hi all.
i know many of you have used various types of waders when canoeing in cold waters.
i have been searching for a inexpensive option to have onhand in case i decide i need them.
they would see little use but i can see them being very handy under certain conditions.
i am looking at two different brands of wading pants. they are not the typical knee high or waist high leggings, but actual full pants.
the pants idea seems more practical to me compared to just a pair of socks or waist high wading leggings for example. but i would love to hear peoples thoughts on the pros and cons seeing as i have never really used them.
i found the Kylebooker and 8Fans brands online for under 100 u.s.
thx for any input. especially if you have any experience with either of these two brands.

Rick, I use hip waders canoeing in shoulder seasons. I only pull the leggings up while exiting or entering the canoe. While portaging or paddling I roll the leggings down onto the boot portion. This helps prevent sweating and allows me to easily kick the boot off should I capsize.

Hip waders allow me to enter and exit in relatively deep water without getting my feet wet but I would be much too warm and my feet would become wet from sweat if I did not roll them down while traveling. Unless you intend to spend a lot of time in frigid water I feel that the wader pants may be too warm and present a safety hazard. I have used dry suits and been comfortable when the conditions required.

John

Tomcat: "Rick, I use hip waders canoeing in shoulder seasons. I only pull the leggings up while exiting or entering the canoe. While portaging or paddling I roll the leggings down onto the boot portion. This helps prevent sweating and allows me to easily kick the boot off should I capsize.


Hip waders allow me to enter and exit in relatively deep water without getting my feet wet but I would be much too warm and my feet would become wet from sweat if I did not roll them down while traveling. Unless you intend to spend a lot of time in frigid water I feel that the wader pants may be too warm and present a safety hazard. I have used dry suits and been comfortable when the conditions required.


John"

great point thx.

The waist waders "sound" like a great idea, however they will heat up darn quick as the day progresses. Combined with sweat, and your lower body will be hot and wet. This from personal experience. I remedied the situation by making my Cabela's waist waders into super high rise wading socks. Having just looked at the kylebooker web site, I see they have what I made in the form of their Breathable Stocking Foot Hip Waders. As mentioned by TC, I roll the legging down or up accordingly. And, if your rain coat is long you don't need to bring rain pants... or better yet (from experience) make either a rain kilt or make a pair of rain shorts by cutting the legs off an inexpensive pair of rain pants. The kylebrooker also has triple reinforced knee sections so will be great in camp. My Cabela's pair actually has a 3 mm neoprene layer on the knee sections. GREAT for kneeling in camp.

Big fan of my hip waders for all the reasons mentioned above. Also easy to turn inside-out and dry if (when) you do eventually flood them.

A couple more observations about neoprene sock style waders. As you will likely only use them during the shoulder months, turn them inside out in camp to dry and keep them in your tent at night or they may freeze if temperatures dip low. They are not mukluks, take care of the neoprene and wear them in a shoe or boot. Sand will wear them from the inside out so keep your feet clean. When they fail, buy some Randy Sun waterproof socks (as liners) to get a couple more years out of them.

My paddle partners and I depend on fake "hippies" when we travel to the far north or during the spring and fall months. I am on my third pair. The first, the original Chotta's and the last two Cabela's cut down. I would not hesitate to try the kylebooker, however encourage you to create a sleeve around the tops of the boot and install a bungee cord so you can cinch them tight to your thigh when necessary. The elastic band WILL keep the inside of the boot/sock dry.... if you are quick to step up and out of the water.

update.....i ended up buying two things......the kylebooker hip waders and a pair of knee high waterproof socks.
they both look quite well made. certainly well enough for my type of usage.
in May i will be trying both to see how they work out.
the socks fit in my hiking shoes so thats a plus. the hip wader feet do not. which is what i assumed would be the case as they are 4mm.
so i will need another pair of shoes or boots that will fit over the waders socks before i can try them out.
i do have one pair of really nice gortex and leather boots that are a bit too big for me so i may give them a whirl.
the only problem is that they are fairly big, bulky, and heavy. so i wouldnt want to be doing more than a short trip with maybe one short portage.
but if i like the waders i dont mind picking up another pair of hikers that will fit them.
i actually am looking forward to using the waders for shore fishing and maybe even in a river etc.
i will let you know how the test goes. lol