this
with layers underneath

So long as I pick my days so that the wind is under 5 miles per hour and the Sun is out all day, I can tolerate air and water temperatures down into the 50s without waders. But I usually don't wade in the cold water for more than 5 minutes at a time. I use up to two layers of dark color nylon or polyester pants and socks that don't absorb water with open River sandals which drain and dry quickly and stay comfortable from the warm sun. Works for me so long as my feet are in a place where they are not marinating in water and can be at least partially hit by the sun's rays.

Otherwise, if it's overcast, windy, or colder, I use the low cost $60 breathable stockingfoot waders from either Academy or Amazon, at least one size bigger to allow for wool socks. I find the bulby neoprene feet fit well with one or two size bigger Crocs shoes, which are quick on and off compared to lace up wading shoes. For me, the Crocs are good enough for dry land walking, but too slippery should I need to do extensive Rocky River wading.

Hope this helps.

thats a good idea
i cannot stand lacing my boots
& they are good ones

Crocs are lighter on someone's feet, float if they fall overboard, don't mildew or drain water in your vehicle since they shake off and dry quickly, easy to clean since mud barely sticks, and are less likely to catch a lure treble hook than a shoelace, plus better comfort than lace up wading shoes- are some advantages I've discovered over the years. They can be custom tightened with a tied piece of paracord left at the arch area, if they are too loose. Ross and other discount places sometimes carry them at 30% of Academy's prices. Of course they are not as good as purposely designed wading shoes, if someone is doing lots of wading in Slippery areas.

I'm the wader king.. I rarely kayak without waders. Have worn them in 90 degree temps, have worn them when the temps never got above 29 degrees. For me it all about comfort of being in a kayak for 10 hour days, rain or shine, wind, or storm, anywhere.




My first kayak was a Perception Illusion. The design of kayak was what impressed me the most about it... 27 inch beam, low profile, paddled like a dream.. which meant it wasn't nearly as affected by wind as other sit on top kayaks. The downside was that you sat below the water line, making even less wind profile, and the seat was constantly filled with water.. no drainage until there was over a inch in seat. Seat pads would help raise you up but you lose a lot of stability in rough conditions. Had to find a way to waterproof my azz. Not only did the waders do that, but they kept mosquitoes and no seeums off me. In the hottest months of the year in the Everglades, I would often get an itchy rash from the hydroids that seemed to show up every summer. Another plus was that during summer rain storms, if you got soaked and it was windy, you were going to be cold until you dried up and the temps got back up. Waders were the lessor of all evils. Never cold, never had chiggers, or no seeums, or mosquito bites to worry about, never had to go to shore and change into rain gear... and it even kept the sun off.

Started out with booted neoprene waders, have been using orvis breathable stocking foot waders with relief zipper for the last 8. Will never buy another set of waders that don't have the zipper. The older you get, the more you'll use it. I don't stand in my narrow beamed kayaks so I gotta have a way to whizz from the sitting position. Going to land is not an option as the places I fish I never want to get out of my kayak. Now I did think the booted waders were the way to go until I tried the stocking foot. I never felt comfortable wearing wading boots over stocking foot, especially in the winter time when you'd be wearing a couple of pairs of wool socks. So I just don't wear boots and carry my crocks in kayak if I ever get stranded and need to walk out. Throw in some chemical warmers in the stocking feet, some in the hand warmer pockets of waders, and with a little paddling you can overheat in the coldest conditions. With experience you can adjust the amount of warmers to make life really comfortable.

Now they do get hot in the summer time, but I can pour water on outside of waders and they'll cool right off. I can pull the chest area of waders down too, as long as I've got the waist belt on, you're not going to have water pouring in like Niagra Falls if you go over. Now it might be different if you're fly fishing a cold fast running river and try to stand up facing upstream... I doubt the waders would fill even like that if you had the chest strap and waist strap properly adjusted.

I don't like fish slime all over my fishing clothes... I like to be able to take my waders off, and go straight to the club!

Note: Orvis doesn't make the waders I bought 8 years ago... they must have had problems keeping them waterproof. I don't care, if I fall in water I'm out and back in kayak in 10 seconds. Might take on some water that trickles down but its not going to be enough to end my day.

May be pulling the trigger on one of these soon.

https://www.orvis.com/p/men-s-pro-zipper-waders/20n1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urrQUx9KALk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFnptxeba4U

Here is the best option if you are the type that wear covid masks. Completely seals around neck and wrists... been there done that with the two piece systems and its not for me.

https://kokatat.com/activity/kayak-fishing/

Peeing from the sitting position has never been a problem for me because I have to use oversized waders. I am thin and tall and have to buy a wader size 13 shoe minimum, which means a lot of extra material space at the chest area. That extra material space pulls down low enough to use a wide mouth pee bottle with watertight cap held outside the waders, if I'm far from shore. Astronaut underwear can also be used as a backup, for bumpy conditions or other issues.

I tried taking a leak while sitting down in kayak with high chest waders in rough conditions on Palestine 8 years ago. I was going to have to loosen straps on pfd, slide wader straps off my sholders, lower chest waders ... Was thinking at the time how stupid it would be if I tipped over and drowned while trying to take a leak.. to make a long story short.. I couldn't see what I was doing with bulky Kokatat pfd and trying to keep waders down low enough and ended up whizzing into unzipped pocket where I keep my camera instead of cup that was just below it.. Fried my camera in pizz... the display on the back looked like some kind of leveling device. Decided that day to bite the bullet and get zippered waders.

Hahahahhahahaba!!!! Thats funny! Most waiders shoulder straps are opposite so they can clip together. I roll them down and pee over the side.

I wear waders (SIMMS) when I kayak during the colder months. Mine are the Headwaters because they are light and cheap. When salt water fishing, I like to get out and wade. Something special about wading. Heck, I do this when I take the boat out. Anyway, I suggest buying a good pair because they will last longer, specifically if you take care of them.

I wear Muck Boots but you need to go two sizes bigger.

I wear breathable, stockingfoot waders with the appropriate amount of layering underneath. Make sure to wear the belt. Whether you go with waders or not it's also important to not wear cotton as it's a poor insulator when wet and takes a long time to dry. Stick to wool or synthetic fabrics (such as fleece) when dressing for kayaking.

i use breathable waders only when wading. kayak i just use

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Frogg-To...ip-Wader-Cleated/104784118?selected=true