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I finally did it. I've had my "Bone dry" neoprene waders for three years now with out any problems. I got a couple of really bad tears in them this weekend and have decided to replace them. Anybody have good or bad comments about particular brands? Thanks

Whatever you do, don't buy any Stearns "Mad Dog Gear" waders. I'm sending back my second pair. The first pair tore the first time I wore them. Traded them in for a more "durable" model. They're junk too!! I'm going back to Hodgman.

...FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS HAVE HUNTED WITH STOCKING FOOT 5MM NEOPREM WADERS...MOSTLY CABELA'S ....PURCHASE SOME IN THE SUMMER (SALE TIME)...50-70 DOLLARS.....WADING SHOES 29.00 LAST FOR YEARS...PURCHASE AT LEAST 2-SIZES LARGER THAN YOUR SHOE SIZE....OR JUST DYE A PAIR OF HIGH TOP TENNIS SHOES....

THE STOCKING FOOT HAVE THESE ADVANTAGES...

1......FEET WONT PULL OUT OF BOOT...EVEN IN THE WORST BEAN FIELD..
2......YOU CAN BEND AT KNEE AND ANKLES....GREAT COMFORT....
3......TIGHT FIT...WARM AND CAN WEAR AS RAIN SUIT ALL YEAR....
4......HAVE GONE OVER-BOARD IN FREEZING WEATHER...
DOES NOT HOLD WATER LIKE OLD TYPE WADERS...
AND MUCH EASIER TO MOVE FEET WITH-OUT BOOTS...
5......VERY EASY TO REPAIR....CUT-UP OLD WADERS FOR LARGE
PATCHES AND USE A LITTLE GLUE...10-MIN REPAIR
6.......DRY REAL FAST...

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN....

UNCLE WALT AND SAM

I have some Hodgeman boot foot waders. The boots are huge. Moon boots. I had two pairs of socks on and still downsized my waders by a size or two. The nice thing is that they have the nylon/rhino skin/cordura whatever outer lining that makes them very tought. You don't have to be as gentle with the waders if you have this. LaCrosse and Itasca seem to make good stuff as well.

You might want to try out Cabela's Ultimate Hunting Wader w/ Armorflex. They ain't the best in the business, but for the money you can't beat them. Last year they were on sale in the spring catalog for 149.95. Thats not a bad deal for 5mm neoprene, 1000 grams of thinsulate in the boot, and no buckles. I really like the velcro strap system. Its much more comfortable to me.

I really like the high back Rocky waders with the stretchy cordura covering on them. I liked 'em so much I purchased a spare pair off e-bay and am always looking for another. Hunted hard in them for 4 years and no complaints at all. Buy a size larger than you normally wear.

GC, I like my Rocky's, too. But, dang, I near have a heart attack getting them on after a few days dunting and they are just a tad damp inside. Taht narrow ankle fit is a killer. How've you solve that one? They do fit good once on and wear tough, though.

Crow, I agree with Walt.... go with the stocking foot waders, and you will never have that problem again.

The stocking foot helps keep your foot warm. If boot waders get wet, you can not get the boot back on. You don't have that problem with the stocking feet. I use an ankle height boot - wal-mart specials insulated even, and they are extremely easy to put on every morning -- warm and they don't come off even in the mud. Emphasis on warm. Two pair of socks, the stocking foot inside my boot = no cold toes.

My boots stay wet all season, and they are still no problem to put on - except when I leave them in the back of the truck and they freeze but a couple of minutes inside the truck and they are fine.

And if you have to walk any distance, the stocking foot set-up is WAY lighter. You can bend your ankle, and it does not feel like you are walking in a cast.

And because of Jr., I have to buy two of everything. They cost me about $70 a pair...

May give it a try next year. Little as I've hunted the last two years, my waders may last forever,though!

Love my Lacrosse brushtuff 5mm neoprine. Bought them this year and they are"tuff" as nails! Previous year's seam had a design flaw - it has bee corrected.

Three years ago I bought a pair of chest waders from LL Bean ($135.00). I have not had any problems out of them so far. Some friends of mine send theirs back at the end of everyother season because they have a lifetime warranty. They say that the reenforced knee stitching is coming loose, that the color is fading, or whatever if they feel that they may have any possible problems with them next year. They are not too bad to get on and off either. When you do get a new pair of waders with a rubber boot, I would take them out of the box and put news paper in the top of the boots to help spread them out. The last two pairs that I have had would rub the hair off your legs until they were rounded out from being in the box that they came in.

Haymaker