Good thread. I'm in the same boat(without a boat)...actually I just bought a canoe...anyway...I am looking for some rare use waders as well. Appreciate all the info. I purchased the Simms Pursuit shoe with the new Vibram sole. They are pricey at $119 but if the keep me upright and from getting a 3rd hairline racture in my foot or leg or anywhere else then I'm happy. Also the can help cut down on invasives if cleaned between uses. Lastly they stick like fly paper are comfortable and have great base support. Not 100% but from what I hear neither are felt soles. Bought the Simms thin neoprene sock. I wear the neoprene then a cotton running sock then my Pursuit. Figure the cotton sock will reduce wear and tear on the neoprene sock.

To Recap:
-pricey
-great grip
-not fool proof
-environmentally sensitive
-i got a canoe

Grey

You can go from hip deep to chest deep in one small step. Get yourself a real pair of waders and stay dry and happy.

Lots of them have shoulder straps with opposing quick-release clips so you can turn the shoulder straps into a belt if you are wading knee deep on a warm day and want to roll down the chest portion to stay a bit cooler.

Chest waders are going to give you a lot more flexibility and options. Sort of like a 2-piece versus a 4-piece rod - the 4 piece goes every place the 2-piece does, and a whole bunch more too.

You've gotta love a forum post with an executive summary at the bottom. Congratulations on your watercraft purchase.

I've seen those pursuit shoes, but my issue with something like that is that you wouldn't be able to wear them both with waders and without, which would seem to reduce their usefulness.

Thanks, JM, that's what I was thinking, but it never hurts to have some reinforcement.

Isn't that what this place is all about? We're all a little co-dependent and need a little support now and again (Except for you, LHD...I know you're a rugged individualist who scoffs at The Man and the status quo ).

YES

Remember the sage words of Capt. Call to Newt "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it".

Nah, I'm codependent and in need of support, I just choose to get it from the crazies, y'know, SteveDoesDallas, LoneStarFarter, BeamMeUpScottyEvil, GreenTrash I mean Bass Buggin;

Thanks,

In my opinion the shoes would certainly fit a stocking foot. I wear a 9.5-10 and purchased the shoes in a size nine. Even after the neoprene sock and cotton sock there is still room(equivalent to 2mm). Not a ton of arch support which is fine because the bulkiness of a stockingfoot has more space in the shoe. Toe box is large. I think that most stockingfoot waders are 3mm thick in the foot. These shoes would accommodate that with little problem.

I would echo the advice given on breathables and stockingfoots. I have used sub $100 breathables and sub $200. Both worked for me, cheaper ones leaked faster, more expensive are more comfy and seem to breathe better. Heard good things about the new sticky rubber boots but I have lots of felt to wear out first.

Side question: Deckhand, which states have banned felts? I knew about New Zealand but am curious about our states.

Also, we've never shied from contrarian opinions on this board, here's one on felt/rubber ;-)
http://www.hookflyfishing.com/blog/2009/09/railroaded-into-felt-sole-ban-by.html

That's just unAmerican right there. I'd think as long as you didn't squat with your spurs on, you'd be fine. Now you've got me wondering where my old gelding that I broke to stand still while I cracked a bull whip off of him ended up. If I could find him, I wouldn't need waders, I could just fish from the saddle. I'd probably need a stripping basket though, the saddle horn would be a natural line catcher.

Whoa, mule. I'm casting.

I was gonna advise not squatting with your spurs on, but did some thinking. Unless you were wearing full-body waders and one of those French-looking air tanks on your back, you wouldn't be doing any squatting in the water.

Further advice: never drink downstream from the herd and never look straight up a bird.

This is my story, and I'm sticking to it! If you buy cheap breathable waders, then be prepared to fix them again and again. Years ago, I worked at Galyan's (before they were bought out by Dick's Sporting Goods) and I bought the least expensive pair of breathable Hodgmans they had. They held up nicely for a season, but the second season, I wound up trashing them because I was getting wet every time I went fishing. The seam would leak. The foot would leak... something leaked almost every time I went fishing.

Before I worked for Orvis (which I'm no longer employed by, and don't get paid for endorsing their products) I went to one of their TENT SALES at Dallas Market Hall. There should be one coming up REALLY SOON! I bought a refurbished pair of their top-end wader for $50.00. I don't know how much they sell their refurbs for now, but I never found a place where those waders had been patched. I wore them for YEARS AND YEARS with NO leaks.

While working at Orvis, I know first hand that they will take back almost anything with NO questions asked. Don't buy something at the TENT SALE and try to return it, though!!! My point is that if someone wore a pair of waders and didn't like the way they fit, they could take them back to the store, trade them in on a different size, and OFF YOU GO... no questions! What do they do with the perfectly good, returned wader? Sell it at the TENT SALE.

Check Craigslist. Check eBay. Check the Goodwill store. Find a pair of GOOD, name-brand, high-end waders and buy them. The money and aggrivation you save in the long run will add pleasure to your fishing trips down the road.

One more thing - USE A WADING STAFF AND A WADING BELT!!!!!!!

JR

It looks like perfect timing for you to put yourself into a good pair of Orvis breathable waders... The Warehouse Sale starts 06 November 2009.

http://www.orvis.com/warehousesales

Better take someone along to drag you out of there...

Verrrrrrry interesting.

Is there usually a decent selection of sizes at one of these warehouse events or is it primarily the stuff that is 60"x60"? I'm more of a 30x30 kind of feller.