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[bill herian]

At -10 its time to face the reality that you need to get up and get the blood moving between flights. Regardless of wind, that's cold, no matter who you are.

[waterfowlman]

At -10 its time to face the reality that you need to get up and get the blood moving between flights. Regardless of wind, that's cold, no matter who you are.

At ten below zero, I'm gonna be under a down comforter with a warm piece of ass laying next to me....screw the ducks.

[Tomkat]

I believe in the life jacket.

I think mine is better than nothing, but maybe not much. I will try it out this summer at the lake.

[goodkarmarising]

At -10 its time to face the reality that you need to get up and get the blood moving between flights. Regardless of wind, that's cold, no matter who you are.

At ten below zero, I'm gonna be under a down comforter with a warm piece of ass laying next to me....screw the ducks.

There are times I'm warmer at -10 then at 30 degrees.

[Woody]

I believe in the life jacket.

I think mine is better than nothing, but maybe not much. I will try it out this summer at the lake.

That is a great Idea... I might do it in a pool instead tho. Little more experimental control.

Honestly, if you ask me... If you are going out on a boat for a duck hunt, buy a pair of neoprene chest waders.

After the experience, there is no amount of comfort that is worth the risk...

The non-neoprene waders I have are used for walk ins only, and chest versus waist makes a big difference. the chest waders provide a lot more flotation.

Sorry, I have become a little obsessive over this. A few years ago the only time a life jacket would find its way on me was on a pair of skis or a wake board... now it is mandatory if I am not shirtless and in shorts and the boat is stopped (even then I probably should)

[Botiz630]

I'm with Woody. I'll take neoprene waders and my neoprene wading jacket.

I've also got an onyx float coat like woody, I'll switch it up from time to time but one of them will be on me when I'm over water.

[Rick]

There are times I'm warmer at -10 then at 30 degrees.

Once had a guy in his 40s and wearing a quad parka tell me he'd hunted Alaska and the Northwest Territories and never been as cold as in my South Louisiana blind. He didn't want to quit for his buddy's sake, and I didn't know how cold he really was until we did shut it down, and we had to help him crawl out of the boat at the end of the ride in. Been a heck of a note to die of hypothermia without being wet on a sunny day in the South.

Once it creeps in, cold is cold. Best not to let it get a toe hold.

[assateague]

I'm with Woody. I'll take neoprene waders and my neoprene wading jacket.

I've also got an onyx float coat like woody, I'll switch it up from time to time but one of them will be on me when I'm over water.

I think it speaks volumes about the level of experience on this site that nobody has chimed in with the "waders will be the death of you, dragging you to the bottom" nonsense. Seriously. It's nice to be among people who know better, rather than people who, quite frankly, don't know a damn thing.

[Tomkat]

AGREE

There was a HUGE thread on the other site on this topic, remember?

[Woody]

AGREE

There was a HUGE thread on the other site on this topic, remember?

I remember that... lot of tards

[Tomkat]

It got ignorant, like asking which breed of dog is best, or what shotgun to use.

I am going swimming in my breathables this summer. I really dont like wearing neoprene.

[aunt betty]

The Cabelas brand breathables have lasted pretty good to a couple seasons of abuse. I love them.

A couple seasons in Kansas is 10 seasons anywhere else.

That is BS.
Tell me about how the sticker bushes are stickier, the barbed wire is barbier, rocks are rockier in Kansas.
Ever hunt in flooded timber?

What is the deal with everyone thinking they live where the environment is "the worst".
The Alaska guys probably have it worse. Been there and you can't even imagine rugged until you go there and do a little walking.

I hunt in Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. The weather ranges from REALLY nice to incredibly crappy with sideways snow etc.
It's MILD in those states.
Alaska? Lets here about it AK.

[Woody]

It got ignorant, like asking which breed of dog is best, or what shotgun to use.

I am going swimming in my breathables this summer. I really dont like wearing neoprene.

