Taking a chance there might be a few waterfowlers lurking here, but I have some gift cards saved up and thought I would get myself some drake waders. Never worn drake waders before so idk what's better and what to go with. Looking at the Neoprene 2.0 Chest Wader and the Guardian Elite Insulated Breathable Chest Wader. Any opinions on which is better and would be longer lasting and tougher? $100 difference in them with the neoprene being the cheaper ones.
I have a couple buddies that bought the new breathable this year, and for teal season they loved them. They have yet to face the extreme cold in them, so that's still in question, but other than that they didn't have any problems with leaking and said they didn't get the sticky sweatiness neoprene always gives.
I still have a new from last season, pair of Lacrosse Swamp Tough neoprene waders that are definitely extremely comfortable and extremely warm. Hopefully it isn't anytime soon I'm buying a new pair of waders, but when that time comes, I will probably be switching to the breathable from the opinions of some of my buddies I've been hunting with.
Quote from: HookedonHooks on November 01, 2018, 04:26:58 PM
I have a couple buddies that bought the new breathable this year, and for teal season they loved them. They have yet to face the extreme cold in them, so that's still in question, but other than that they didn't have any problems with leaking and said they didn't get the sticky sweatiness neoprene always gives.
I still have a new from last season, pair of Lacrosse Swamp Tough neoprene waders that are definitely extremely comfortable and extremely warm. Hopefully it isn't anytime soon I'm buying a new pair of waders, but when that time comes, I will probably be switching to the breathable from the opinions of some of my buddies I've been hunting with.
So to make sure I follow, chances are the guardian elites will be better if a person was doing a lot of walking to hunting locations because they breath? I've never owned a full blown pair of waders before so idk what even the differences are between neoprene and whatever the guardian elites are.
If you're doing a lot of walking I would say it would possibly be worth the iextra nvestment up front. Getting sweaty in waders is the fastest way to get cold once you sit down.
Quote from: HookedonHooks on November 01, 2018, 06:22:36 PM
If you're doing a lot of walking I would say it would possibly be worth the iextra nvestment up front. Getting sweaty in waders is the fastest way to get cold once you sit down.
I may just go ahead with the breathable ones. Now do I want the insulated pair or do I want the uninsulated pair and then layer when I need to
Another vote for the breathables. I wear wader pants underneath for colder hunts.
Quote from: BobWalters on November 01, 2018, 07:04:37 PM
Quote from: HookedonHooks on November 01, 2018, 06:22:36 PM
If you're doing a lot of walking I would say it would possibly be worth the iextra nvestment up front. Getting sweaty in waders is the fastest way to get cold once you sit down.
I may just go ahead with the breathable ones. Now do I want the insulated pair or do I want the uninsulated pair and then layer when I need to
I would go insulated and get your appropriate size just so you won't have to size up just so you can double/triple layer in the extreme cold.
Quote from: HookedonHooks on November 01, 2018, 10:16:07 PM
Quote from: BobWalters on November 01, 2018, 07:04:37 PM
Quote from: HookedonHooks on November 01, 2018, 06:22:36 PM
If you're doing a lot of walking I would say it would possibly be worth the iextra nvestment up front. Getting sweaty in waders is the fastest way to get cold once you sit down.
I may just go ahead with the breathable ones. Now do I want the insulated pair or do I want the uninsulated pair and then layer when I need to
I would go insulated and get your appropriate size just so you won't have to size up just so you can double/triple layer in the extreme cold.
Thankfully my local store has them in stock I may go try them on tomorrow and just see how warm they really are and make sure they aren't to warm. I'd like the flexibility to use them November-February. So think mid 50ish degrees to 0 degrees.
Quote from: Rapscallion Vermilion on November 01, 2018, 09:26:51 PM
Another vote for the breathables. I wear wader pants underneath for colder hunts.
You wear insulated breathables?
I do not waterfowl hunt but I do winter steelhead fishing. I have both neoprene and breathable waders. If you do any amount of walking the breathable seem warmer with a layering approach. The neoprene are warm but if you walk you sweat inside that hen turn cold while wading or standing still.
Breathable waders with insulated boots for winter steelhead and duck hunting work fine with heavy fleece wader pants until just before ice up. Then I switch to boot foot neoprene. This works for me.
I have not had good luck with Drake gear lately. Haven't been the wader route with them but plenty of buddies have. Haven't seen a pair of their waders really last yet.
I am a fan of Cabela's waders. Have a pair of both neoprene and breathables. Usually wear the breathables unless I am standing in deep cold water like a swamp wood duck hunt. In the cold with breathables, I have with layers I can stay plenty comfortable most of the time.
Quote from: hootgobbleyelpgobble on November 02, 2018, 01:54:40 PM
I have not had good luck with Drake gear lately. Haven't been the wader route with them but plenty of buddies have. Haven't seen a pair of their waders really last yet.
