Was wondering what kind of wabers are a good value for 200.00 $$ or so??any help would be aprreciated! thks!

Steelyman, I bought a pair of Hodgman guidelites for considerably less than your budget two years ago and haven't had any problems with them yet. Knock on wood!

Gart Sports had them in their flyer this week, I think for $100. Don't know anything about the brand or anything else but look like a buy, even if you had to replace them every other year or so. Outdoors Emporium has 4mm waders on sale also.

Dan Baileys

cabelas has the best for your $$ next step would be simms. hodgman has done nothing but give me problems. their customer service is not very good either.

I'd give the Dan Bailey's waders a look. They have a couple different models. Click the link.

http://www.thetroutshop.com/waders/dbmen.htm

Dan Baileys!!!!!

I went through 2 pairs of hodgemans in one year and never had a pair of their Neo's last more than a year. In my opinion thier products are junk unless you only fish a couple days a year

I first bought a pair of cabelas dry plus wader, which worked nicely. But I have size 15 feet, and the booties were too tightso they leaked. They only company that could get me a pair to fit my feet was Simms. So they made me a custom pair of the new G3 waders for... $475. An extra $75 to add the bigger booties. I absolutely love them. My uncle and I actually believe you are much safer in breathables, compared to neoprene. .02

Elkman

Ryan

Dan Bailey's for sure!

Dan Bailys light weights no question.

200.00, I have the guide weights now as they gave me a deal I couldnt refuse.

I used the light weights for two years with not one leak. The only problem I had was with the velcro on the gravel guards. I called Dan Bailys to ask them about there guide weights and they asked me how I liked my light weights. I told them they were great accept for the velcro issue. They gave me 200.00 trade in towards the guide weights or offerered to send me a new pair of lightweights.

The great thing about it is that I never asked for anything they just offered. I told them that I felt I had gotten my 200.00 out of my lightweights so I would be happy with buying a pair of guidweights. They insisted with exchanging my old lightweights.

they have fixed the velcro issue since.

Dan Bailey for me. Stay far away from the cabelas breathables.

i am lookin at the simms "freestones" any feedback on these? i may look into the dan baileys..

Sparky (who sells a couple brands) suggested the Dan Baileys to me, and a few of my friends had them, so I got some last year. To echo, I think they are an excellent value for $200, and good warranty service from what I hear.

A further consideration for the Baileys, if you hike a lot in waders, the DBs don't have any seam along the inside of the legs. Others that do eventually chafe seam leaks according to one of my friends who hikes a lot to fish.

I think these have made my neoprenes obsolete.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

My advice, save yourself a c-note and get the Hodgeman breathables, they last and for the price, well worth it!!

OR if ya want to spend the money buy 2 pairs!


WW

Bought a pair of hodgeman guideweights from sportco. After about the 10th use they developed a leak in the R bootie and in the crotch. The leak in the crotch was so bad that if it was raining it would leak. I took them back to sportco. Mr. Herzog said 5 out of 10 pairs he sells get returned. Sportco returned my money without question and I bought Dan Bailey's light weights. I have had no problems with them. I would advise you spend the money and buy simms or dan bailey's. They are both in your price range (the lightweights). I looked at the simms freestone but they did not have gravel gaurds. The simms and dan bailey's are sold on the internet with no tax and free shipping, just do a search. Or you can pick them up at some local retailers.

A little bit off topic but you guys got any experiences with the Simms G3?
I just bought a pair but haven't use them yet.
I am curious to know what you think so that I can either use them proudly or return them while they're still in the box.

Thanks

Ironhead-
I have had a pair of G3's for about 8 months and have had great luck with them.

I have found them to be more breathable then my Patagonia SST's and standard Simms Guide waders (which were previously, IMHO, the most breathable waders on the market). They have also held up just fine and the little gadgets and gizmos (built in gravel guards, hand warmer pocket, built in retractor etc.) are great.

I've had the Dan Bailey's for four years and my only complaint is the seams finally started to leak this year but I Aqua Sealed them and they should hopefully last another four years now. I do a lot of hiking so I'm suprised I haven't had a rip or anything. I really like them in both winter and summer. They breath so I don't get hot or cold.

Thanks Sparky.
I can't wait to put them in the river.

thanks gents! Sounds like the D.B. 's are the way to go! Thanks for all the input!

That's a good decision. Dan Bailey's all the way.