Waders ?

Hi guys let me first say I'm new to NWKA and to kayaking in general and that I'm really stoked to have found this forum I've gathered a lot of good information in a short time, so thanks for that.  I'm almost ready to hit the water the last thing I need is outer ware to keep warm and dry. I know a lot of folks are using dry suits and I wish it was in the budget but its not so plan B is waders. Foolishly I walked into dick's yesterday thinking this is going to be a no brainer grab a pair of waders and I'm good to go. Being that I have never owned or even put on a pair that was not the case it was immediately clear I needed more information so I'd like to know what your using and what you likes or dislikes booted or socks , light wait breathable vs neoprene, brands to stay away from that sort of stuff.  I'd appreciate any info you care to share ,thanks

Welcome to the forum.

A lightweight pair of breathable waders are going to be a lot more comfortable (especially in the summer!) than neoprene waders which are thicker and heavier.

Kokatat Tropos waders are very nice and comfortable. They have well taped seams (will hold up to machine washing) and good rubber on the ankle gaskets. Pair them with a splash/dry top and some surf booties and your goofy fishing hat and you are all good on the outerwear.

Don't forget an insulating layer underneath all that, nylon will keep you fairly dry but not warm. No cotton!

I wear a pair of Redington CPX front zip waders.  They are breathable and have neoprene boots.  I have found them to great quality and I really like the front zipper.  Previous to the Redington's, I sported a pair of breathable hodgman streamlite for years.  Although not the quality of my current pair, being mindful and taking took good care of them, they did the job just fine.  I find the breathables much less restrictive in movement.  In addition they are versatile in different temperatures as you can layer as required. I'd suggest trying different brands on as one brand may fit better than another based on body type.

I have a cheap pair of Allen brand from Bi-Mart. I picked them up on sale for $25. They are 3.5 mil neoprene.
For my dry top I am using a Stohlquist  freeplay that I picked up at Next Adventure.

what they say about "No Cotton" is so true!

I might upgrade my waders to a pair of these. http://albrightflyfish.com/items/bridgestone-fishing-waders/list.htm

willbd

Stocking foot over boot foot, absolutely. You'll just be so much more nimble and comfortable.  AND, don't forget the wading belt no matter what -- not side cinches.  Be safe, first and foremost, says the woman who has gone swimming more than she'd care to admit. 

Welcome to the community, Lyman!

+1 on stocking foot waders over boot foot.

I have a pair of neoprene waders and I love them... for cold temps.  You'll bake in those things on warm days.  They do give you a nice added buoyancy factor though.

I recommend the breathable type and like akfishergal said, don't forget your belt!

Thanks guys I have a much better idea about what what I need. I can head back to the store tomorrow and try some wader on for size. I'm hopping to hit the water before the end of the week

don't forget wading boots are a nice to have item, can actually get you by for the first year, but might not be the right foot gear for use on your yak. most of the time the boots are just too big to allow your feet to sit comfortably in the footwell or on the pegs

 after you make your wader purchase, take a look at yak friendly footwaer that you can slip on over the stocking foots portion. for those, try our sponsors here like Outdoorplay.com, Next adventure, kayakshed.com, and NRS (www.nrsweb.com) might want to go one size larger so your feet dont get cramped and pinched in the process...

I have a cheap pair of Allen brand from Bi-Mart. I picked them up on sale for $25. They are 3.5 mil neoprene.
For my dry top I am using a Stohlquist  freeplay that I picked up at Next Adventure.

willbd

I just picked up a set of Allen breathables.  A better quality then i thought they would be for the price.  I never buy waders that cost over $100.  I tend to end up in thorn patches A LOT so there isnt' any sence in ruining expenseive waders.  They generally last me 1 - 1.5 years before I have to replace.

One thing to consider on the boot foot vs. stocking foot vs. ankle gasket and surf booties is that when you do go for a swim, if you get a little water in your waders you can stretch your ankle gasket and drain it out. With boot foot and stocking foot, when you take on some water you have to take them off and turn them upside down or inside out to drain them.