I usually walk the bank and sweat like crazy in the neoprene. Are breathable waders the way to go?how tear resisant are they? The only ones I have seen have a built in boot they don't look very comfortable. Curious in brands w/o the boot.

Thanks in advance

Cabelas premium dry plus,love mine....Os

Have a pair of the Simm's Guide Models that I was at first reluctant to try ... fished in them every day for some time now and no problems at all ... a little pricey, but I'd say worth it!

[This message has been edited by Bob (edited 03-16-2001).]

Dan Bailey's, I have worn them for 2 1/2 years now without a problem. They breath great and are very durable.

I like the Cabelas Premium Breathables too.
For the price they are hard to beat.
Nice suspender system too.
I Know Simms are excellent but like BoB said they are spendy. I have heard good things about the Patagonia STS, but those are right up there with Simms for the price.

I don't plan on every buying a non breathable wader ever again. with the proper fleece underneath they are warmer that neoprenes and in the summer wearing shorts it's like wet wadeing.
The only breathables i have heard bad things about are the Hodgeman waders. I have had 2 pairs of them. Both pairs had problems with the seam tape coming undone and one pair the feet wore through (my fault). The simms guide is the best on the market. If you cant afford them at $360 the simms lightweight and the dan balieys are both good. I think the hodgemans would be ok if you were to aquaseal the seams before using them. Mine were actually more comfortable than my simms.

I wear the Simms and love them. They take the abuse I put them through and I love the 6 layer leg which helps keep you a little warmer in the winter. They are expensive, $375 now-they tend to go up $15-20 a year. My one problem with Simms is that their customer service has gone down the crapper and they are getting very pissy about honoring their warranty.

But for the price the Dan Baileys are the BEST!! They have 3 lines with the Barebones running $115 and being good for the occasional fisherman.
The next step up are the brown lightweights that run $199 and they are by far the best for the money. I was talking with the rep a few weeks ago and they sold over 1400 waders and only have had 14 returned and I have yet to see a pair comeback. ReiterRat is going on 1 year on them and they are as good as new. They also have built in gravel guards and a wading belt plus kneew pads.
The next line up is a brand new line that runs $295, although the features of the $199 pair plus higher breathablity, higher and longer durability, 6 ply leg that encircles the whole leg, not just the front like Simms and plus they have a built in fleece hand warmer. One my Simms are trashed, this is the pair I am going to buy.

------------------
Ryan S. Petzold
aka
Sparkey and/or Special

Sparkey, Derek Fergus is a cool guy no doubt. Trust me on this, the XTH Baileys are no where near there cousins as far as fit. The XTH fit like crap!! I will stick with the lightweights. If you are going to spend 300$ on wades go with the Simms, anything less go with the bailey's lightweights.

Bare Shark Skins....

Wore out a pair of Hodgemans in about one in a half seasons. I had the same problems with the seams. I also don't recommend aquasealing them as was suggested; this just puts stresses further away from the seam causing the fabric to wear. Just a poor design, although I probably got 150 trips out of them.

Sparkey/Salmon Tackler - Any word on the barebones vs light weight Baileys? Maybe I'll never learn, but I'm cheap. Thanks

Jim

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, seems like you would have learned by now.

Anyways stick with the lightweights, with the days you put on your waders and the abuse they go through you will very proud you spent the extra $75 and bought the lightweights. And you know that if you have any problems with them, we will send them back for you. Well, just as long as you do not buy them on forestbay.com.

------------------
Ryan S. Petzold
aka
Sparkey and/or Special

Hey wader freaks,

How are the neoprene feet seams holding out on your Baileys and/or Simms? I'm noticing my feet are soaked lately after doing a lot of bushwacking in mine (Fly Techs) and I may be in the market for a new pair. I think it's mainly in the neoprene sock part because nothing else seems to be getting wet and as soon as I step in the water things get squishy.

tks,
Bruce

[This message has been edited by B. Gray (edited 03-20-2001).]

Bruce, So now I'm a wader freak? Actually the neoprene to fabric seam and the neoprene foot itself have been perfect so far and I am at two years of service on my Dan Baileys. By the by I do walk alot.

Bruce, I have only had one return in 3 years of selling Bailey's. Although the one return was because of a neoprene foot problem.
<h1>Obsessed</h1>