waders how long?

have a set of waders i boughtsome time ago, nothing expensive, they are red balls 3mm i'm not complaining i know there cheep waders but like i said bought them some 20 years ago, hears my question, took them off after about 3hrs of use the whole inside of the boot felt damp i did have two pair socks one polyproplene one wool, am i over dressing or are the waders just finnaly wearing out they felt like sponge that had been rung out but not completely or do they sweat that much seems like its been happening more lately but then again been really dressing warmer also, thanks doug

Hang up the waders and fill with water, look for leak.

Or, just clean, and cement the inside and outside seams.

Buy new waders when the leaks can't be repaired, or the wet prune foot, just can't be tolerated any longer

Doug,

Neoprene is usually put together two different ways. The seams are either glued, or sewn (or a combo of both).

As neoprene gets older, and used, it compresses. If the seams are sewn, the compression of the material will usually create small gaps in the seams. This will cause leaking.

If glued, well, I doubt any glue is meant to last 20 years. Again, I'd suspect the seams.

If you still truly are in love with those waders, I'd buy a big tub of AquaSeal and sea EVERY seam. Both inside and outside. That should re-seal the seams.

If you're still getting wet, I might suspect seaping. I've seen this in nylon and Gortex type materials, but never in neoprene. Although, that's because I don't use neoprene that much.

Also, you will sweat inside neoprene. It could be just body moisture. You'd know it, if it was seeping, leaking, as apposed to just sweat. You'd really get wet and cold if they were leaking/seaping.

Kore- that doesn't always work. Due to the suction created when wading, water is forced in to the wader. Without that suction, and depending on how big the hole is, water won't flow through the hole on it's own.

[ 12-10-2001: Message edited by: parker ]

Your lucky to get 20 years out of the ones you have!!when I was wearing neo's I would go through a pair or 2 a year..Try to check for leaks like kORE and Parker stated and if non are found just seal the seams again and see if that helps..TM

Had a pair like that when I couldn't find the leak took them to a dive shop they told me that was common they told me that the cells had compreessed the only thing I could do was have new feet put cost was less for new ones.

thanks everyone, for what they cost me back then 79.00 i think maybe its time to spring for a new pair,the only reason i got that kind of time out of them is because they were off me more than on,and parker sounds like what your saying is the problem the even feel thinner than what the rest do thanks again doug

[ 12-10-2001: Message edited by: DOUG KELLY ]