I actually find the 3.5mm neoprene comfortable (if it is cold)... I like the form fitting and not baggy feeling of them.
If you don't, well I can only say I hope your test proves the DNR wrong. Otherwise get use to neoprene.

[Tomkat]

It got ignorant, like asking which breed of dog is best, or what shotgun to use.

I am going swimming in my breathables this summer. I really dont like wearing neoprene.

I actually find the 3.5mm neoprene comfortable (if it is cold)... I like the form fitting and not baggy feeling of them.
If you don't, well I can only say I hope your test proves the DNR wrong. Otherwise get use to neoprene.

I had the 5mm kind. Maybe a thinner one would be different.

AB, I would venture to say there really is a lot of prickily, sticky growth here.

Sorry if that makes you angry. I never boasted about region to region vegatation conditions.

We do have very unpredictable weather here.

[aunt betty]

5mm neoprene waders from cabelas.
It's cold on the boat ride into the woods. It's cold in the woods because it's shady.
It's COLD!
I never get cold because I insist on the 5mm neoprene. Plus I keep a propane heater in my boat-blind.
Neoprene is good stuff and it floats.

In the early season I wear swimming trunks under my waders. Gradually layering up more n more as it gets colder.

The sticker bushes in Kansas...I wouldn't know. I DO know about the damned thorn trees in Illinois. They have long thorns and will go right thru your wader boot. They get a little bigger in Kansas I guess. Especially during basketball season.
The thorns in Texas kick Kansas's thorns asses.

[Tomkat]

In general, I am more of a cold blooded fella. I think 3mm will serve me better.

Remember, I dont get cold with breathables.

[Woody]

The Cabelas brand breathables have lasted pretty good to a couple seasons of abuse. I love them.

A couple seasons in Kansas is 10 seasons anywhere else.

That is BS.
Tell me about how the sticker bushes are stickier, the barbed wire is barbier, rocks are rockier in Kansas.
Ever hunt in flooded timber?

What is the deal with everyone thinking they live where the environment is "the worst".
The Alaska guys probably have it worse. Been there and you can't even imagine rugged until you go there and do a little walking.

I hunt in Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. The weather ranges from REALLY nice to incredibly crappy with sideways snow etc.
It's MILD in those states.
Alaska? Lets here about it AK.

Honestly, if you guys had to tag along with titz and my poor asses, you would see how rough, rough is.

We will often drag or carry Kayaks 1 to 5 miles to get to our holes.

In that distance we will go through: thorns, woods, thickets, barbed wire fences, up hills, down ravines, over logs, under branches, through swamps, on false (marsh grass root) ground, down streams, up creeks, in the snow (which actually helps with the kayaks), on ice, and every other terrain except a desert.

If you ever want to feel true accomplishment when a duck hits the water, put yourself through the ringer first and tag along with us.

BTW... I'm not bitching or anything, I wouldn't trade the way we hunt for anything. Done the guided thing and it is just not as fulfilling as DIY hunting... the bests spots are often where others are not willing to go.

[Woody]

It got ignorant, like asking which breed of dog is best, or what shotgun to use.

I am going swimming in my breathables this summer. I really dont like wearing neoprene.

I actually find the 3.5mm neoprene comfortable (if it is cold)... I like the form fitting and not baggy feeling of them.
If you don't, well I can only say I hope your test proves the DNR wrong. Otherwise get use to neoprene.

I had the 5mm kind. Maybe a thinner one would be different.

AB, I would venture to say there really is a lot of prickily, sticky growth here.

Sorry if that makes you angry. I never boasted about region to region vegatation conditions.

We do have very unpredictable weather here.

Ask titz about the different thicknesses... he just had this epiphany and is making the change.

There is no need for the 5 mm, other than they are a little more robust.
By then end of the late season in Michigan it is as cold as it can get and there still be open water... slightly above to below zero... and my legs are never the first thing to get cold and I always have used the 3.5 mm.

