How long do you expect to get out your breathables

[alba]

Purchased new breathable stocking foot waders mid march this year, greys grxi ones. They easily had 30 - 40 uses this season so far till last week when then had sprung a bad leak on the seam of the left leg and a smaller leak on the left foot. I look after them correctly, they get hung to dry naturally after each session etc. For £250 id have expected them to last longer than that.

I still had my receipt and the company exchanged them for me, but its still a pain.

How long do you expect for your breathable waders to last, I'd have expected at least a season of two from them.

[Wildfisher]

No matter how much they cost, a season. River fishing is far harder on waders, clambering in and out of the water, up and down banks, thistles, gorse etc. If I was mainly loch fishing I'd expect longer out of them.

I now buy the least expensive waders I can find  (Bison lasted me as long as any other) and  treat them as consumables. It's a pretty sad state of affairs. You should send them back if you have only had them for a short time. It's also worth sending more expansive waders to Diverdave who does a good job.

[superscot]

I side with Fred on this one I look for the very cheapest i can buy from the net! If i get one /two seasons from them im happy enough at £45 quid or so. As for me paying hundreds of pounds it's just never gonna happen as i tend to be and a bit course on them hence buy cheap and throw away! 

[Tweed]

Treated myself to a pair of Simms recently as my last couple of pairs of Greys have been really disappointing - barely a season of moderate use.  The Simms boots are great and make a hell of a difference but the "breathable" waders aren't in the slightest bit breathable.  After a decent hike in them my troosers are sodden - they might as well be leaking.  Quite miffed to be honest - I expected better for the money.  I think I'll go down the cheap route in future too - coupled with the half-decent boots.

I remember my first pair of neoprenes - Daiwa ones that I got about 10 years heavy use out of and great for the float-tube.  Ahhh the good old days.   :roll:

[Highlander]

The problem I see in breathables is not the material but how they are put together. That in conjunction with misuse spell the death nell of many a breathable.
I have recently bit the bullet & bought Orvis Endura so hopefully with care I will get a few years out of them. But I will tell you one thing if you are not going to walk any great distance & not in high summer, they you can not beat the old Nylon/PVC ones like Ocean or Barbour. Unless damaged with a tear they simply do not let in.
Tight Lines

[alba]

Cheers guys, they do get a hard time, mostly on small rivers which in the height of the season it's jungle warfare getting to bits I want to fish, if I can see the rest of the season out witg them I'll be happy then see what diver Dave can do when they start giving up.

[davefromtheattic]

I'm with you on the thermals, feels a bit less restrictive when clambering about on the riverbank too.

Is this more experimenting with tights?  :crap

[alba]

Im the same guest, usually just wear kind of light weight combat/cargo trousers under my waders, and I sometimes walk for miles and miles and I stay reletevly cool.

[Clan Ford]

I think waders are by biggest fishing expense. if I'm lucky I'll get a season out of them.  Diver Dave has kept a couple of sets going for me so I think I'm in my third season without buying any but looks like next year will be a new set.  Like Fred I recommend buying cheap, I've tried a fair few makes and none seem to last any length of time. 

Norm

[scotty9]

Is this more experimenting with tights?  :crap

You wouldn't do it if you didn't want to....  :gay4 :lol: