Ultimate Guide to Fishing Waders

Most fishermen will never have to step foot in waders, but when you do you’ll be glad you had them.  Landing the fish is only half the battle, you still have to work your way out there.

Luckily times are-a-changin and modern-day waders are getting much more comfortable. Thankfully days spent sweating our pants off are long behind us. You no longer have to step into those old rubber suits like your grandfather decades ago.

Who Needs Fishing Waders?

Not all fishing requires working your way up a chilly stream, but sometimes we just have to meet fish out where they live. If you fish long enough you’ll eventually decide you need a pair of waders.

You might be able to get away with wearing shorts bone fishing warm water flats, but take one step into a cold water stream and you’ll be running back to your car. Both of us that like the challenge of working a freezing River, waders are essential for warmth.

Skip Waders If…

• Beginners: You’re a beginner and not quite sure what you’re getting into. Maybe you don’t have all the regular fishing gear yet and don’t have the money to spend on tertiary gear. Waders can be expensive which puts off a lot of new fishermen.
• Only Fish By Boat: A lot of guys don’t want to get their feet wet and there’s nothing wrong with that. Throughout the years I’ve got countless hours of enjoyment out of boat fishing, but wading into a stream for the first time changed the way I thought about fishing.
• Only Fish Warm Water: When fishing really warm weather most anglers choose to go wader free. There’s just something freeing about becoming one with nature. Just make sure the area isn’t known for leaches.

Buy Waders If…

• Fish in cold Water: Yes I know that on those extremely hot days you can get away with fishing in a nice pair of swimming trunks and my favorite pair of wading shoes. When the weathers especially warm that cold running water may even feel refreshing. On those days when the temperatures dip 70 or below you’re going to want some real waders.
• Want to Get The Most Out of Fishing: Choosing not to buy waders is really going to limit the way you fish.

Different Wader Types

Waders basically only come in two different styles.  Every once in a while manufacturers come up with something crazy, but most of the time you either have hip or chest waders.  

Chest Waders vs Hip Waders

As the names imply hip waders (sometimes called hippers) comes up to the hips and chest waders run up the middle of your chest. Obviously, that means hip waders are designed to work fairly shallow water whereas chest-highs are appropriate for deeper water.

A lot of guys just buy chest waders and roll them down towards their hips when weather and temperature allows. The only problem is you have all that extra material, so owning a pair of hippers and chest highs makes sense for most of us.

Boot Waders vs Stocking Waders

Neither boot waders or stockings waders are better for every situation. It all depends on what type of terrain you plan on fishing.

Boot Waders

The biggest advantage to wearing boot waders is convenience.   You won’t have to spend all that time fussing around with gear. Just slip them on and you’re ready to fish.

There is a trade-off. Boots are bulky and heavy which makes things difficult on jagged surfaces.  With the additional bulk comes much added warmth.

They also offer less ankle mobility which makes things difficult on uneven terrain.  It’s not much of a problem when working a flat sandy bottom, but try navigating a jagged rocky trout stream and you’ll wish you had wading shoes.

With my rapidly expanding belly I’ve bought more waders than I can count throughout the years. You just can’t beat a nice pair of Neoprene Frog Toggs. They’re sturdy, really warm and camo so they work double duty during duck hunting season.

I also own a pair of Hodgman waders that I bought for a steal. So much cheaper than the Frog Toggs while still doing a great job. The nylon shell isn’t quite as warm as my Frogg Toggs, but that’s a good thing during those hot spring and summer days.

Advantages

• You don’t have to buy separate wading boots which can be quite costly.
• Typically warmer than similary priced stocking waders.

Disadvantages

• Boot is permanently attached so you can’t wear them separately.
• Heavier overall weight and could feel bulky
• Less ankle support than separate wading shoes

Stocking Waders

By comparison stocking foot waders don’t have an attached boot. Instead you have a waterproof neoprene sock on the boot of the wader. You then put on your wading shoes over top of this sock for a water tight seal.

You should always wear stocking waders with a set of wading shoes. The neoprene socks just aren’t durable enough to walk on rocky surfaces. Wading shoes have great ankle support and offer excellent traction on slimy jagged rocks.

It’s going to cost you a little bit more to get all setup with stocking waders. I love my Hodgeman Stocking Waders that I pair with the Hodgeman Neoprene Wade Shoe. Perfect for those rocky moss covered streams.

Since there’s no boot attached to your waders these are much easier to pack and stow away during the offseason. That being said after you throw in the additional wading shoes you’ll have a little more weight.

A lot of guys claim stocking waders are easier to put on, but I never had an issue with either style. Just put them on like a pair of regular pants and slide your shoes on overtop of the built in socks.

Advantages

• Don’t have to deal with built in boots, which makes them easier to put on.
• Separate shoes means you don’t have to replace everything when circumstances change. If you put on a little weight you’ll only have to replace the waders.
• Offers more ankle support and better traction. Perfect for working jagged rocks with slippery footing.
• When you don’t need to wear waders you can still wear your boots separately for better traction. With the bootfoot waders you’re going to be out of luck.

Disadvantages

• Buying separate gear makes it a little more expensive to start out.
• Less warmth than bulky boot waders.

Hip Waders and Wading Pants

Hip waders and wading pants are designed to be worn in shallower water.  Some of them will have boots attached and others won’t, but they all extend from the put all the way up to the hips like traditional pants.

Hip waders are only going to work in study calm water. If you like fishing the Rapids do yourself a favor buy a pair of chest waders.Obviously only going up to the hips means that they are going to be more comfortable than full size waders.

That being said, they really do come in handy when fishing the shallows.  Those days when you just don’t feel like getting all geared up you won’t have to. Even if you don’t plan on getting knee deep in chilly water they guarantee you aren’t going to get wet when you make an unfortunate step.

Wading Pants

Wading Pants are very similar to hip waders. They can basically be worn interchangeably with the only major difference being their fit. They fit like any other pair of pants which makes them so much more comfortable.

I have a pair of Caddis Waist-High Wading Pants that I really love. Definitely not going to win a fashion competition, but I don’t feel like a loon wearing them around town after lunch.

Just like with hip waders, wading pants are designed to be worn in shallow water(obviously below waist level. Being lightweight, breezy and comfortable makes them perfect for those exceptionally hot days.

Different Wader Materials

Old school waders were all made out of rubber (some still are).  Rubber waders are especially common among surf fisherman. However the rest of us has moved on to lighter weight nylon and other synthetic materials.

These synthetic materials are all extremely durable and relatively tear resistant.Made out of multiple layers of waterproof, crack resistant, abrasion proof and insulating material. These fabrics are going to keep you warm as well as dry.

Waders that are designed to retain body heat are a huge plus in freezing cold water. I don’t know how anybody could stand  going waist-deep in 50-degree water.

Neoprene

Neoprene really revolutionized the way we think about chest waders. It hugs your body introduces the chance of water seeping in and pooling below your clothes. This form-fitting style is going to trap in your body heat and keep you warmer.

Breathability is the main downfall when choosing neoprene. Like with nylon waders neoprene options don’t offer much of a breeze on hot days. On those hot days you basically you almost always have to roll them down and wear them like hip waders.

You’ll probably end up sweating and actually start to feel condensation build up inside. Just like the outside of a glass your body heats builds up condensation on the inside of your suit.