Simms waders

[rannoch raider]

Just having a look at waders on the net and I'm a bit shocked at the price of the latest Simms Pro 4 series. £6-700 for stocking foot breathables ! :shock: I know Simms gear is pretty good, I've got some and I like it a lot but do we really need to be paying the sort of money they are asking for a decent pair of waders? Orvis are doing their Silver Sonics for half the price.
I don't mind paying for a totally bombproof and comfortable wader that will last for a good few years but are the Simms really so much better than the others that they can claim to be worth the money ?

[johnny boy]

I don't mind paying for a totally bombproof and comfortable wader that will last for a good few years

Good luck with that, a couple of seasons at best for most as they all basically follow the same process when made, your paying a lot for the label IMHO

[rannoch raider]

Good luck with that, a couple of seasons at best for most as they all basically follow the same process when made, your paying a lot for the label IMHO

You probably have a point there in as much as there is always going to be an element of paying for the label with the bigger brands. They'd say you were paying for quality and after sales service. You may recall someone made a post the other day about not being satisfied with the quality of a vest bought from Orvis. The vest was the cheapest model sold by Orvis. Having made the same mistake I went on to buy a more expensive vest from the same company that I am delighted with. So, maybe it's a case of you get what you pay for ?
I've seen the top of the range Simms vests and I must say they are absolutely fabulous. Any angler would be very happy to own one but yet again this comes at a very hefty price.  I know that the vest I bought for £80 will last as long and do everything that the Simms vests which cost £149 to £199 (depending on spec) will do. To be fair the materials, workmanship and little extras like built in zingers on the Simms product did perhaps make it a more desirable garment.

So, is it the same for waders? Are Simms asking us to pay more for an item that will keep us drier and more comfortable in the water than anything else on the market ? Are these waders so good that they can charge two or three times the price the competition sells for ?  Will they wear out just as quick as the cheaper brands? They do seem to sell plenty!

[Bobfly]

Looking at the recently arrived Hodgman gear in some shops it looks pretty good. Perhaps a better value for money brand worth a look but who knows how the after-sales will do. I go with Ocean waders for the float tube. Very hard wearing generally and great value. Orvis always seem best value for better gear for breathables.

[Highlander]

Looking at the recently arrived Hodgman gear in some shops it looks pretty good

Our Americans friends seem to rate these waders highly. GAC are now stocking them. Worth a punt, can not be any worse than what is on offer with other brands Simms included. Having said that I can not see by Orvis even if it just about the warranty.
Tight Lines

[corsican dave]

So, maybe it's a case of you get what you pay for ?

generally speaking, yes. you make an interesting comment regarding budget items from premier brands. i think this is where you buy at your peril. they're aware that people aspire to the brand but can't afford the premium product. i bought a "bottom end" sage reel that was complete pants.

the trick is to work out what the company specialises in. so, generally speaking companies that make fishing tackle (ie rods, reels etc) don't make good clothes and vice versa.  you'll also notice that (with the notable exception of maybe Orvis) the best quality companies don't so anything other than their specialist product. Winston don't do reels, Tibor don't do rods. the absolute top-end companies don't do budget ranges, either...

Simms specialise in clothing; they're very good at it. their top end jackets compare favourably with top end mountaineering kit. and the prices are comparable, too. are they worth it? only you can decide.

[SoldierPmr]

I've eaten 2 pairs of snowbees in 3 months first are the breathable stocking foot prestige the 2nd pair the boot foot wader master (durable) ones. Once they completely die I think I'll go for a pair of oceans.

[corsican dave]

i think this says it all
[attachimg=1]

[corsican dave]

the obscured words are "rate is zero"

[bibio1]

I rate  winston