lures to out-of-the-way spots.

They aren’t only used in running water. Carp and specimen anglers frequently use them to fish still waters with challenging access. Getting further out into the water aids in casting and feeding.

Match anglers fishing large expanses of water where the margins are shallow need to set up the seat boxes and equipment well out from the bank and therefore need to wade out to do this. They are an essential piece of kit for these anglers, too.

Sea anglers also benefit from having a pair of waders that allow them to wade out into the surf to cast and land fish.

Waders are an essential piece of fishing equipment, no matter what type of fishing you do.

Prices 

Fishing waders can be expensive, with some brands charging over £900 for a pair. In this post, we highlight fishing waders in the £80–£280 price range.

Types of Waders

Waders come in a variety of styles. In this section, we will go over the various options.

When selecting the best type of wader for your needs, keep in mind that you will be bending down to land or return fish as well as wading. As a result, the height of your waders must account for this.

Fishing Wader Styles

Chest Waders

Shoulder straps secure chest waders, which fit up to your chest. They might also include external and internal waterproof pockets.

Chest waders can be used to fish in deeper water, where you need to keep more of your body dry. They usually incorporate a waist belt, which is an essential safety feature that prevents or reduces the amount of water entering your waders should they become fully submerged.

Because chest waders cover more of your body, they are also warmer and will keep much of your body dry in rainy conditions.

This type of wader feels bulkier and slightly restrictive to wear.

Walking long distances in them can make your body hot, especially during the warmer months.

Waist Waders or Wading Trousers

These waders fit up to your waist and are also known as wading rousers. A waist belt secures the waders.

Wading depth is limited to below your waist.

These waders are less bulky and can be more comfortable to wear than chest waders.

They are easier to put on than chest waders.

In cold or rainy conditions, you might need to add a jacket.

If you are walking longer distances, wading trousers are cooler and easier to walk in.

Thigh Waders

Thigh waders fit up to the top of your thighs. This limits your wading depth.

These are easier to put on and take off, and they can feel more comfortable to wear.

These waders are the easiest to walk long distances in because they cover less of your body, and overheating isn’t usually an issue on hotter days, especially if they are made from lightweight, breathable fabrics.

It is useful for fishing in shallow sections of water.

Stocking-foot Waders or Boot-foot?

Fishing waders can have either a ‘stocking-foot’ or an integrated boot.

Stocking-Foot 

A stocking-foot wader has a built-in sock, usually made from neoprene or similar material, which is fixed to the foot part of the wader. With these kinds of waders, you need to buy wading boots separately (at an additional cost), which you wear over the stocking foot part of the waders.

Wading boots are available in a variety of waterproof materials with rubber or felt soles. Because you can use any of the wide range of wading boots with your waders or even have several pairs of wading boots for different fishing situations, you can customise your wader/boot combination.

Wading boots are like hiking boots in that they offer good foot and ankle support.

Fishing Waders with Boots

Known as boot-foot waders, these have boots, usually made of rubber, attached to the foot part of the waders and cannot be removed. You’re ‘stuck’ with the pre-attached footwear.

These boots have more of a wellington (muck boot) feel to them, and being made of rubber, they offer less foot and ankle support.

Boot-foot fishing waders, being a one-piece item, are quicker to put on and take off than stocking-foot waders.

These waders are a less expensive option for those on a tight budget.

Types of Soles 

Rubber-soled Waders and Boots

Soles can be made of rubber, and with this kind of boot, you will find that there are diverse types of rubber soles, from those with an almost smooth tread to those with a deep tread.

Rubber-soled boots are good for walking on dry land but offer less grip than felt soles in the water. If you spend a lot of time walking to fishing spots, a rubber-soled boot can be useful.

Felt-soled Boots

Felt-soled boots offer better grip in the water but offer less secure footing on dry land. Navigating grassy, muddy, or sandy banks can be a bit treacherous when wearing felt-soled boots.

If you only walk short distances while fishing, felt-soled boots are fine, but for longer distances, they are best avoided.

Rules Banning Felt-soled Boots

Some fishing clubs and fishery owners have banned felt-soled wading boots. This is because felt-soled boots have been linked to the spread of invasive species from one body of water to another.
Check your club rules or booking regulations for day-ticket fisheries.

Studs or No Studs?

Specially designed studs can be used with both rubber and felt soles. These are screwed into the soles, which improves their grip.

