Waders or hip boots?

[Will_m]

For anybody that has done any float trips for moose, do you have a strong preference towards either? If I can get away with it I would much prefer hip boots as I know for a fact they are more adept for long walks than a pair of waders, even if they are the lightweight breathable kind. I could definitely see waders having a clear advantage if you were going to hunt from the boat a majority of the time or you were dealing with deep water that made them a necessity. All input/tips/comments/criticisms/suggestions welcome.

 

[Kay9Cop]

Waders. There's a good chance you'll be sitting in some water in your raft depending on water conditions. Breathable, stocking feet, and a good boot.

 

[Matt W.]

Waders. ^^^

 

[colonel00]

Never done a float trip for moose but I've floated on other hunts and I will echo waders as well. Get a pair with a belt and you can undo the top if hiking to keep your torso cooler.

 

[JFKinYK]

Try as hard as I can, but never seem to take less than 3 pairs of footwear on a moose hunt. My non-negotiable are waders and hiking boots, with either some light camp shoes and/or knee high rubber boots thrown in.

Waders are a safety item for me. You never know where a moose will decide to die and having waders can make or break an animal retrieval.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

Simms G3 waders! Lived in them for 12 days this year on a float hunt in AK.

 

[Clarktar]

Check out Redington waders. I wear waders atleast 150 days a year with lots of hiking. Simms are great. Redington are really good also, cheaper, and the warranty and customer service is awesome. You can return Redington for a brand new pair for pretty much any reason and you just pay35.00 for shipping.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Waders are my plan plus a set of Wiggys lightweights for long hikes with creek crossings. http://www.wiggys.com/clothing-outerwear/lightweight-waders/

 

[Will_m]

Certainly looks like waders are the overwhelming majority for moose floats. With that being said, has anybody actually tried hip boots and found them to be lacking? I'm just thinking if I plan on going a mile plus from the boat hip boots would be more conducive for walking.

I like the sound of Bruce's kit, though.

 

[Ray]

I grew up hiking in hip boots after moose and caribou in AK. It sucked. Your boots fill up with willow leaves after a day of busting brush. Even with a longer rain coat they still ended up with leaves and twigs. Folding the tops down to allow for venting the heat seemed to increase the amount of junk they accumulated. Acted like a funnel. Also caused me to walk funny due to the flopping around. And my butt was always wet after sitting down and glassing. Always had to carry a piece of GI sleeping pad foam for a seat. I never could find a pair of ankle fit hippers that actually supported my ankles. Having weak ankles sucked with floppy boots.

I now wear dry plus waist high wader pants and Korker guide boots with boa lacing. Very comfortable as long as I tighten the boa knob after 30 minutes of walking. Having short legs makes the wader pants nearly as tall as chest waders for me. I use clip on suspenders and keep the belt loose to increase venting. When I am working hard it only helps a little.

 

[BroodBuster]

I've never done a float hunting trip bit do own a drift boat. And yes hip boots pretty much suck, especially if hiking.

A couple of thoughts on breathable waders. First off sit in them and make sure you have lots of room at your knees. Not many things more uncomfortable than having your waders constantly pressing against your knees. Also make sure you buy and wear a safety belt. I wear a stretchy belt made by Grundens. Nice place to keep a knife, rangefinder or camera. But most importantly if you end up in the drink your waders won't fill up with water sending you to the bottom of the river like a rock.

 

[Will_m]

Thanks for the responses, I think I was hoping to have a hip boot advocate somewhere in the bunch but it looks like I'm about to do some shopping for some waders.

 

[colonel00]

But most importantly if you end up in the drink your waders won't fill up with water sending you to the bottom of the river like a rock.

Not to derail this thread but I was thinking about this and wonder if it is even true. I've always heard and believed it myself but when you think about it, it doesn't seem to make sense. Let's say you are standing in chest deep (still) water. Most if not all air has been pressed out of the waders and you really don't have a lot of buoyancy from any air in the waders. Your buoyancy is from your body content. If you waders fill up with water, it's not like the water inside the waders suddenly weighs more than the water outside the waders causing you to sink. Now, if the waders themselves have enough additional weight to pull you down then they will do this regardless of whether there is water in the waders or not. Now, it would most definitely be cold and you wouldn't want the waders themselves to drag you down so you would want to get out but again, does the water really add any weight?

