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Drysuit VS Waders VS Wetsuit

I have been following this topic to help decide what I should get for water hunting :shrug:and decided that waders would work best for me. My question is:
1) What brand wader do you guys use? What model of that brand.
2) Do you have boot foot or stocking foot? Why did you choose the one you picked.
3) Are boot foot waders true to size? or do you need a size larger or smaller?
4) If you have stocking foot, do the stocking bunch up in your boot?
5) Where did you buy your waders?
I am asking these questions because I will have to order my waders as no stores around me have any in my size to try on.
Thanks everyone for your input. HH
 
I have LaCrosse 5mm for the cold water and air temps, Hodgeman 3m for warmer early spring temps, ProLine breathable waders for early to late summer, a shortie and long wet suits for the times I want to get wet for over a couple of summer hours. All my waders have boot foot with cleats...I do not want to cross contaminate the ponds I detect in with anything that might cling onto the felt soles. I do not want to put on a second "shoe" as is the case with stocking foot waders. I have owned Simms, LLBean and Orvis breathables. Most waders have lasted about 600-800 hours of detecting with leak repairs. You will need to learn how to find and repair leaks.

Right now I have found the LaCrosse, ProLine, and Hodgeman models that are cut high enough, come tight under my arm pits with bibs in front and rear, are best for me. Some waders are cut shorter and are straight across the front, back and under arms. They tend to let ocean splash get me wetter the the higher bib cut. The boots I have bought did run true to size - I use 12 for summer and 13 for winter - room for extra socks. I stayed away from the rubber and tri-laminated waders as they are heavy and not as flexible as other materials.

Notes:
The "breathable" waders do not "breath" when under water.
Neoprene waders are easier to find and repair leaks in. You will sweat more in the neoprene waders.
You will sweat inside the waders, up to a couple of quarts, depending on your amount of effort spent in digging. This has been misinterpreted as a "LEAK", it is not!

I also have a 1.5m neoprene jacket with zipper front that I wear OVER the waders to keep the ocean spray / splash from getting me wet in the colder months. I bought the largest I could find - a XXL and it is very tight over the winter 5m wanders. With a bit of tugging, it will stretch and it works well, plus it adds a bit of warmth. I bought the short sleeve model so I can put my gauntlet gloves on then the jacket to keep my arms and hands dry. It is 100% especially if you raise your elbow above your shoulder, water will find a way in.

As for source: LLBean, Orvis, Cabelas, Bass Pro, Dicks and eBay. (Kmart several years ago.) I have made purchased in store and OnLine and from ma and pop shops; it I needed a pair and they fit and felt good...I bought them.

I think this covers all your questions, if not just ask another.
 
WW covered it very well, all I can add. I go light weight waders for all seasons, one set of boot foot for extreme cold waters, and one set of stocking foot for cool waters. Since all my drysuits are light weight also, I buy military type under garments cheap on ebay to make up the difference in the wader/drysuit thickness.
 
WW & OBN,
I was thinking something along this line:
Full 5 mm neoprene Rocky Men's Waterfowler Mudsox Neoprene Chest Wader with lug boots 800 grams of Thinsulate Ultra insulation (boot only)
I already have a military Gortex waterproof jacket I can use when in lakes or rivers with small/no waves
3mm Men's NeoSport XSPAN Wetsuit Jacket - Front Zip for ocean waves conditions
I have TON's of military style Polly pro underwear from my AF days for the really cold days.
BEMAC FULL LENGTH INSULATED GAUNTLETS.
You guys are great:thumbup: I really like all the videos and appreciate your wealth of knowledge when it comes to water hunting. With a CTX3030 and a Garrett Infinium in my arsenal I feel I am wasting a lot of hunting opportunities if I don't start hitting the water deeper than knee deep in the summer.
 
Those boots are going to be heavy, try around 200 or less and just get some wool soxs and the neoprene soxs...when I first started I got the RedHead boot waders 1000 thinsulation...bad choice, way to heavy to walking the beach, and hunt wetsand, then in the water was not to bad but still far to heavy for me....because I have to walk sometimes upto a mile to get to my location.
 
Take a look at the Ansell NEOX 31" gauntlet gloves...unless you can get the ORANGE Bemac. The green ones are much stiffer. OR make a pair of the ATLAS 282 into a gauntlet glove. (see OBN's photo - bottom blue glove)
I use the 1000gram Bootfoot on 5m LaCrosse and the ARE VERY HEAVY. but my longest walk from car to water is less than 25 yards. Once in the water I do not feel much of a difference between the 1000gr a a pair of 200gr boots.
I think the 3m jacket might be a bit much over the 5m waders. Even at 32F in 37F water I get too warm when digging with the 1.5m jacket I have. The reason is the neoprene does not breath and you really stay very toasty with the jacket.
Only my thoughts I have found over the almost 30 years in the water what I have works best. But I do change improve - for example I have a pair of the Atlas 282 coming in next week and I will make a custom pair of gauntlet gloves...OBN and cupajoe made me do it. I hope my results are as good as theirs.
 
I have been following the conversation on gloves also. I like how OBN made his gloves, but I am not confident in my ability to make some myself. I would probably glue my hand to my forehead or something crazy like that.
 
I would probably glue my hand to my forehead or something crazy like that.
Click to expand...
One thing for sure my right hand had as much Aquaseal on it as the gloves. Next time I'll wear a pair of rubber gloves, I learned a lot this time and may video the next...

One thing about the Atlas Gloves without the sleeves, they are perfect if you hunt the wetsand during the winter, and the fact you can slip another set under on the XXL and still pick up stuff, that is a dream come true for winter beach hunters.
 
