OK, folks, here is the deal. I'm thinking of getting a pair of waders to chase fish in places where I end up without my boat. Primarily I'm talking about places like the Dennison dam, Beavers Bend, and the Blue River. I'm also thinking that I would be using these waders primarily in cool weather. These waders will probably get used less than 10 times per year.

So here are the constraints:
-I have a Cabelas gift card for ~$100, so I'd like to get them there, if possible. ( Here is their wader selection. )
-I don't want to spend over $100 bucks on the waders (I'm sure your Simms waders are seven different kinds of nice, but I'm just not going to spend that kind of money)
-I'm probably not going to use them in water that is warmer than 75 degrees (yes, Fahrenheit)
-If I go with stockingfoot waders, what is a decent pair of wading boots going to cost me? Can you use something besides purpose built wading boots?

Let's try not to turn this into a knife fight, please.

Thanks in advance for your help.

One place to look for boots is Hook & Hackle I am fairly certain that Cabelas will have some moderately priced boots as well. Don't forget to look in the Bargain Cave!

Oh and, nothing other than breathable,even if you are going to be in water in the 70's.

Do breathables still keep you warm in water in the 40s and 50s?

The waders don't, but the clothes you wear under them do. A thin wicking synthetic base layer (Under Armor, Capilene, etc), Fleece pants, and two socks, again a thin liner then something like a Smart Wool.

To be warmer you need neoprene, but then you have just reduced their usability to about 4 days a year in Texas. I often will wade in my breathables in March for carp because the water is too cold to wet wade, but it's 75 or more outside. Try wearing a thick layer of neoprene or rubber in that!

Breathable all the way, then tweak what you are wearing under it.

So it's a layering thing. Got it.

When I moved to Texas I switched from neoprene to light weight breathable waders. I got them oversized so if I am in colder water or weather I can layer up underneath. You can find very acceptable wader boots for under $40 or even less on sale so keep your wader cost in the $50 or so range and you should be fine. Most any light weight wader should be fine. I do not think that paying a little extra for ones with a pocket is realy needed everything I need goes into my chest pack. Built in gravel cuffs are a real plus. If you can't get them the next best thing is to get the cuffs that slip over. If you can't do that get your boot a little over sized so you can wear a wool sock over your wader so any gravel/sand gets between the boot and sock and wears on the sock not the wader. Wader boots are sized differently than regular foot wear. They are sized taking in account foot size with a neoprene layer over the foot.

Thanks for the informative post, phlishop. So wader boots are best bought in person tried on with the waders themselves?

I own a pair of non-breathable waders and I wear them every time I take my tube out - even in the summer when I would rather not. You DEFINITELY want to get breathable waders.

Also, I'd really recommend stockingfoot, rather than boot-foot waders. Boot-foot waders rarely fit your feet well, and while that mainly speaks to comfort it certainly can have safety implications. I have heard that the new vibram soles on the Simms wading boots are excellent. Most folks will tell you that felt is the only way to go. Everyone has an opinion. I have felt boots and they're good on slick surfaces but nothing will keep you on your feet on rocks as slick as you'll find below Denison Dam.

I don't see how you get a decent pair of waders and boots for under $100, but I think you probably could do it for somewhere around $200.

Waders leak. Be prepared to fix 'em. That said, if you're going to use them 10 times a year or less, one pair of waders and boots could conceivably serve you for a lifetime.

I agree, stay with breathable. Academy has a couple of reasonably priced that are very serviceable. I've been using some from there for 6 years. Make sure they are large enough to layer clothes underneath, as others have stated. I recommend stocking foot,with built on neoprene booties, and have them on when you buy the wading boots. I also recommend felt sole boots,they don't slip like rubber soles. Many quality boots can be had for $40-$100 that will last for under many years. Another thing I use is the neoprene stretchy gravel guards over the tops of my wading boots. Start moderately priced and try for a while and then upgrade when you get a better feel for what you want.

Yes it is best to try the boots on with the waders you are buying. Felt soles will be disappearing over the next five years. It has been found that felt traps and transfers stuff from one body of water to another. A couple of the manufacturers have already quit making felt soles and most of the rest are well on the way to doing so.

Thanks for the great information, gentlemen. Please keep it coming.

Aubrey, welcome to the forum. I'll have to find an Academy and give them a look.

Is there a particular type or or kind of rubber sole that I should stay away from?

Not especially, I've just had better luck with felt especially on rock that is slick or mossy. Used it in NM, CO, TX & Alaska this year. Years past, when I was REALLY poor, I used glued on felt on old tennis shoes. Very serviceable, but nowhere the comfort of "real" wading shoes.

I looked at the Academy in Longview & what they had sucked it was a house brand that would probably be sold at K-mart if K-mart sold waders. Get up off that fat wallet & spend a couple hundred on some decent stuff, its money saved in the long run.

Breathables rock! Everything else will cause you to get sweat inside and that will make you cold in cool weather, and if it is hot out they will cause body temp to rise above recommended operating norms. Almost took a buddy to ER during September teal hunt and temps were only in mid to upper 70s. He was wearing neo.s for about 6 hours. Me I had breathables on for 8 just fine. Academy has store brand wading boots for $20. They are nothing special. Stay away from the felt. More and more states are passing regulation to ban them. They "can" transfer aquatic creatures form one area to another.