When fishing the river and streams in my area I wear hip or chest waders depending on the type of day (hot or cold) and depth of the water I?m fishing. Hip waders are good in low, slow moving waters and chest waders in higher-faster waters. When I go fishing now I will take both my hip and chest waders so I?m prepared for whatever the water- weather throws my way. I had a bad experience once when I only had my hip waders and went to fish the Barneys River and the water was quite fast and higher then normal. Now to cross the river when I had to, I had the help of a walking stick but when I put the stick down to check my way for my left foot I step into a hole with my right foot. Down I went, waders filled with water and I was soaked and so was my cell phone, camera, and all the rest of my gear?end of day!
That is when I decided to get the chest waders. So what I?m saying is get the most appropriate type of waders for your wade fishing. Here are a few options available depending on your preference. Which one?s you want depends on your needs and the amount of cash you want to put out?
Hip or Chest Waders
Regardless of the material, there are generally two types of waders: hip or chest. Hip waders are designed for wading in shallow water, as they are short and more like boots. This also makes them a good choice in warmer weather. Chest waders resemble pants and they have straps or suspenders that go over the shoulders. A waist-level outer belt should also be worn with chest waders to keep water out in the event of a fall. Chest waders are to be worn in water that is too deep for hip waders and for extra protection in cold weather.
Boot or Stocking
The type of foot section on the waders is another consideration. Boot foot models have a boot section, often a heavy-soled boot, which is permanently attached to the upper portion of the chest or hip wader. Boot-foot waders are easier to remove than stocking-foot waders and offer the warmest in the cooler weather. Stocking foot models require separate boots. With this style, the wader has a stocking-style foot section that is worn inside a pair of special wading shoes or boots. This style is usually not as warm in cold water wading, and supplementary over-socks are usually necessary to stop the wader foot from rubbing against the boot.
Breathable
When it comes to the material, breathable waders are designed to disperse body heat, and they enable perspiration to go out and keep out external water. These waders do not have insulation and are ideal for summer fishing. However, breathable waders are not form fitting, so if there's a chill in the air there is room to wear warmer clothing underneath.
Holding Body Heat
Neoprene fishing waders are useful in cold weather because they keep the body heat in. These waders are made from the same material used in scuba divers' wetsuits and the seams are sealed to be waterproof. If the weather is warm, breathable waders would probably be more comfortable than neoprene.
Rubber
Rubber chest waders and hip waders are lower in cost and common in stores. However, they are generally bulky, stiff and fairly heavy. They can also get clammy inside since the material isn't breathable. Higher quality rubber waders can feature tennis shoe-style air insole and air grip outsoles for greater comfort and traction when walking.
How to Size Chest Waders
Measure your chest girth. Put on a shirt or jacket that you would normally wear when on a fishing trip. Have a friend or an assistant handy, raise your arms slightly above your head. Have your friend wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your chest and shoulder blades. Write down this measurement on a pad of paper for future reference. Measure your inseam. This is best done with bare feet. Have a friend measure from the floor to the inner crotch. Write down this measurement on the pad of paper. Women should measure hip girth; some manufacturers make models specifically to fit women. Try on waders, as some are sold by sizes small through extra large and others are sold in sizes 5 through 15. Stores online will have a size chart to help you select your size.
Here,s a video on picking the right wading gear
When you?re done fishing your waders should be stored by hanging them upside down in a cool, dry location in a closet or garage. They should never be carried in a hot car trunk. Rubber waders are cheap, but they don?t last more than a couple of seasons before brittleness and cracks render them useless and leaky. Send twice as much on rubberized cloth waders, they can last a lifetime.