I could use some of your right hand Aquaseal, I will video you if you want to come to Cape Cod and glue my set together.

I hate to do something like put the two parts together the FIRST time, it is always easier the second time around. My 282's should be here Friday. I still have to get the sleeves, the ones I have are pretty well shot - the seams are all leaking. Thanks for the rubber glove trick while using the Aquaseal.

I am looking forward to wearing the 282 gloves in the 39F water for 4 hours.
 
WW & OBN, I figured if you guys say the heavier waders are too hot up where you hunt then they really would be too hot here in South Carolina. So I ended up ordering two different waders from Academy Sports. The Game Winner Men's Sportsman 400 Neoprene Boot-Foot Waders 3 mm 85% neoprene 15% polyester and 400 grams of Thinsulate Ultra insulation within the boots, and the Magellan Outdoors Men's Neoprene Boot-Foot Waders 85% neoprene 15% polyester construction and 200 grams of Thinsulate insulation within the rubber boots. I figured I'll either keep the one I like best and take the other back or just keep both so I have a backup if I like them both.
 
I know the last time it was about 74 degrees I sweated so much in my waders, I thought I had a leak. That was with under armor and other clothes because the water is still pretty cold. I can't imagine walking as far as some members do in their waders before hitting the water.
 
The Magellan Outdoors Neoprene Boot-Foot Waders came in today. I was worried the boots would not fit when I ordered them. Ha, the boots were the only part that did fit. They were like wearing a second skin. There would be no possibility of wearing a jacket or hoodie under them. The Game Winner Sportsman 400 Neoprene Boot-Foot Waders have not come in yet. Hopefully they will be a little larger.
 
Dry suit >>> Viking dry suit & dry gloves = best investment .. .. spent thousands of hours in the water

no problems ... warm and dry ..,



win12man
 
Mud my man! I'm afraid you're going to have to do some homework. I'm facing some of the same decisions as you with a different scenario and have decided to approach it like I did when I started commuting to work by bike year-round in upstate NY. I eased into it, kept a log of temps and clothes worn and in a few months knew what to put on in the morning to keep from freezing simply by checking the air temp and referring to my data.

You've got a unique set of circumstances and eventually you'll be the expert for your neck of the woods. In the meantime, I'd start accumulating gear from EBay and Craig's List and keeping data on water and air temps.

Good luck and keep us posted.
Mac
 
I used a DUI TLS 350 Dry suit and spent 1997 and 1998 found over 350 rings.
Never felt insecure about flipping over when over my waist in water...Never!
I Loved wearing this Dry suit. Any other material for a dry suit, cordura, 50/50, crushed
neoprene is cumbersome, stiff and bulky.
Boy I miss the rubber boots they used to have.
 
I have all 3

I use rubber waders when I am doing a very calm see or lake.
Drysuit in the winter months when I want to go deeper.
Then I have 2 wetsuits, a 3mm full length for autumn and spring and a shorty wetsuit for the lovely summer months.


I do get condensation on the inside of my drysuit, I come out a little damp but not wet.
I do wear a cotton tracksuit. The body does breath and it will condense on the cooler drysuit inner fabric.
 
Hi Waterhunters
Drysuit, all the time.
In the 20 years off waterhunting all over Europe, trilaminated front zipper drysuit is the suit for a serious water hunter.
On a trip, we allway's carry 2 suits each, like 2 detectors and scoops.
We use undersuits and socks from fourth element for the colder time off year, realy the best you can get !
Regarts from Holland
Gerrit
 
WW & OBN, boy were you right. I decided on the Magellan Outdoors Mag2 Breathable Stocking-Foot Waders and neoprene wading boots. SCShooter and I made the 2.5 hour trip to the beach and I tried out the waders. Even though these waders are light weigh, I still had to keep going into the water to keep myself cool. I am glad I listened to you and did not get the heavier waders. I would have died from the heat. Hunted for about 6 hours total (through low tide) and we only found a hand full of clad and three hot wheels cars. We hunted Isle of Palms and Folly Beach. Have to admit hunting in the surf was a little more challenging than I thought it would be. Didn't find much but had a great time.
 
I am glad you are pleased with your purchase. Just be careful when in the water.
The following is not meant to scare you, but to inform you as to what can and does happen.
I would suggest that:
When the weather is much nicer, warm and sunny, you put your metal detecting gear on the beach, go back into waist deep water and "fall in" with a buddy at your side. Let the waders fill so you will have the sensation of what can happen. I tried it in a pool before a try at the beach. It could be scary if you were to fall in unintentionally and never had the experience. Perhaps keeping you scoop with you to help you get back up would be a good idea that has been recommended to me. Of course you will need to hang the waders up with the feet pointing skyward to dry out.
While detecting in the water you must be aware of the surface conditions. A rouge wave can hit at anytime and go completely over your head. Another point you need to watch for are the holes you or a buddy might have dug and you step into. It can through you off balance. Please just be careful while detecting in the water. Stay safe!
 
Glad you like the lites, the only way to go, just dress as needed, I use mine in the summer also for the wetsand only, I just drop the straps to the belt and wrap them around my waist. That way I don't have to worry about washing off the salt and sand when finished, plus a big help when the black flies are buzzing..
Get yourself a light weight inflatable PFD, manual inflate..cost about 100.oo and you may never need it but good to have the insurance. And use the wading belt or a good hunting pouch with belt.
And Waterwalker is correct, I have stepped into some of my own holes and lost my phone because of the unexpected dip. Just be aware of your conditions...like he said. Be Safe joe

WW I am coming your way, what part of Connecticut are you located. End of the month...time line
 
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