Show us your waders

[Papasequoia]

Am I the only one who has waders with this many patches of Aquaseal? As you prepare for your next trip - take a picture and show us yours. As you can see in picture #2 I have had several seam leaks and every year I debate sending them back to Simms. But, as they get older (and leakier) and I don't get around to it, I ask myself just how old should waders be before they are too old to be sent back, even if it is a seam leak?

Anyway, here are mine just before I put a few new patches on this afternoon. What do your waders look like?

[darrin terry]

Am I the only one who has waders with this many patches of Aquaseal?

Yes.

[stanbery]

But a new pair.

Jon

[Bakoguy]

Geez that doesn't even look healthy to wear.
Get another pair and stay out of the cactus.

[fly addict]

Jon,
Wow, do you wear your waders when you’re trimming the pucker bushes?


Mark

[NorcalBob]

WOWZERS, I've finally met someone who's harder than Chris on his waders! Methinks you should be looking at a new pair!

[planettrout]

Hey Papa...

Mine look even worse...so bad in fact, that I would be embarrassed to post a photo of them. Aquaseal on the inside this on the outside:

http://www.loonoutdoors.com/uv-wader-repair.html


PT/TB

[lucfish]

Papa: I'm not 100% sure but I think if you do your own patchwork on the waders Simms voids the warranty. As far as how long they should last a good barameter would be on how long they last for a guide who is out all the time. If I recall I was told a good pair will last a 2 and if their careful and lucky 3 seasons which would equate to 400-600 uses, just a guess though. Simms (John Sherman) will be at the Pasadena flyfishing Show this week-end in case you or anybody else would be there to ask him. Great guy and really, really knows his stuff.

[Artin]

Very Macgyver lookin' Papa!

I like et!

Artin

[rayfound]

I will shame you all. My waders are more aquaseal than waders.... though Papa is pretty close I'd say.

[Sasha]

You know my current pair have 5 years on them (and I fish very frequently). Even with all the back country crap I do I still don't have a single leak. I have had them long enough, that I'll probably just get new ones when they do leak.

[briansII]

Those look barely broke in. I have a buddy who counted all the Aquaseal spots in his Simms. It was over 200......and that was over 5 years ago. I bet he still uses them from time to time. My pair of Simms doesn't look as bad as yours, but I don't use them much anymore. I'll try and remember to take a picture of them.

briansII

[Papasequoia]

You know my current pair have 5 years on them (and I fish very frequently). Even with all the back country crap I do I still don't have a single leak. I have had them long enough, that I'll probably just get new ones when they do leak.

What kind of waders do you use? I haven't had a trip without a leak in as long as I can remember. Every trip these days I spray the whole insides with rubbing alcohol then go to work with the aquaseal tube, but no matter there is always a leak somewhere, at least by the end of the day. I was going to try that Nikwax treatment someone (Brian?) mentioned in another thread since they are Gore-Tex waders.

I'd love to find a pair of waders that can take a beating without a leak for five years like yours, Sasha. I did buy a pair of Hodgmans on a closeout sale last year, but in my rush to get them I ended up with a pair that are too big and bunch up around my thighs. (Anybody looking for a pair of size large, breathable, stockingfoot waders, max inseam 33 max girth 47? I'll make ya a deal!)

Right now though I have finally reached the point where I am deciding between really expensive waders that should (hopefully) wear well for many years (David has Simms Guide waders for between 400 and 700 dollars on his site!) or just buy a new pair of Cabelas or some other cheap brand every 1-2 years for 50 bucks. Not sure which way I'll go yet, but money is pretty tight and I did just pick up a new tube of Aquaseal. I am thinking of sending them in to Simms just to see what they would do with them. I'm positive that I have had some seam leaks over the years, and probably still do. On the other hand, nothing lasts forever, even if it does have a lifetime warranty. So, I have probably reached the point where they would tell me to take a hike. Still - they did costs hundreds of dollars...

I'm surprised that so many of you thought that what I had was abnormal- I really thought that everyone had lots of mini-repairs like that and that I was just now tipping over onto the side of beyond normal. As for those of you who said yours are worse ...

[beachbum]

Over 100 days in my Simms G-3's without a leak. It's not like I am gentle on them, just they seem to be very tough. Break down and get some good waders, Jon!

[Benny]

Jon, I'm in the same boat as Sasha & Bill, I've had my waders for quite awhile without any leaks. I do have quite a big puncture in one of the legs, caused by some barbed wire while up on the Lower Kings River from a few years back, needless to say the waders never leaked, even with the big ol puncture in the leg. Below is an image of the puncture on the lower portion of the left leg. I searched my photos to try and find out when I got these waders and it was around early 2006, or possibly even late 2005 before I had my digital camera.



Anyhow the Simms G3 waders have served me very well over the past few years. I don't fish as often as I used to, but when I do fish they are not treated gently, and they are still holding up really well. If I had to spend the money on a new pair Simms G3's, I would do it all over again, they are worth the extra cash.