Waders question.

Ok – I have been fishing with felt soled boot-foot hip boots and I have been very happy with them. I’ve been looking at getting a new pair and really dislike chest waders. I was looking at the wading pants- kind of a waist-high style in a breathable model. I thought the waist high would be nice for that occasional bag-deep spot. The problem is that I can not find them in boot-foot style.

Why is that? The stocking foot models dominate. Are they that much better? The convenience of just pulling on my hippers and going seems better than screwing around with extra boots, lacing them up, then worrying about gravel and such….

What do you guys recommend, and why??

Tim

I have accumulated and used a little bit of everything over the years. For all practical purposes in the Midwest, you could get away with hippers whilst trout fishing. My current waders are conversion waders that I can wear as chest or wasit waders. I’ve never worn them as chest waders since I’ve never had a reason to.

Stockingfoot waders dominate probably (just a guess here now) because it allows the user to choose what kind of bottom they want. I don’t happen to like felt as I do not really see a need for them for basic trout fishing in this area. (if I went West, I’d definately want felt soles).

I think once you start wearing stockingfoot waders, you’ll like them. I think they are way more comfortable than boot foot waders.

Just my two cents,
D.A.

I agree with what D.A. had to say.
Breathables are so comfortable that you likely will not need/want to take them off between stops.
They take a few more minutes to lace-up, but the foot support and all day comfort are well worth it.
As for soles, I am partial to the simms aqua-stealth sole (or whatever they are calling them now). They work great for summer and winter. Felt soles are dangerous as heck in the winter!
Just remember, you get what you pay for.
Good luck
cheers

Cabelas does offer a few varieties of waist waders in a boot foot.

Cabela’s brand 3mm neoprene
Cabela’s brand Dry-Plus breathable
Cabela’s brand 3mm neostretch neoprene camo

If your focus is stream trout, I’d avoid neoprenes at all costs – way too warm and not breathable in the slightest. They’re certainly nice to have this time of year, but I wouldn’t recommend them.

D.A.

Thanks for the replies guys.

DA – I hear you on the neoprenes. I have a pair for winter and early season steelheading – and if much walking is involved, they turn into a personal sized sauna in about 2 minutes!

Tim