• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

Wading trousers

Paul Bullinger

Paul Bullinger

Senior Member & Supporter
I wanted to ask Forum members their views on wading trousers (as opposed to chest waders)
I did search Forum History but the last post I could see about this subject was in 2017.
Does anyone use them and if so, are they any good? I have a pair of chest waders but I don't always need the fuller coverage they give.
Any advise would be gratefully received.
 
I was trying to find a decent set of waist waders for years, I couldn't find a set worth a carrot!
For the majority of my wading I wear aigle rubber thight waders which are excellent. I fold em over when walking between swims but when its cold in winter I might leave them up.
I've had a set of greys breathable waders and felt soled boots for a good 12 or more years now and they are also excellent. I found if I get hot in summer and am wearing my breathable chesties that rolling the top half of them down to the belt they are fine and are basically a waist wader.
I recently got a set of wychwood gorge breathable chesties and they will be fine to roll the top down if I get warm.
The only drawback with the chesties is having to roll them down further when you want a slash, but I think you still have to do that with most waist waders anyhow as the zip feature is usually a fold of material below it.
No faffing about with the aigle rubber thigh wades when you need a slash, they do give lots of freedom.

I did find that the better looking sets of waistwaders were more expensive than a good set of chesties which seemed crazy, so I gave up on them and got the extra set of wychwood Gorges which are a cracking buy.

Here's a link to a review of them on youtube...

 
I was considering getting the Patagonia wading trousers as I already have some of there packable chest waders which I rate highly if a little expensive though, I like the pack down size and think the trousers would be a good choice too, just put them inside your bag for longer walks 👍🏻
 
I'm also in the market for a pair of breathable stocking foot chesties (having only ever owned standard / neoprene chesties) - What size do you need for wading boots or are boots sized already created to accommodate the increased bulk of a stocking foot? (ie If I'm a size 12 - do I need to order size 13/14 boots etc)

Also does it vary by manufacturer - do you need to match manufacturer of waders and boots? Please advise - cheers
 
Hi Chris, I’m a size 9.5 in a adidas trainer a 10 in others, and have Patagonia packable waders which have a thinner boot sock that’s made of a type of rubber and have a pair of simms flyweight boots in a uk size ten that fit well with a pair of neoprene wading socks, I think as with many things it will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer? If you look on “sportfish” web site they have a useful guide for waders I got my boots from them and got my waders from “the sporting lodge” which have some good sales prices quite regularly. Mate
 
Chris Belcher said:
I'm also in the market for a pair of breathable stocking foot chesties (having only ever owned standard / neoprene chesties) - What size do you need for wading boots or are boots sized already created to accommodate the increased bulk of a stocking foot? (ie If I'm a size 12 - do I need to order size 13/14 boots etc)

Also does it vary by manufacturer - do you need to match manufacturer of waders and boots? Please advise - cheers
Click to expand...

I only have the one pair of greys wader boods atm, I got my normal size in them and they fit perfectly even if I wear a thick pair of socks.
I am looking to buy another set of boots to go with the new wychwoods I got. I have been taking a close look at the simms tributary boots, some people say their regular size fits fine, but, i've read that simms recommend a size up.
So if your buying online your kinda taking a chance that you may have to send them back for another size. If you can find a shop that stocks the boots you want it would be handy.
 
Ian Woods said:
I only have the one pair of greys wader boods atm, I got my normal size in them and they fit perfectly even if I wear a thick pair of socks.
I am looking to buy another set of boots to go with the new wychwoods I got. I have been taking a close look at the simms tributary boots, some people say their regular size fits fine, but, i've read that simms recommend a size up.
So if your buying online your kinda taking a chance that you may have to send them back for another size. If you can find a shop that stocks the boots you want it would be handy.
Click to expand...
Hi Ian, I’ve got the simms flyweight access boots in a uk size ten and normally take a size 9.5 in a adidas trainer if this helps 👍🏻 mate
 
Chris Belcher said:
I'm also in the market for a pair of breathable stocking foot chesties (having only ever owned standard / neoprene chesties) - What size do you need for wading boots or are boots sized already created to accommodate the increased bulk of a stocking foot? (ie If I'm a size 12 - do I need to order size 13/14 boots etc)

