It seems like I end up buying new waders every two or three years. Year one they are pretty good but end up getting punctured. I repair the holes but eventually there are so many leaks that I end up getting soaked (like today 31 degree air temp).

So my question is - Do you guys just plan on getting new waders every year or two in order to stay dry and chalk it up as an expense (like gas) or do you just try to keep patching them and tolerate some moisture?

Thanks.

Brian

I consider myself lucky to get 2 years out of a pair. I usually buy two at a time in an attempt to always have a good pair.

My solution is just live in the desert. No water, no holes in waders! Lol

We have very little open water to trap beaver in this time of the year. Two foot plus of ice would be much more common. I had it in my head WI had winters.

Yep. two years. Three if I'm lucky.

Lacrosse last 5 years plus for me if I hang them in basement but they will have a patch or two they get worn everyday of season

Same here 2 years tops. Had a beaver stick pop a hole in mine today. Eric

Two years max. I save the Cabela's bucks to offset the cost of purchasing a pair every two years.

Cost of doing business.

Neoprene wader especially aren’t made to hold up like they used to. Lucky to get 10 good days trapping out of them before the seams give out now.

yup...2-3 years, I buy a new pair and keep em handy

I get one year out of a pair. fall and spring season. I use last year's pair to scout for the new fall season, I want to find as many surprises with the old pair as possible.
I carry two pair in the truck one to wear one for spare. Along with a pair of stocking foot waders that I can wear underneath the outer neoprene waders if they get too damaged.
By the time spring season is ending they are usually damaged/leaking to the point that I wear the two pair.

Sorry guys your talking chest waders I was talking hip boots my apologies .. Jon

lacrosse bought a pair last year ,they are costly but they say that they last, so far they are the tuffs wader ive own

Lacrosse big cheif hip boots and swamp tuff waders costly but last.

Even with a new pair I tend to fill up the big hole in the top

Some are better then others. I tend to go for comfort as I age. White river socking foot are pretty tough and cheap. I like Simms but there is a 6:1,cost ratio on pairs purchased. I have conditioned myself to ignore “a little wet”.
If’n u dumb, u gots ta b tuff!

When I was duck hunting we hunted flooded woods, beaver ponds and lakes. You could punch a hole in a pair without trying in those places.

Patched until they had more patches/shoe goo than neoprene showing

They make cordura ones I think that are more puncture resistant. But they were more $$ up front too

BTW, we bought 90% of ours at end of season clearance sales

I hate this topic but it's true!!!!

You'd think if you spent a few hundred dollars on anything clothing-related, not the least of which made from rubber substantially, that it would last 10-12 or more years.

As of now I've had multiple pairs of Lacrosse hip waders. Only my current pair lasted long than ONE year without falling apart. To their credit, they replaced every single one so far (four I think) and paid for shipping both ways, and sent them all out in advance of receiving back the old pair (amazing support, really good). They even sent me some of that rubber spray for free twice! My current pair I think is 3 years old. I will say the trappers line (more expensive and current pair) has lasted me longer than the others.

Pondering: Should I get hip waders next time or full waders? Regardless, I plan for them to be Lacrosse due solely to their caring support. Proof in the pudding and nothing else left to be said there.

Recently I put some glue on one of the heels that started leaking because it started to separate from the boot. I haven't put it into use it but it looks ok.

Here is one secret you can apply: GOOP MARINE VERSION


They make a marine version. It's very good in my experience. Will patch all kinds of holes and hold even on the bottom of shoes.

TIP: Although not hip waders, this company Rogers buys Lacrosse boots by the semi load they told me last year. So they do a special deal. They buy in bulk and resell.

Currently (I bought these last year for $109) the 18" Lacrosse boots are $99!!!! I just looked them up.

Unless I'm missing something, these are the ones I got myself. I'll put on Trappers Report (you can post there too, please do). Here: https://www.trappersreport.com/

I always keep 2 pair so I can have a dry pair when I repair the leaking ones. Poking holes in beaver swamps is a given, I look at keeping 2 pair as an expense, just like gas or anything else needed to do the job.