Some waders come with a packet of threaded metal studs that you can use (or not). You can also buy them online, but make sure to get studs designed for rubber or felt, as they differ.

Fishing Wader Materials

Waders can be made from PVC, neoprene, or waterproof material, such as Gore-Tex.

1) PVC 

PVC waders tend to be less expensive than waders made of other materials.

Being made of a denser material, these are typically heavier than waders made from breathable materials.

PVC waders have good abrasion resistance and, depending on the thickness of the PVC, can have good puncture resistance too.

PVC waders aren’t breathable, which means that water vapour generated by your body is trapped inside the wader, and the interior can become quite wet.

The more active you are while wearing these waders, the more this happens. Body heat is also trapped inside the wader.

Walking a long distance in this type of fishing wader can be uncomfortable due to the hot, sweaty interior.

These issues are greatly reduced when fishing in static conditions or in colder temperatures.

2) Neoprene 

Neoprene is a synthetic polymer resembling rubber that is resistant to oil, heat, and weathering. It is a warm, flexible, and comfortable material. Neoprene waders come in various thicknesses, usually in the 3–5 mm range.

Neoprene waders are abrasion-resistant and offer good puncture resistance.

The material is light, but not as light as fabric waders.

Being made of quite thick material limits the fabric’s breathability.

Neoprene creates warm, well-insulated waders, which are ideal if you are fishing in wintry conditions. Body heat is trapped within the wader, further adding insulation. These waders, however, can be uncomfortable to wear in hot weather or when walking long distances.

Waders made of neoprene are reasonably priced.

3) Other Waterproof Materials

Many waders are made from lightweight, breathable, and waterproof materials. Some use a waterproof and breathable membrane, such as Gore-Tex. Other brands use less well-known materials that offer the same characteristics.

These materials create lightweight waders. Depending on the brand and price, these wader materials will come in 2-, 3- or 4-layer options. Multiple layers offer increased abrasion resistance.

The materials used allow water vapour generated by your body to pass through them, and this breathability reduces interior wetness.

Walking long distances in waders made of these breathable fabrics is comfortable.

Waders made of these materials are typically the most expensive type.

When packed, these waders take up far less space than rubber or neoprene waders.

Useful Features to Consider for when Buying Waders

Pockets

Fully waterproof pockets are a particularly useful feature on fishing waders. External pockets have a zip seal to keep out water; others are inside the chest section of the wader. These are useful for storing mobile phones and cameras.

Pockets that are not completely waterproof are useful for storing fishing utensils. These pockets can be open, covered with a zip, or enclosed in mesh.

Reinforced Sections

Other features to look out for are reinforced sections of the waders, such as on the seat part of the wader and at the knees (knee pads). These strengthen the wader, add abrasion resistance, and prevent the waders from being punctured at these parts of the wader. 

Some kinds also have reinforced areas at the lower leg, which are useful if you travel through prickly undergrowth to your fishing spots and want to avoid punctures from thorns, etc.

Gravel Guards

Gravel guards prevent stones, sand, and other debris from getting into your boots. Some waders have these attached, in the form of a small skirt with a clip that attaches to your laces. They are an especially useful feature. If your waders do not have an attached gravel guard, you can buy them separately.

Adjustability

Adjustability: adjustable belts, shoulder straps and other drawcords improve the fit and comfort of your waders.

Zipper

Zipper: A useful feature on chest waders is a front zipper. These help when putting on and taking off waders. It can also be unzipped when walking or in hot conditions on the bank.

Attachment Loops

Loops and clips on waders are useful for attaching accessories.

Getting the Right Fit for You

Along with your shoe size, you will need to measure the widest part of your upper body (chest or waist) and your inside-leg measurement before purchasing your waders.

Consider what kind of clothing you will be wearing under your waders; give yourself plenty of room for comfort. It’s best to take your upper body measurement wearing the garments that you are likely to be wearing when using your waders.

Also consider that you might need to go up a shoe size or even two for your waders. Follow the wader sizing chart’s recommendations for the model and brand of wader you are considering; you might also find useful sizing information in the Amazon review section.

Remember that when you wear waders, you will be sitting down, bending down, kneeling, and climbing river or lake banks, so you need to account for this by making sure that they aren’t too tight, which will restrict your movement. Waders that offer good mobility are essential. Give yourself a bit of wiggle room!