I guess wearing a belt could potentially hold some air in the lower portion of the waders for a little bit but unless you are wading streams with balloons on your legs all the time, I suspect that air escapes pretty quickly when the waders are compressed by the water pressure.

 

[Matt W.]

I picked up these for late season floats.
http://goo.gl/lfYI7n
$149 for the odd size / camo patterns

For lighter weight ones Sierra Trading Post has some deals..
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/s~waders-for-men-breathable/

 

[Clarktar]

Not to derail this thread but I was thinking about this and wonder if it is even true. I've always heard and believed it myself but when you think about it, it doesn't seem to make sense. Let's say you are standing in chest deep (still) water. Most if not all air has been pressed out of the waders and you really don't have a lot of buoyancy from any air in the waders. Your buoyancy is from your body content. If you waders fill up with water, it's not like the water inside the waders suddenly weighs more than the water outside the waders causing you to sink. Now, if the waders themselves have enough additional weight to pull you down then they will do this regardless of whether there is water in the waders or not. Now, it would most definitely be cold and you wouldn't want the waders themselves to drag you down so you would want to get out but again, does the water really add any weight?

I guess wearing a belt could potentially hold some air in the lower portion of the waders for a little bit but unless you are wading streams with balloons on your legs all the time, I suspect that air escapes pretty quickly when the waders are compressed by the water pressure.

You don't sink. I have filled my waders and swam to shore. It's cold, and potentially frightening but it is possible to swim and live!

 

[Matt W.]

Not to derail this thread but I was thinking about this and wonder if it is even true. I've always heard and believed it myself but when you think about it, it doesn't seem to make sense. Let's say you are standing in chest deep (still) water. Most if not all air has been pressed out of the waders and you really don't have a lot of buoyancy from any air in the waders. Your buoyancy is from your body content. If you waders fill up with water, it's not like the water inside the waders suddenly weighs more than the water outside the waders causing you to sink. Now, if the waders themselves have enough additional weight to pull you down then they will do this regardless of whether there is water in the waders or not. Now, it would most definitely be cold and you wouldn't want the waders themselves to drag you down so you would want to get out but again, does the water really add any weight?

I guess wearing a belt could potentially hold some air in the lower portion of the waders for a little bit but unless you are wading streams with balloons on your legs all the time, I suspect that air escapes pretty quickly when the waders are compressed by the water pressure.

I always told to do it and never questioned it.. Your question made me do some searching....
http://www.flyfisherman.com/wading-safety/the-big-swim/
http://www.nc-flyfishing.com/fly-fishing-articles/the-importance-of-wader-safety

The first article addresses some of your thoughts.. Interesting stuff.... Thanks for asking the question!


Below is a quote from the first top link:
Contrary to popular myth, waders full of water do not pull you under. The water inside the waders weighs the same as the water outside the waders.
Swimming in waders is about as difficult as swimming in wet Levis.
Another widely held fallacy is that wading belts trap air in the waders and cause you to float upside down with legs in the air. The truth is, as you wade, water pressure squeezes the air out of the waders and past the belt. If for some reason you fall off a boat with air-filled waders, simply bring your knees up to your chest, wrap your arms around your legs and squish the air out.
Waders kill when they are worn with stretchy, loose belts or no belt at all. The typical position for swimming anglers to assume is on their back, head upstream and feet downstream. This is the position taught by the Boy Scouts, Red Cross, NOLS, and the military. Unfortunately for anglers, the defensive swimming technique is designed for someone wearing a life
jacket and not a pair of waders.
Rivers move much quicker than a human drifting downstream. With your head upstream, the moving water quickly flushes in and fills the waders. The current can keep the mouth of the waders flared open and create, in effect, a sea anchor that will drive you wherever the prevailing force wants you to go. Michael Phelps would be no more able to fight these hydraulics than Rosie O’Donnell.
A proper wading belt worn at the waist makes the sea anchor effect highly unlikely, and the same belt brought up around the chest will make such an event virtually impossible. A belt around the waist and around the chest can turn a scary event into a fun ride because you are nearly bullet proof.
With or without a belt, do not passively float down a river feetfirst in your waders. Get on your stomach and swim aggressively down and across the current toward safety. In a bony rock garden you might fend off the boulders with your feet, but the bottom line is that the less time you spend in the water, the better the outcome. Swim all the way to shore, then crawl out of the water. Do not try to stand up. The water in the waders will either slap you back down to earth, or the waders themselves will blow up and fall down around your legs. Having water-filled waders pulled down over your knees while trying to get out of a river is a recipe for disaster. Once on shore, lie on your back and raise one leg at a time to dump out the water.

