Taking Care of Fishing Waders


My waders get a lot of use during the year. I chose these Camo Frog Togg waders so that I could use them both during the hunting and fishing seasons.

They’re warm, flexible and do everything that I expect of them. The only problem is they’re so darn expensive. That’s why throughout the years I’ve perfected my cleaning and maintenance schedule to maximize their life.

How to Take Care of Fishing Waders

Taking care of your fishing waders will save you a lot of money in the long run.  The key to prolong the life of your waders is remembering to “hang them high and keep them dry”.

Don’t just toss your waders in the corner after a long day of fishing. I know how tempting that can be, but waders that are tossed in the corner will quickly suffer.

You’d be amazed at how many little scrapes, nicks, punctures and abrasions they’ll get just laying around your garage. Plus any residual moisture is going to quickly invite mildew to join the party.

Mildew and other unwelcome flora and fauna will be a recipe for stink. Do yourself a favor and Hang up your waders the right way.

Hanging Up Waders

We spend all that cash on our hunting and fishing gear, but cheap out when it comes to maintenance. It used to shock me working in a sporting goods store as a teen.

One day a guy walks into the store, buys a brand new Beretta Over/Under and tells me he doesn’t think it’s really necessary to clean his gun. That type of thinking always blew my mind. If you’re going to spend the money on something nice you need to properly maintain it(maybe that’s because I was always broke).

Do yourself a favor and buy a wader rack to hang in your garage. I’ve tried a few different racks over the years and really like the Allen Boot and Wader Hanger.

It works great for my size 12’s, but my fathers size 13’s are a tight squeeze. For his boots I boot the SAMSFX Boot Hanger and it does the job. Actually bought a couple of these for off season storage.

For the price it isn’t worth the hassle of rigging up a hanger. When your waders are dry you can use it to hang up all your dry boots

Keep Your Wading Shoes Dry

No matter how tight the fit, some amount of water is going to get into your wading shoes. Some people don’t really mind putting on wet shoes, since waders have a built in sock. Personally it drives me absolutely crazy.

If you’re like me and need dry wading shoes the only solution is a circulating boot dryer. I use the DRYGUY Boot dryer and it’s absolutely amazing. Even after the fishing/hunting season I use it for my work boots and winter gloves. Leave it on overnight and they’re dry by morning.

Dealing With Holes and Punctures in waders

Despite trying your best to keep your waders in shape you will eventually get a puncture. Lucky for you they have repair kits designed to repair holes and punctures.

I’ve used the Gear Aid Aquaseal Repair Kit and it works really well for the price. You basically just wipe on the goo, stick on the patch and you’re good to go. You’ll be done in less time than it takes to get through commercials.

Other Tips To Care for Waders and Wading Shoes

All waders are going to wear out at some point, but properly caring for them will significantly extend their life.

  • Test Your Fit: Extending the life of your waders starts before you ever head home from the store. Don’t buy waders that don’t properly fit. Pretty close doesn’t work over the long haul. All that extra fabrics rubs in all the wrong places and causes excessive folds and tears.
  • Dry Them Out: As I said above, drying out your waders is the most important step of all. Neglected waders aren’t going to last more than a season before you get that mildew stink. Hang them upside down to dry and maybe even turn them inside out if you can.
  • Bring Them Inside: Don’t leave your waders out hanging in the sun(I know how tempting that can be). Over time the UV rays will wreak havoc on synthetic materials. Not only will it make your waders fade it will also cause premature cracking.
  • Store Your Waders Hanging: Once your waders are completely dry hang them before putting them in storage. If you fold up your waders you’ll end up with creases in the synthetic material. When traveling roll them up, never fold.
  • Hand Wash Only: Some guys throw their waders in the washing machine, and I’ve even heard of others putting them in the dishwasher. Never do this, the heat will quickly destroy synthetic fabric. Just wash your waders by hand using normal dish soap like DAWN.
  • Saltwater Care: Saltwater fisherman need to pay extra attention to their gear when they get home. Just like with your rods and reels salt will quickly corrode your waders. When you get home hose them off paying close attention to all those metal areas. Make sure you rinse off all those zippers.

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