| Having a good pair of chest waders out in the | | | | than your shoe size. When considering the soles |
| swamps can make the difference between a | | | | on the boots, consider that cleated soles are |
| great trip and a miserable trip. Anyone who has | | | | durable general purpose soles. They are good on |
| pulled on a pair of bad waders knows that | | | | wet banks, mud and snow, but not so safe on |
| miserable feeling you get when you feel water | | | | rocks underwater. Felt soles are excellent on bare |
| trickling in, or the nasty chill of cold water in a | | | | rocks and concrete and under water, but very |
| fast-moving river. When you are looking for a pair | | | | slippery on wet grass, snow, and slimy surfaces. |
| of chest waders you are going to want to match | | | | Felt plus a cleated heel can be a pretty good |
| the wader to the most common activity. | | | | compromise. |
| You have essentially two choices in wader style... | | | | As far as we are concerned, there are only two |
| Stockingfoot and Boot Foot. A stocking foot | | | | materials to consider when buying a set of chest |
| chest wader is like a pair of kids pajamas. They | | | | waders. Breathable Membranes and Neoprene. |
| are completely waterproof, but the feet are like | | | | Breathable have advanced nicely since they were |
| stockings. You need to purchase a pair of | | | | introduced a few years ago. They are well suited |
| separate boots to protect the stocking feet. Boot | | | | for warm weather fishing, and great if you plan to |
| foot chest waders are just like they sound, a pair | | | | do a ton of walking in them. They can be very |
| of waders with a built-in boot. The main problem | | | | expensive, but prices have been coming down. |
| with boot foot waders is that they can be a bit | | | | Neoprene is by far the best material for cold |
| heavier and more clumsy when working through | | | | conditions. We use neoprene for all of our |
| water with a muck bottom. The other issue we | | | | waterfowl hunting and early spring fishing. |
| have noticed with boot foot waders is that they | | | | Neoprene chest waders can be susceptible to |
| tend to begin leaking where the top of the boot | | | | punctures, so you need to be very careful in |
| meets the leg of the wader. | | | | them. Repair kits are available for neoprene |
| When looking for wading boots to go over a pair | | | | waders and you would be wise to keep a kit |
| of stocking-foot waders, order one size larger | | | | on-hand when out in the field. |