[jarbo03]

The Cabelas brand breathables have lasted pretty good to a couple seasons of abuse. I love them.

A couple seasons in Kansas is 10 seasons anywhere else.

That is BS.
Tell me about how the sticker bushes are stickier, the barbed wire is barbier, rocks are rockier in Kansas.
Ever hunt in flooded timber?

What is the deal with everyone thinking they live where the environment is "the worst".
The Alaska guys probably have it worse. Been there and you can't even imagine rugged until you go there and do a little walking.

I hunt in Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. The weather ranges from REALLY nice to incredibly crappy with sideways snow etc.
It's MILD in those states.
Alaska? Lets here about it AK.

Pull your panties out of your vag crack AB. Bill said that and doesn't live in Kansas.

Sent from a gnarly phone with a kickstand

[assateague]

Wait- I've always been a 5mm guy, and have never been cold, but you're saying the 3.5mm are just as warm? If so, I'll look into it. I wear a size 13 shoe, but do NOT wear the corresponding belly size in waders. The 5mm waders in size 13 are roughly as easy as wearing a carpet remnant around. If the 3.5mm are just as warm, I'll take any little help I can get in the "range of motion" category.

[Woody]

Betty, I was originally typing this in response to your PM, but after I was done I decided it might give TK an idea of what I am telling him. I hope you don't mind...

____________________________________

I would like to get everyone to wear neoprene waders, I would hate to hear about anyone on here going overboard wearing the other kinds...

It is quite literally the most terrifying thing imaginable, starting to drowned that is.
I am a very calm, cool and clear headed person under intense pressure more so then when not, and when it happened to me I was very aware of the circumstances and I knew I was done for, without some intervention.

It still gives me nightmares 2 years later, and I don't want anyone else to go through that or worse if there is not someone there to pull them to the surface.

If it wasn't for my dad and titz wearing neoprene chest waders and neoprene wader jackets we all would have died!

I was wearing a down jacket, waist high neoprene waders and no life jacket. After the accident, I was basically barely treading water and could not divert any energy from that because I was weighed down so much. I had gone under once in an effort to take the waders and coat off, without success. It took everything I had to swim back up and after a few seconds I slipped beneath the surface again for what I had assumed was the last time. My dad had realized I was in trouble and had turned from shore to come to my assistance, he grabbed me by the shirt collar and held me up while I slipped out of the down jacket. He then dragged me for 30 yards or so, while I caught my breath. He dragged me until he couldn't anymore, at that point he turned to me and said, "I am getting tired, I think you are going to have to help or neither of us are going to make it." I rolled over and told him, "to let go and save himself." I started doggy paddling (he let go when he realized I was okay), doggy paddling was all I could do... when trying to take of my waders earlier I had allowed them to fill with water and my pants were soaked. Doggy paddling allowed me to tread water and move forward at the same time. During the last 30 yards my dad swam on his back next to me encouraging me the whole way.

I will never forget the feelings I felt that day... In a 5 minute period I had felt fear like never before, gratitude like never before, happiness like never before, guilt like never before, regret like never before, father-son love like never before, and I am sure some I can't identify.

The whole thing was very enlightening... You don't want to have to learn the lesson first hand.

[Woody]

Wait- I've always been a 5mm guy, and have never been cold, but you're saying the 3.5mm are just as warm? If so, I'll look into it. I wear a size 13 shoe, but do NOT wear the corresponding belly size in waders. The 5mm waders in size 13 are roughly as easy as wearing a carpet remnant around. If the 3.5mm are just as warm, I'll take any little help I can get in the "range of motion" category.

They are not just as warm, but when cold (5-10 F) with a layer under neath of them they do the job fine... in most cases the 5 mm just make you sweat.

The 3.5 are so much more comfortable and provide greater range of motion.

