do they make big game hunter friendly waders?

[boom]

i've crossed some deep water. typically it is warm enough to get jiggy with it and do it almost naked..or naked.

what about winter stuff? anyone ever wear some flyfishing waders for hunting? they cant be light.. hmm. just spitballing here.

 

[Ross]

Wiggys makes an ultralight set for crossings weigh next to nothing but they are not designed for walks just wadings

 

[wyodan]

The Wiggy's are handy to have. Mine leak, but I am going to try going over them with some seam sealer to see if that can cure the problem. Even though they leak, they can get you through some deep water and keep you relatively dry.

 

[TEmbry]

Ill be watching this keenly. Can't wait to find a good lightweight option for crossing waist high or higher streams.

 

[Vance in AK]

Some of the more expensive breathable waders from Simms or the like are fairly light. Rub is you need some kind of boot over the neoprene bootie.

these are fairly inexpensive ($200?) and are what I use for fly fishing. 38oz.
http://www.simmsfishing.com/shop/waders/freestone-stockingfoot.html
I know Larry Bartlett wears Simms waders on a lot of his river hunts. Cabelas was selling a hunting "pant" that was a sit of waist high waders with normal belt loops, pockets, waterproof zipper, breathable, with tough construction for brush. Don't know if they still do & I have never used them.

 

[5MilesBack]

Can't wait to find a good lightweight option for crossing waist high or higher streams.

For water that deep I'd be using my flyfishing waders and stashing them on the other side for the return trip. There is one place with a stream of about 12-18" deep water that I have just thrown heavyweight trash bags over my boots and held them as high as they'd go and then make a dash across. Then stash for the return trip. Ya, they can leak, that's why I move quickly. Beats taking my boots and socks off to cross.

 

[SHTF]

Boom see Stids Post here http://www.rokslide.com/forums/show...de-in-the-mountains-one-man%92s-sheep-journey Scroll down to post #5 He talks about this in detail. Id consider this man a Pro on this Subject. Also talk with Luke and Becca. I know they have tested out a lot of this kind of gear. As they are always crossing Rivers and Streams in their Videos. =-)

 

[Becca]

Boom see Stids Post here http://www.rokslide.com/forums/show...de-in-the-mountains-one-man%92s-sheep-journey Scroll down to post #5 He talks about this in detail. Id consider this man a Pro on this Subject. Also talk with Luke and Becca. I know they have tested out a lot of this kind of gear. As they are always crossing Rivers and Streams in their Videos. =-)

We have a set of the lightweight wiggys waders and a couple sets of the heavier duty Neo overshoes. Neos are way more durable, and even have a vibram sole but they are heavy. Not something we have ever hauled on a backpacking trip, and I doubt we will anytime soon. The wiggys are much lighter and will get the job done, but they are def prone to leakage and holes with anything but the most limited use.

We have taken to wearing quick drain saloman hiking shoes. On mountain hunts we wear our hiking boots and just swap into trail runners for deep creek crossings, but in fact we do most of our summer backpacking in the trail runners exclusively. Your socks get wet, but they dry out quickly as long as you aren't hiking miles through swamps...which we sometimes also do If only crossing the creek and then swapping to boots I sometimes forgo the socks, but if you hike any distance in damp trail runners with no socks you will get blisters, so the majority of the time I hike all day in wet/damp socks and trail runners and then have a dry pair of socks to wear in the evening.

 

[Ray]

I have done a lot of swamp walk up duck jump shooting as well as long distance river hiking for salmon. So I became used to all day activity in chest waders.

I have conducted a few rainy, creek crossing, snowy caribou hunts in dry plus waist high waders and Korker boots. About the lightest material that will stand up to AK brush. Not actually breathable either.

If you are in waist deep water in cold weather, you are going to want to stay dry. There are a few cheap nylon waders you can use from cabelas. I do not know what they weigh.

 

[Bob]

Would these work for POW, Alaska? My hunt is August & September...

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Foot...=SBC;MMcat104797980;cat104674680;cat104108580

 

[Vance in AK]

Here are the Cabela's "wader jeans" I was referring to. Never seen a pair in person.