I bought a new pair of Hodgeman neopreme waders in Jan. 03 and used them 4 times. The third time they leaked. The forth time just to make sure they leaked. I took them back and got a new pair. Is this something I will have to live with or did I get a bad pair? They leaked around the ankle seem. I did not get soaked but my feet were cold and it took my mind off the fishing where it should be. Does any one know what I am going through and fixed the problem. I wouldn't think that a new pair would leak so quickly but it did. Any suggestions for a brand that is better than others?

I have owned a pair of Hodgmans for about 2 years now and do not have any leaks. The closest thing I have had to a leak is when I was in the water for about 5 hours straight without getting out, after that long of a time they start soaking through. Mine have defiently been abused, but i havent had any problems. My guess is that your first pair was justa defective one.

I hate to say, You get what you pay for when you buy entry level Hodgeman.

I bought Simms Pro-Guide waders. They are 375.00 New but I got them off EBAY for 225.00
Spendy I know but I fish all year long and these waders are AWESOME! Just ask yourself how much does comfort and dependability mean to you!
Good Luck!

a couple things:

1. as was said before you get what you pay for..
secondly Simms has discontinued most of if not all of their neoprene waders.
They can still be found in fly shops at closeout prices I have seen them at 99 dollars.
They are discontinued because everyone is buying gortex. Lots of shops can't get rid of their neoprenes even at the closeout prices so you should be able to find some..

Also what you wear under your waders is equally as important as your waders themselves. NEVER wear jeans!! wear some kind of pants that have wicking propertys. fleece and polypropelene(sp?) are the best and get some nice smartwool socks even if your waders do leak a little your feet will stay warm..

I have had lots of hodgeman waders all of them leaked after short periods of use...

Even cheap neoprenes should last longer than that. But small leaks in neoprene are easy to fix with a little Aquaseal.
Really, you might as well get breathables now. You'll get them eventually anyway.

Don't ya know you're not a real fisherman unless you have a $350 rod, $250 reel, $375 neo's, $40K sleed and $3k in tackle in each of your 4 tackle boxes. If not you are just entry level my man and anything you buy will leak, break, not catch fish and you will be just generally wasting your time.. Hate to be the ont to break it to ya!!

I love it... Wonder how people used to catch fish without their Blackboxes, Noeprene or sleeds? Kinda funny that I can remember not having any of that crap and catching a hell of a lot of fish. I just wonder how we did it???? Geez, we must have just been pre 'entry' level if we went to McConnels boat house to RENT a boat...


Get some of the aquaseal or return them and go fish. You may have got a bunk pair? You don't need to spend $400 on a pair of G-damn waders.

I'm with you P...Just look at all those guys riding bicycles in the road with the cars...Spandex pants..Tour De France helmet...special million dollar shoes...on and on and on...No bicyclist seems to want to be caught dead wearing any other "uniform" when out in public...Same with fishermen..it is a uniform to be seen in...gotta have certain brands to show off...That's ok though since it builds self esteem and makes the sport fun. Lot's of toys is the rule....I used to catch more fish with my yellow Eagle Claw rods and hand crank downrigger than I do now with my custom rods and G Loomis....but I used to run the 100 in 10 flat too.

Are you sure they leaked and it was not just sweat from your feet? If they are truly leaking this has helped me to prevent leaks.

In my experience all neopremes will eventually start to leak. For me the leak is almost always at the feet. I have found what I think is a good foot saver for the neopremes. Go get the biggest pair of fleece socks you can find, after putting on your waders put on the fleece socks. This will help prevent anything that gets into your wading boots from rubbing directly on your waders. I used to blow through a pair of feet every 1-2 years. Since doing this I am on my second season with a pair of neopremes and have yet to see the slightest wear begin to start.

I've had problems with waders leaking at the ankle seam in the past. Although I'm not sure, I think it may be caused by getting waders that are too small. I have long legs for my height and shoe size. When I sit down on the river bank, the waders really get stretched. I hope I solved the problem by getting a new pair of Cabelas waders in a Tall size. Time will tell.

Also, try to be gentle when pulling the bootie over your foot. Your pulling right on that seam then.

Good luck,

SF

I am not suggesting that you or any body else is entry level. I am sorry, if that's the way you interpreted it. That is not the way, I meant to come across.
I said " entry level Hodgeman" Meaning their cheap stuff. Hodgeman does make some higher end stuff, But not many places carry it.

No, you don't have to pay an arm and a leg on fishing gear to catch fish and have a good time. I take a lot of folks fishing and one thing is for sure,most Hodgeman neopremes have this problem, or it doesn't take long to develop it, is because the foot part of the wader is also neopreme.
Neopreme crushes and you get what is called compression leakage.
If you step up to a little higher end wader ($ 125.00 - $175.00) range you get a wader with a product called Hapalon, I don't know if I have the spelling right on that. It is almost like neopreme, but it is tough stuff. It is sewn in on the foot and will not leak from compression.

All waders will develop leaks from chafing around the foot area, and when you see that, all you have to do is rub a little sealant over that spot before you wear a hole there and you will get long life out of them. A wool sock over the wader foot will also help.

I have had a pair of waders for four years now and I have not had a problem with them, they are breathable with that type of foot. I put a lot of time on them, about three days a week, year round. They cost me $ 165.00. I think that is pretty cheap and if you keep ahead of the chafing you can make them last.

Bob

Yup, it's funny, years ago I quit steelheading after my first year of no success. What made me quit was one day at Tokul Creek, me with $500.00 worth of gear on and a kid walked up with $3.00 rubber boots and an old spinning outfit with the butt broken off at the reel. He swung a #4 baithook with a knot of yarn on it and pulled about a 7lb brat up at my feet. I sold him everything I had for $75.00 and swore I'd never fish this $hit again! Here I am 15 years later still fishing!

The waders leaked aroudn the ankle seem. There was no guessing at it I could see the ring around the inside of the wader. As for paying an arm and leg no it is not necessary to spend a lot of cash for gear, but I have found that some of the upper end gear is really nice. My rod and real is light and I find that at the end of the day I am less tired and cast more accurately and my reaction time is nearly what it is when I first get out on the river. I will look for the reduced prices on the waders and I will look into a pair of big wool or fleece socks which ever I find first and is cheaper, and I will get a pair of water wicking fleece pants, and I will get me my personal guide and I will get me a boat and I will go on and on until I am broke which has already happend and that is why I don't buy 300 dollar waders.
I personally love the sale pice for all the gear of $75 bucks.