[Botiz630]

Wait- I've always been a 5mm guy, and have never been cold, but you're saying the 3.5mm are just as warm? If so, I'll look into it. I wear a size 13 shoe, but do NOT wear the corresponding belly size in waders. The 5mm waders in size 13 are roughly as easy as wearing a carpet remnant around. If the 3.5mm are just as warm, I'll take any little help I can get in the "range of motion" category.

Jim that's exactly why I'm making the change. I've had several pairs of waders and they were all 5mm. I believed that I had to have that to stay warm in late season Michigan conditions. But, I'm tired of the baggy, bulky fit of the 5mm neoprene because like Woody said, we drag kayaks through the woods and hike a ways and it makes life more difficult than it needs to be. Also makes paddling in the kayak more cumbersome and I lose extra space I could use to store other stuff.

The big thing that changed my mind was watching woody hunt in 3.5mm right next to me and there be no appreciable difference between the comfort and warmth levels. And like Rick mentioned above, what's underneath is just as important. A good pair of wader paints will take care of you.

I'm buying a pair of 3.5mm waders this off season, I'm done toting around 8 yards of excessive material. I'll be happy to provide a full report of my first sub 5mm season.

[Tomkat]

You sons of bitches!!!

Now I have to fork out $200 to get a pair of neoprene waders


Powerful stuff Woody, you convinced me....problem is, I really love my breathables.

[Rick]

Again, this is coming from Louisiana experience. But after wearing out a couple pairs of Cabela's 5mms at the creases, I gave some thinner neoprenes a go and would have stuck with them if "breathables" hadn't worked out even better. The thinner neoprenes were both more comfortable and much longer wearing. Probably not quite so warm, but by that time I'd learned to do my laying out with an Army surplus sleeping pad between me and cold, wet ground that much more than made up the difference. (As would better layers under them.)

[Woody]

You sons of bitches!!!

Now I have to fork out $200 to get a pair of neoprene waders


Powerful stuff Woody, you convinced me....problem is, I really love my breathables.

As do I and when I get the chance at a walk in, I always wear them.

[assateague]

Wait- I've always been a 5mm guy, and have never been cold, but you're saying the 3.5mm are just as warm? If so, I'll look into it. I wear a size 13 shoe, but do NOT wear the corresponding belly size in waders. The 5mm waders in size 13 are roughly as easy as wearing a carpet remnant around. If the 3.5mm are just as warm, I'll take any little help I can get in the "range of motion" category.

Jim that's exactly why I'm making the change. I've had several pairs of waders and they were all 5mm. I believed that I had to have that to stay warm in late season Michigan conditions. But, I'm tired of the baggy, bulky fit of the 5mm neoprene because like Woody said, we drag kayaks through the woods and hike a ways and it makes life more difficult than it needs to be. Also makes paddling in the kayak more cumbersome and I lose extra space I could use to store other stuff.

The big thing that changed my mind was watching woody hunt in 3.5mm right next to me and there be no appreciable difference between the comfort and warmth levels. And like Rick mentioned above, what's underneath is just as important. A good pair of wader paints will take care of you.

I'm buying a pair of 3.5mm waders this off season, I'm done toting around 8 yards of excessive material. I'll be happy to provide a full report of my first sub 5mm season.

Ok, I'm going with it as well. I think in the last two seasons, the coldest it's been hunting was around 20 or so, if that. And since I just cut the boots off of mine (the waders were completely shot, so I went the Inda route with the boots), I have no choice but to get a new pair. 3.5mm they will be.

[Tomkat]

I am going that route. I will have to get a pair in fat boy size.

AT, how tall are you?

Size 13 feet reminds me of a certain brown dog.....with FLIPPERS

[assateague]

6', 205, size 13 shoes. A real pain in the ass when it comes to waders.

[Tomkat]

6', 205, size 13 shoes. A real pain in the ass when it comes to waders.

5' 11" here, size 10 shoes. I guess you done have THAT big of feet for your heigth.....