I am a fan of Cabela's waders. Have a pair of both neoprene and breathables. Usually wear the breathables unless I am standing in deep cold water like a swamp wood duck hunt. In the cold with breathables, I have with layers I can stay plenty comfortable most of the time.
What drake gear have you had bad luck with? I just got a pair of lst 2.0 bibs and the guardian flex full zip eqwader wading jacket. Nervous now
I am a sworn LaCrosse customer ...I dont like neoprene nor breathable...I lirk Ebay and buy the oldschool canvas NOS
They last forever
With that said im leery of these high dollar breathable waders
Quote from: Old Gobbler on November 02, 2018, 07:25:18 PM
I am a sworn LaCrosse customer
When it comes to customer service from a wader company they are unmatched.
If you can afford LaCrosse over Drake I too would recommend this all the way whether you decide to go the breathable route or not.
Sorry to ad more to the confusion, but here goes. I've always been a neoprene fan. I grew up with heavy rubber , then canvas. Garbage compared to what we have today, sorry Old Gobbler. I believe Cabelas had the best waders and I have a nice pair that are three years old and doing fine. This year I bought Rogers breathables with two zip out insulated liners to use depending on the temperature. All I can say is WOW! I will never go back to neoprene waders. I also bought a pair of Rogers neoprene hip boots because I love hippers for turkey hunting when the river floods some of the bottomland. These are the best hip boots I've ever seen. Hope I didn't sound like a commercial, just telling what I think.
Quote from: 2eagles on November 02, 2018, 09:54:26 PM
Sorry to ad more to the confusion, but here goes. I've always been a neoprene fan. I grew up with heavy rubber , then canvas. Garbage compared to what we have today, sorry Old Gobbler. I believe Cabelas had the best waders and I have a nice pair that are three years old and doing fine. This year I bought Rogers breathables with two zip out insulated liners to use depending on the temperature. All I can say is WOW! I will never go back to neoprene waders. I also bought a pair of Rogers neoprene hip boots because I love hippers for turkey hunting when the river floods some of the bottomland. These are the best hip boots I've ever seen. Hope I didn't sound like a commercial, just telling what I think.
You like the Rogers so far over the Cabela's?
Quote from: BobWalters on November 03, 2018, 02:42:31 PM
You like the Rogers so far over the Cabela's?
My new Rogers are breathables with 2 zip out liners.
My 3 year old Cabels are neoprene. So it's hard to compare. But if I was to need a pair of waders tomorrow, I'd buy the Rogers breathables in a heartbeat.
I will add the breathables take a little getting used to. At first they seem a bit baggy and the material is noisy. I doubt I'll ever go back to neoprene chest waders.
I've had multiple sets of the banded breathables personally, and hunt with several who have the drakes, Rogers, lacrosse. Once you go breathable you will never go back!
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Quote from: Swampchickin234 on November 04, 2018, 08:55:32 AM
I've had multiple sets of the banded breathables personally, and hunt with several who have the drakes, Rogers, lacrosse. Once you go breathable you will never go back!
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All of them seem to hold up pretty equally?
I have a pair of banded. Did great last season in the early and late season. A lot lighter and more comfortable then neoprene. If I hunted in the great north I might have stayed with neoprene but doubt I'll ever go back to it
Quote from: BobWalters on November 02, 2018, 06:21:45 PM
What drake gear have you had bad luck with? I just got a pair of lst 2.0 bibs and the guardian flex full zip eqwader wading jacket. Nervous now
Every pair of Drake neoprene waders have leaked with very little and light use. The blind bags have leaked and the top clear portion was brittle once it saw the first cold day. Ripped on at least 3 blind bags in the group I hunt with. We don't throw our stuff around and try to take care of it best we can. Also a gifted new waterproof pull over leaked right out the box...no receipt and sure didn't want to return it for another one.
Quote from: hootgobbleyelpgobble on November 07, 2018, 10:30:38 AM
Quote from: BobWalters on November 02, 2018, 06:21:45 PM
What drake gear have you had bad luck with? I just got a pair of lst 2.0 bibs and the guardian flex full zip eqwader wading jacket. Nervous now
Every pair of Drake neoprene waders have leaked with very little and light use. The blind bags have leaked and the top clear portion was brittle once it saw the first cold day. Ripped on at least 3 blind bags in the group I hunt with. We don't throw our stuff around and try to take care of it best we can. Also a gifted new waterproof pull over leaked right out the box...no receipt and sure didn't want to return it for another one.
Yikes, I just got my jacket, bibs, and 1/4 zip pullover from drake, they all say waterproof on them. Worried now. Also says to not dry them and hand wash only.
I didn't realize Drake had fallen so far down