Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Tackle Talk => Topic started by: Liam Stephen on 03/10/2011 at 17:56

Title: Waders
Post by: Liam Stephen on 03/10/2011 at 17:56

 ??? I have been told time and time again, that I need a decent pair of waders. So I have been looking on-line and narrowed it down to a few pairs. On a budget of £200 for waders and boots, I feel I have found the best of the bunch. They are: Airflo Delta Breathable Stockingfoot Waders (comes with a pair of  Airflo X-stream Wading Boots)or Guideline Gaula Waders (with Crosswater V2 wading boots) or Orvis Silver Label XT Bootfoot waders or the Orvis Endura Stockingfoot Waders (possibly the Bootfoot version).
So is anyone able to give any advice on the above pairs or mabye suggest an alternative?  :z16

Thanks

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: buntinbee on 03/10/2011 at 23:36

Having tried many, if not most of the available brands from the cheapest to the most expensive I would honestly say that there is little to choose between the lot in terms of quality and longevity. My advice would to contact DiverDave and see what he has in the way of reconditioned waders. For a start he will not sell you crap and secondly the waders will certainly not leak on the first outing which has happened to me before with some of the best brands. As for wading boots I would highly recommend the Simms Freestone, they have been far more hard wearing than anything else I have tried.

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Mike Barrio on 04/10/2011 at 00:10

Hi Liam :z16

Choosing between the waders themselves might be difficult, but when it comes to aftersales service I'm sure that most folk on the forum would agree ....... Orvis customer care! :wink

Cheers
Mike

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Euan Innes on 04/10/2011 at 09:02

All depends if you float tube or not.
If you don't then Orvis breathables all the way. Tubing in breathables will need thermal underwear of some description which is not a hassle but not as easy as throwing on a pair of breathhables. Then again winter fishing will need thermals.

Go with the Orvis and boots - no regrets  :z16

 :z1

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Matt Henderson on 04/10/2011 at 11:24

I would have said that stocking foot waders and wading boots is the way to go.  And get the bets deal you can.  I had bootfoots before and they were okay but horrible for a whole day on uneven ground, steep banks etc etc.  I ended up with Simms waders and Guideline wading boots because that was the best deal I could get at the time.  Maybe worth having a look at the big catalogue shops for their current deal.

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Liam Stephen on 04/10/2011 at 16:42

Appreciate the pointers guys keep them coming  :z16

Thanks

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Hamish Young on 04/10/2011 at 18:17

I have a pair of Orvis breathable Pro-guide waders (bit beyond the budget mentioned in post #1) and they have taken all the abuse I've slung at them on rivers, lochs, float tubes and in boats without issue. I like them hugely.
I still have a pair of Greys 'G' series breathable waders which are a good buy if you accept that they will eventually leak. Mine 'went' (started leaking) after less than one season. However, I wasn't exactly kind to them.
I have yet to repair the Greys, but they would probably repair OK. Why mention the Greys waders :? They were cheap and deals on that range with boots can still be found -simples :wink
Both of my breathable waders (and indeed my neoprenes) are stocking foot. Much more practical and comfortable for 99% of what I need waders for.
If you're not going to do much fishing between now and the new season, I'd suggest you keep a watching brief on the January sales and end of season clearances for a bargain. However, the advantage of buying something from the Orvis range is customer support - that you can seldom get in a sale from some of the larger retailers if they leak or something goes awry.
Hope that helps :cool:
H  :z3

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Liam Stephen on 04/10/2011 at 18:19

Thanks Hamish  :z16

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Andy Finlay on 04/10/2011 at 21:04

I've got the Airflo Delta Zip waders and the boots. TBH mine started leaking in under a year and I really should have sent them back but oh well, all the seams leak and I'm going to have to get them to diver dave for repair. The boots have been OK, a bit on the slippy side and kind of heavy as there leather but have held up well.

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 04/10/2011 at 21:38

I am still impressed with my Wychwood breathables. 3rd season and cost £70 without the boots.

Mine get used for a lot of sitting on the banks so the seams, knees and bum get punished. So far so good.

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Loxiafan on 04/10/2011 at 21:57

I bought the Airflo Delta zip version (with free boots) in April and they leaked a week later (on a seam). Took them to Dave Gordon (Diver Dave) and got him to completely seal  them with his stuff. They have been on two to four times per week since and are holding up fine. On the whole I think they are good value and who knows I might have 'holed' them - I did this within a week with my last pair of waders ! I am sure I would have got them replaced - Somers offered to send them away - but I needed them.

Personally I'd go with the Orvis if they are the same price, due to customer service - the only thing is that the zip front Delta's are really easy to get on and off and you don't have to pull them down round your erse to have a pee  :shock !

Lindsay

Title: Re: Waders
Post by: Ben Dixon on 04/10/2011 at 23:41

Hi Liam,

Regardless of which brand you choose, I'd recommend going for stocking foot waders & seperate boots.  Usually get much more ankle support and, if the boots die, the waders may be O.K and vice versa.  Bootfoot waders can be a pig to repair if seams start to go, these are very easily fixed if you can turn the entire wader inside out, impossible with bootfoot waders and I've found that the weak point with all the bootfoot waders I've had has been around where the breathable fabric meets the boot.  Again, a tricky spot to fix.

Cheers

Ben