Wading pants for wet country hunting?

[noKnees]

I am thinking about trying a set of wading pants for hunting instead of hip boots for a moose hunt in northern Ontario this year. We are in and out of boats, crossing small streams and marshy areas and while the hip boots work they are heavy, don't fit the feet well on the walking parts typically 1-2 miles max.

Has anyone used wading pants like this? I was thinking of starting with frogg togg hellbender pants. What for shoes? the wading boots seem heavy and not so comfortable ( haven't walked in them, just looked at Cabelas. Could I just use oversized vented mid height hikers, maybe with the foot bed pulled out to make room for the neoprene foot of the wading pant?

 

[yfarm]

I used a pr of oversized vietnam era jungle boots, worked fine.
Ebay has a good selection of wading boots.
Simms guides boots always seem to be at the top of the list for wet hunting using waders. NRS also has a selection of boots to be used wet.

 

[LongWayAround]

I took a pair of those frogg togs on a trip last year. I definitely would not rely on them as a primary hunting pant. They're fine for what they are, little crossing and such are no problem.

I didn't use them in the way that you are describing, but they are cheap and I don't think they would hold up to much abuse.

 

[nomadicbohunk]

I hunt a lot of swamps in New England and will probably go a similar route next year.

From everything I've read, simms has a single model that guys use hiking for stuff like this. I was just in Bozeman and was going to try them on, but I didn't have time. I have zero idea where I'd look at them in New England.

 

[jolemons]

Simms Guide Pants paired with Simms G3 or G4 boots are a solid combo. AK guide tested and proven.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk

 

[noKnees]

I ordered up a set of the frogg toggs hellbenders and I have a set of Merril Moab Mids (but goretex) and will try a hike or two of a mile or two to see if walking in them is practical. If that works I can take them up to the lake and wade about and see what its like in and out of the water. I think a ventilated mid boot will be better than my goretex ones.

I go up to Ontario every year and I am hoping they will do good service up there, but my real reason for starting down this path is i have a 2028 Peninsula Moose hunt book and the guide recommended the wadding pant route vs boots.

If the hellbenders work but aren't durable I can get a set of the Simms for Alaska and future Ontario hunts.