Need hip wader advice for BC goat hunt

[Dave C.]

Hey guys,
Headed to BC for goat hunt this fall and outfitter says there could be a fair amount of walking in water up creeks and rivers from where we can no longer travel by boat up the valleys where we might be looking for a goat or have one spotted to go after. How much walking we'll actually be doing he can't say--just depends on where the goats are, etc. He recommended having some hip waders. I have a pair of Lacrosse hip waders that are durable but heavy canvas. Don't really want to lug those around all day in my pack. Was considering either the Wiggy's or the Neos.
http://www.lathropandsons.com/wiggys-waders.html
http://www.overshoesneos.com/Neos_River Trekker_Overshoe,_full_length_gaiter.html
The Neos are also pretty heavy but would be simpler to take on and off. Concerned about the durability of the Wiggy's though. Anybody have any experience with these and have any recs?
I know about the plastic boot option but don't really want to go that route.

 

[tstowater]

The Wiggy's are not going to be durable, period. The Lacrosse are probably not the solution either unless you have a pair that you like to climb a mountain in better than I do. I think the Neos are okay, but some of the Alaska people may be able to give you some other alternatives. Look at some of the dall sheep threads and might want to PM Stid, Yellowknife and some of the others.

You might be better off with plastics boots and liners whether you want to or not otherwise you could be spending a lot of time putting boots on and taking them off.

 

[Becca]

I have used both the wiggys waders and the Neos, and as said above, neither is optimal. Wiggys are a great lightweight solution, but durability is a real issue. Because they aren't very form fitting around your boots, it's easy for them to shift in the current and then you end up walking on the sides instead of the bottom and you get a hole. They can usually be patched in the field with a dab of AquaSeal, but that's small consolation when your boots are already wet. I much prefer the neos, the vibram sole is quite durable and they fit right over your boots so you benefit from the support of your actual boots, with the traction of the neo sole. I think Luke actually hiked around 9 miles in his on one particular occasion, and we have both been using ours on boat and atv based hunts for 5+ years and they are still going strong.Downside is they are quite a bit heavier than the wiggys, so we don't bring them on backpack style hunts due to the weight.

For sheep and goat hunts, I can get away with crossing many shallower streams in my regular boots with OR gaitors as long as I pick my crossings carefully and go quickly. Otherwise, we tend to wear saloman trail runners and spare socks and just rok wet feet for the portion of the trip that has us in and out of the creeks frequently, packing our hiking boots and dry socks until the water crossings are done and then swapping.

 

[Retterath]

check out the tundra boots made by cabelas
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...gclid=CKmsvfWGnb4CFVQFMgod7k4ARw&gclsrc=aw.ds

watch the video at the bottom

 

[norsepeak]

I've used my Wiggy's waders on both a Dall's sheep hunt in Ak and a goat hunt in B.C. and great luck with them both times. I think a good "waterproof" boot and quality gaitor would work well too.

 

[Yellowknife]

Hey guys,

The Neos are also pretty heavy but would be simpler to take on and off. Concerned about the durability of the Wiggy's though. Anybody have any experience with these and have any recs?

We actually used all three options on my trip last week. Wiggys, Neos, and traditional waders.

The durability of the Wiggys is a real concern. You WILL put holes in them them. I came back from my trip last week with half a dozen new leaks in the sole. The are ideal for when you have just a small number of crossings, but that is about the limit. With decently tall waterproof boots, the water leaking in won't overtop before you get to the other side and they can be patched between trips. With two people, I usually carry one pair, drop a rock in the toe when get to the other side, and sling shot them back across.



The Neos are a much more durable and secure system, and you can actually walk in them for short distances. Biggest issue with them isn't so much the weight as the bulk, but it sounds like in your case it might be worth it.

For shallower water, I just use OR gaiters and walk fast. Helps that I use the 10" boots though.



Yk