Read more: http://www.flyfisherman.com/wading-safety/the-big-swim/#ixzz3pLBQdT36

 

[colonel00]

Yeah, the cold is probably more dangerous than the sinking.

In colder weather, I love neoprene waders like High Country linked first. I wear them duck hunting and they are warm, stretchy and should even give you a bit more buoyancy. However, I don't know if I could hike too far in mine. I've had these for over 10 years now and they are great but heavy. Tolerable for a half mile walk to a duck marsh with decoys on your back but I don't know about putting in miles and then lumping out a moose.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/foot...uts?destination=/catalog/browse.cmd?N=1101198

 

[colonel00]

I always told to do it and never questioned it.. Your question made me do some searching....
http://www.flyfisherman.com/wading-safety/the-big-swim/
http://www.nc-flyfishing.com/fly-fishing-articles/the-importance-of-wader-safety

The first article addresses some of your thoughts.. Interesting stuff.... Thanks for asking the question!


Below is a quote from the first top link:
Contrary to popular myth, waders full of water do not pull you under. The water inside the waders weighs the same as the water outside the waders.
Swimming in waders is about as difficult as swimming in wet Levis.
Another widely held fallacy is that wading belts trap air in the waders and cause you to float upside down with legs in the air. The truth is, as you wade, water pressure squeezes the air out of the waders and past the belt. If for some reason you fall off a boat with air-filled waders, simply bring your knees up to your chest, wrap your arms around your legs and squish the air out.
Waders kill when they are worn with stretchy, loose belts or no belt at all. The typical position for swimming anglers to assume is on their back, head upstream and feet downstream. This is the position taught by the Boy Scouts, Red Cross, NOLS, and the military. Unfortunately for anglers, the defensive swimming technique is designed for someone wearing a life
jacket and not a pair of waders.
Rivers move much quicker than a human drifting downstream. With your head upstream, the moving water quickly flushes in and fills the waders. The current can keep the mouth of the waders flared open and create, in effect, a sea anchor that will drive you wherever the prevailing force wants you to go. Michael Phelps would be no more able to fight these hydraulics than Rosie O’Donnell.
A proper wading belt worn at the waist makes the sea anchor effect highly unlikely, and the same belt brought up around the chest will make such an event virtually impossible. A belt around the waist and around the chest can turn a scary event into a fun ride because you are nearly bullet proof.
With or without a belt, do not passively float down a river feetfirst in your waders. Get on your stomach and swim aggressively down and across the current toward safety. In a bony rock garden you might fend off the boulders with your feet, but the bottom line is that the less time you spend in the water, the better the outcome. Swim all the way to shore, then crawl out of the water. Do not try to stand up. The water in the waders will either slap you back down to earth, or the waders themselves will blow up and fall down around your legs. Having water-filled waders pulled down over your knees while trying to get out of a river is a recipe for disaster. Once on shore, lie on your back and raise one leg at a time to dump out the water.

Read more: http://www.flyfisherman.com/wading-safety/the-big-swim/#ixzz3pLBQdT36

Very interesting. It's still probably a good rule of thumb to not fill you waders but definitely not the lead anchor it sounds like we have all been told about.

BTW, it is a lot easier to fill hip boots too

 

[BroodBuster]

Throw a full water bladder and an empty water bladder in a river and see witch one sinks like a rock .

With a pfd and a safety belt you can put your feet down river and ride out just about any rapid while avoiding hazards. With a pfd and no safety belt you'll be able to get to shore but avoiding any obstacle is pretty iffy. No pfd and no safety belt your chances of a self rescue are slim to none.

Another way too look at it. When rowing a drifter you can ship water, and often do, from the down stream side. 5 gallons here 10 gallons there no problem. But if you take a thimble of water from the upstream side the current is going to keep on filling up the boat and you're upside down in a split second. Same deal with waders. Still water no problem. But a decent current will fill up your waders in a heart beat. And water is heavy and empedes ones ability to swim. Add the shock of cold water and yea good luck.

 

[BroodBuster]

Thanks HC,

That's what I was trying to say .