Caring for your waders:

Drying and Storing Fishing Waders

They are best dried out in a cool location with plenty of air circulation and away from strong, direct sunlight. The interior of a garage is ideal. Hang them upside down from the feet, high up, away from rodents, who love to chew wader materials!

Leaving them for prolonged periods in strong sunlight can melt the adhesives on the seams of the waders, which will cause leaks. This can happen if you leave waders inside hot cars.

Once they are thoroughly dried, you can store them elsewhere. Some come with their own storage bags.

Leaking Waders

Unfortunately, from time-to-time, waders do develop leaks, either from punctures or from seams that open. This even happens to the most expensive waders.

Often, the first sign that you notice is a wet foot or sock. Water might be penetrating higher up the leg of the wader, and with gravity, it accumulates around the feet.

Finding Leaks

It’s sometimes difficult to ascertain exactly which part of your wader is leaking. For fabric stocking-foot waders, a way to find out is to turn your waders inside out and fill them with water. (Turning them inside out keeps the inside fabric dry.) You should be able to see patches of water or a tiny spring of water appearing, which you can mark using a crayon.

Although you cannot turn waders with integrated boots inside out, you can fill waders with water and perform the same operation.

Another way to find holes is to go into a dark room and use a torch inside your waders to locate them.

Repairing Leaking Waders

You can buy wader repair kits, which are designed to repair the different wader materials.

You will need to follow the preparation and drying instructions to get the best results.

There are also repair services where you can take or post your waders, and they will repair them for a fee.

Cleaning 

Before cleaning your waders, read the instructions that came with them. They will tell you how to clean them properly and what to avoid.

All waders can be cleaned with warm water and gentle detergent.

Some fabric waders allow you to machine wash them using cool water settings and mild detergents, but don’t tumble dry your waders. If you have machine washed your fabric waders, you’ll need to reproof your waders after doing this.

Waterproofing 

You can use waterproofing materials on the outside of your waders. They can be in liquid or spray forms. Again, check the instructions that came with your waders.

Nikwax is a popular waterproofing agent that can be sprayed onto the outside of your waders. You might need to make several applications.

Wading Safely

Wading in water, especially running water, is not without risks. In clear water, polarising glasses make it easier to see the bottom of the stream or river, helping you to avoid holes in the riverbed or obstacles. However, even with polarising glasses, it is easy to misjudge how deep the water is, so you need to move cautiously.

A wading stick is an essential piece of kit when wading. You can use this to probe depths and check for potential hazards. It also provides you with extra support, helping keep you steadier in the water.

If wading is new to you, start in shallower sections of water that don’t have a strong current. Ideally, go fishing with a friend in case you encounter difficulties. As your knowledge and confidence grow, you can venture into other kinds of water.

If you are fishing alone, let someone know where you are going and what time you will be home.

Use the What3Words mobile app to pinpoint your location, which you can send in message form to a friend or loved one. Agree between you on what to do if they don’t hear back from you by a set time. It could save your life.

Fishing Waders: Summary

Fishing waders are essential gear for various fishing activities, including fly, float, carp, specimen, and lure fishing.

They come in three main styles: chest, waist, and thigh waders. These determine wading depth.

The main kinds of materials used for waders are PVC, neoprene, and waterproof, breathable materials. There are pros and cons to each material, such as cost, breathability, abrasion-resistance, comfort, and warmth.

Waders come in stocking-foot and boot-foot options. Wading boots are required for the stocking foot options and need to be purchased separately.

Wading boot soles come in rubber or felt. There are benefits and drawbacks to each. You can incorporate wading studs for additional grip.

It’s important to accurately measure your body before buying fishing waders and refer to the wader sizing guides for each brand of wader. Remember to take upper-body measurements while wearing the garments you will be wearing when you go fishing.

It is essential to clean and store your fishing waders properly to extend their life. Follow the cleaning instructions that come with your waders.

Reproof your waders using the recommended waterproofing agents.

Even the most expensive waders are prone to leaking. Waders can be repaired with wader repair kits that are specifically designed for the material that your waders are made of.

Wading can be dangerous. Stay within the limits of your abilities, and fish with friends when possible. A wading stick is an essential fishing kit. Let people know where you are going fishing. A mobile app, such as What3Words can be used to communicate your exact location.

Thank you for reading, and tight lines!

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