Also does it vary by manufacturer - do you need to match manufacturer of waders and boots? Please advise - cheers
Click to expand...
I’ve just had a look on the sportfish website and they have some good deals on with matched waders and boots mate
 
Bison are the cheapest I've found - £110 for chesties and boots! Will go a size up as advised - cheers
 
Just bought the 8 fans stocking foot waist waders budget friendly at £65 delivered can’t fault them there absolutely great for the money, paired them with some £13 Dunlop wellies with some holes drilled in which work well too
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5899.jpeg
    IMG_5899.jpeg
    311.3 KB · Views: 67
I’ve had a pair of Simms Goretex waist waders for over 15 years , still like new , wouldn't like to think what they cost now , but I’ve had my moneys worth , get what you pay for and all that .
 
I'm not a member, but Godalming AS have a rule that you can only wear waist waders NOT chesties on one of their venues. Advice from their page or Apollo Angling at Marsh Farm might not go amiss
 
Colin Dapp said:
I'm not a member, but Godalming AS have a rule that you can only wear waist waders NOT chesties on one of their venues. Advice from their page or Apollo Angling at Marsh Farm might not go amiss
Click to expand...

Wonder what they would say if you rolled the top of your chesties down to your waist 😁.

If i'm wearing chesties and its hot I often just slip the laccy suspenders off my shoulders and drop the top part down to my belt, so pretty much the same as wearing waisties.
 
Ian Woods said:
Wonder what they would say if you rolled the top of your chesties down to your waist 😁.

If i'm wearing chesties and its hot I often just slip the laccy suspenders off my shoulders and drop the top part down to my belt, so pretty much the same as wearing waisties.
Click to expand...
Apparently not allowed
 
If you buy stockingfoot breathables you can save money on boots by buying a cheap pair of walking boots from an outdoor shop.

I took my (Vision) waders to ‘Regatta’ (other stores are available) and then tried various cheap rubber soled boots to get the best fit. I ended up with a pair for about 30 quid. Size 12 I think (my shoes are 9).

Then I bored a few drain holes in the sides and they were really successful, comfortable boots. So much so that a guide in Alaska took them off me at the end of my week of salmon fishing.
 
Some good advise on here, so thanks to you all. I guess, as Kevin says, "you get what you pay for". However, the price point of some of the high end wading trousers are way beyond my means.
I have also realised the importance of breathability when it comes to waders (chest or waist) particularly during this hot spell.
Glasgow Angling have some on their Web Site and as I'm an Angling Trust member I get a discount, so may give them a go.
Thanks again for your comments & advise
 
Kevin Brown said:
I’ve had a pair of Simms Goretex waist waders for over 15 years , still like new , wouldn't like to think what they cost now , but I’ve had my moneys worth , get what you pay for and all that .
Click to expand...
Me too. Totally agree. My Simms Guide Chesties finally got retired as one stocking foot has a very slight leak , they lasted 25 years and probably used 60-70 days a year , at about £500 at the time were a big spend out , but 25years use makes it money well spent. I have them in the kit as a spare just in case. ButI have a set of Simms G3s now which are a bit better fit and if I get that amount of use out of them I’ll be well happy. Just have to hang them up to air after every trip and tech wash every now and again to clean them. Shame the Simms wading boots aren’t as good though. I’m on my 4th pair of cleated ones , trying Patagonia ones to see if they’re any better.
 
Simon Rolph said:
Me too. Totally agree. My Simms Guide Chesties finally got retired as one stocking foot has a very slight leak , they lasted 25 years and probably used 60-70 days a year , at about £500 at the time were a big spend out , but 25years use makes it money well spent. I have them in the kit as a spare just in case. ButI have a set of Simms G3s now which are a bit better fit and if I get that amount of use out of them I’ll be well happy. Just have to hang them up to air after every trip and tech wash every now and again to clean them. Shame the Simms wading boots aren’t as good though. I’m on my 4th pair of cleated ones , trying Patagonia ones to see if they’re any better.
Click to expand...

I think the boots will have a lot more stick than the actual waders, so I expect that is why they are outlasted by them 😉👍.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top