Been looking at Dan’s and Yoder’s. Does anyone have any opinions on these? My plan is to use em for some serious beaver trapping that involves putting on some miles so I guess my main concern is how well do these actually work as a hip wader? I can’t help but think that material wouldn’t be ideal to get wet but I’m hoping I’m wrong. Just looking for some thoughts from guys who have them.

PA,

I don't know if they make hip waders but IMO the absolute toughest chest wader out there is made by High & Dry. They have Kevlar on the knees. They have NEVER leaked.. WARNING. They are spendy! $$$$

I bought a pair of Frogg Toggs Bull Frogg hip boots 10 years ago at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Wasilla, Alaska. I hunted caribou and moose and fished several rivers. Hiked miles in them and am now trapping in them. They have the rubber boot lower and fabric uppers and have been exceptionally tough waders. I think they run around $150.

Does anyone who has Dan’s or Yoder’s know how waterproof they actually are? Like the material looks like it would soak and get super heavy if I actually used them as a hip boot.

I’ve had dans for 3 seasons. Absolutely waterproof and very tough. I can’t recommend them enough for what you want to use them for.

X2 on the Frogg Togg Bull Frog. The upper portion is incredibly thick canvas material. No briars here but we do have hawthorn, alders and some other thorny bush I'm not sure what it is. They don't have a single rip in them from walking through some of those.

I have Dans and my trapping partner has Yoders. His uppers are much more heavy duty. His are more like a Cordura material, like what the old Rocky cornstalker boots were made of. Mine are tough, I just wouldn't want to trudge daily through pickers with em

Maybe you can order them with different upper materials?

Being that you have one and your partner has the other, which would you end up recommending? I’ll be walking through some nasty stuff but will also be absolutely using them as a wader.

Gator Wader. has a 2 year warranty.

I've got both the hips and the chesties. 3 years with the hips sewn onto Dryshod boots and they're as tough as advertised. But hip boots are only glorified regular boots, you'll find that they won't get you much deeper without getting some water in, but if fitted properly, they come right up to the sack and not sloping around. With the chesties, get the shorter ranch boot. It can be a bloody pain in the arse getting your foot into the boot, the shorter boot would make it easier.
The water sploshes out when you exit the water.

I can't seem to find his model of waders on line. Maybe they changed them up? The Dans I see now are basically the same as the Yoders.

I've crawled through some nasty stuff with mine and never had an issue. I know coon hunters were em and they hold up.

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I believe it. But that’s why my biggest concern is more of them as an actual wader. Like I’ll be in water that goes all but to the top of them and I’m worried with the looks of that material. It doesn’t look all that waterproof and looks like it may soak, hold water in the material, and get heavy. Is that the case? Or do you not see that and they’re just a badass hip wader?

Dan's chest waders are pretty water proof. I ran them through barbwire, multiflora rose and other briars. After 4 years I had a very slight weeping leak around the knee area but all that did was just make that knee a tad damp.

Like I said before they are waterproof all the way to the top and do not get heavy in anyway. I had them made with the dryshod haymaker high boots. Best hip boots I’ve had. Super comfortable. Keep them out of the sun and weather when not wearing as any boot will start to crack early if left in the elements. I researched these for a long time and a lot of guys on this website swear by them. They are probably tired of saying it over and over again year after year. Still surprised 10 guys haven’t jumped in and agreed.

Yellowstone , where did you purchase those hip boots at ? .

I have Dan's and they get abused on a daily basis.

I ordered mine directly from dans so I could choose the boots I wanted and the material for the uppers

Never had a issue leaking or soaking through. Worn them on plenty of water lines and as my go to in the winter on the cat/marten/fisher line in deep snow.

What was the final decision? Dan’s?

Well, when mine kick the bucket, I’ll order from Dans again. Some guys roll the dice and go the cheap route, but how much often will they be replacing or repairing? Maybe a bulk box of Chinese ones might pay off? It’s nice not having to be careful when wading around or traversing through the ugly stuff to get to the water. The more custom fit helps keep the junk out too, they’re not like funnels for debris.