How many days of use do you expect?

D3smartie · 03-01-2010, 01:00 PM

How many days on the water do you expect from your waders and wading boots?

sothereiwas · 03-01-2010, 02:14 PM

I got about 150 days out of felt soled boots before the soles fell off and that generally involved 2-3 pairs of laces

So far the vibram soled boots I have now are wearing much better

Wild Chrome · 03-01-2010, 02:30 PM

I was going to say ~ 150 days for (synthetic) boots, possibly with 1 re-sole, and maybe 50-75 days (1 season) before I'd expect waders to start to leak. Then, for me, it's all about the warranty (Patagonia!) unless there's an obvious pinhole (just patched one this am as a matter of fact) or a pair of discount beaters.

I fish/wade/hike hard and don't get the life out of my gear that some others do.

Oregonism · 03-01-2010, 03:35 PM

I think it depends on quality. I have a cheap pair of frog togg wadelites and they have about 40 days of use on them and are starting to leak at the crotch (not comfortable when it starts to leak in 40 degree water!). Probably easy enough to patch the seam, but I am definitely going for some patagonia's for my next purchase. My buddy got 4 seasons out of one of their low end pairs before he had to retire them.

native steelie · 03-01-2010, 03:49 PM

get yourself a pair of danners and you can expect heavy daily use for quite a few years. while not being the most comferable for the first few uses. they are leather.....its expected. but they are rugged and last.

358norma · 03-01-2010, 04:07 PM

Best wading boots I have found were my old work boots. Lasted a few years and lots more comfortable to hike in. Georgia loggers. Put dry wall screws down from the inside, looked wicked.

Never had a pair of waders last more than one season, everything from hodgman breath lites to simms g-4's , all toast. I seem to destroy the crotch seams on all of them. I buy cheap and expect to replace it often, buying the high dollar stuff has not payed off for me.

I do have a hodgman wading jacket that i fully expected to destroy in a matter of months. 4 years later still wearing it. Looks like hell but still getting the job done.

feathachucka · 03-01-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D3smartie

How many days on the water do you expect from your waders and wading boots?

Depends on what you buy as you generally get what you pay for. I seem to get about 70-90 solid days out of Simms G3's before I have to start patching small holes under normal conditions. Simms studded felt boots, X2 except for laces as they have a tendency to eat laces.

Oregonism · 03-02-2010, 09:41 AM

As far as boots go too, don't go too cheap. I have a cheap pair of Field & Stream boots and they are starting to wear out with probably 12-15 trips on them. My cousin-in-law has the same pair, and after about 4-5 months of heavy use, they are falling apart at the seams and some of the fake leather is actually cracking and splitting too. Again, I plan on going with something a from a more reputable company next time, maybe with a libram sole if Simms can perfect it.

Duane Doran · 03-02-2010, 04:52 PM

It really depends on what manufacturers products you're buying. As an example, I have a friend who purchased a pair of waders from a well know lower end manufacturer a few years back at the now defunct GI Joes. He made a habit of just going straight to the store after fishing so he could get a new pair as they ALWAYS had a leaks after a hard days fishing. I'm going on 5 years of hard use with my Simms G3's and no leaks, seam problems, nothing. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for.

gustav · 03-02-2010, 05:06 PM

I love my Patagonia waders. This is my second pair; I expect to get 2 years out of them, anything over that is just great. I have had cheap waders, but they just don't last. Same thing for wading boots; I expect to get two years and the rest is extra. My wader boots right now are the Simms Guide boots. These are some of the most comfortable boots I have ever worn. Wader or regular; if I could wear them around the house I just might, my wife would kill me!

flybob · 03-02-2010, 09:31 PM

I bought Simms G3s about five years ago and used them over 200 times. They only just started leaking at the left knee. They have my recommendation.

stoneflyguy · 03-02-2010, 11:10 PM

As a guide, a pair of wader and boots last me about 1 year. I have had everything form Hodgman waders and boot to Dan Baily zip ups and the most expensive Korkers you can buy. My point is that if you get equipment that fits properly and don't abuse it it will last. You get what you pay for but don't get caught up in names.I have patched waders only to have them leak again, and again. I have resoled boots and have seams tear and laces break. Spend a little extra money and take care of your gear and it will last you several seasons. This is my

Moe · 03-05-2010, 05:38 AM

I don't measure my gear in days on the water but in years of service. I have a pair of Simms chesties that I've used for about 11 years and as yet they don't leak. I fish and hunt waterfowl in them.

I bought a pair of Dan Baily breathables about 9 years ago for Spring and Summer fishing and they're also still going strong. I've also used them for waterfowl hunting. Quality is the key.

I bought an expensive pair of Orvis wading boots and they fell apart after one season. They came apart at the seams and the felt fell off. I have a pair of Danners with cleats that I got for fishing the Wenatchee River and they're still going strong after 13 years. I bought some inexpensive Hodgman canvas boots for waterfowl hunting about 11 years ago and they're still in service, too, so I guess there's no telling. High price doesn't necessarily mean quality, I guess.

floatinghat · 03-07-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by native steelie

get yourself a pair of danners and you can expect heavy daily use for quite a few years. while not being the most comferable for the first few uses. they are leather.....its expected. but they are rugged and last.

Danners? I bought my first pair 20 years ago and had them repaired yearly when the seams blew out on the insteps. I liked the fit and after a couple resoles I replaced them with Pataguccis, had them replaced
(both pairs) as the soles kept delaming. Now I'm using Simm and they are holding up after 3 seasons just fine.

How long, depends how you use them. I used to have a couple of pools that were a 21/2-3 mile walk each direction and the felts go in a hurry

.

D3smartie · 03-08-2010, 11:05 AM

I can appreciate people measuring gear life in years, but that does me no good. Hell most of the fishermen in this country go about 5-10 times per year and probably buy new after a couple years.
when my $180 boots are retired after 1.5yrs I feel like i got a bad deal. Of course i wore them for over 100 miles i would guess and 200+ days so maybe they werent such a bad deal...