The Jim Sammon's "Waders of Death" Mythbuster-esque Video.

I hope they don't mind my preemptive post, but I'm not sure if Jim Sammons and PAL will remember us to the north so I thought I'd copy this over form the NCKA board.   Considering that we probably already use waders more often than our southern brethren, much of this isn't going to be news to us.  However, it is reassuring to watch someone test it out.

Brian

Here is video that PAL and I put together a couple of days ago, testing out the Waders of Death myth.

[youtube=425,350]OYwG52p4yjs[/youtube]

The waders were much less likely to fill with water than I previously believed.

Here's my take as someone who has (mostly) avoided waders for years. There are two keys to reducing the hazard: 1) The ability to self-rescue (kinda obvious); and 2) The extra flotation provided by a PFD.

Next, use of a wading belt and paddle jacket dramatically reduced water intrusion. Wearing this configuration, I performed an involuntary field test in 2006 in a fast-moving flat-water river. I was back on the 'yak in seconds. At most, I had half a cup of water in each foot. Note: my PFD that day was an inflatable. I had no need to trigger it. Still, I should have worn a regular vest. 

Finally, there was one test we didn't perform. I'd like to see how difficult it is to self-rescue in deep water or crawl out of the surf or a river if the waders do fill to capacity. Obviously, the water inside is the same density and weight as the water outside, so you're not going to sink deeper. On the other hand, lifting that heavy liquid above the water's surface could be an issue.   

A few still shots from the day:

A rare sight, Jim Sammons flipping a 'yak


Bobbing like a cork in waders, wading belt, paddle jacket, and PFD. Look how the air pushed out of the waders is trapped in the shoulders of the jacket.


Look Ma, no water in the wader ankles. This was with waders only, not even a belt.

I hope they don't mind my preemptive post, but I'm not sure if Jim Sammons and PAL will remember us to the north so I thought I'd copy this over form the NCKA board.   Considering that we probably already use waders more often than our southern brethren, much of this isn't going to be news to us.  However, it is reassuring to watch someone test it out.

Brian

Here is video that PAL and I put together a couple of days ago, testing out the Waders of Death myth.

[youtube=425,350]OYwG52p4yjs[/youtube]

bsteves, Thanks for that post, it was an eye opener for me.  I've used waders to launch a power boat, set decoys duck hunting, but the last time I used waders scared the pee out of me.  I was winter steelhead fishing along the ice covered bank of the Snoqualmie river and wading in shallow water when I realized to get away from the river I would have to climb up that icy bank-- the thought was one slippery slide down into the river --waders filled with icy water and bye bye.

With the ability to self-rescue, a waist belt and PFD, I'll be adding the waders back into my wardrobe--Thanks!

Rob.

The waders were much less likely to fill with water than I previously believed.

Here's my take as someone who has (mostly) avoided waders for years. There are two keys to reducing the hazard: 1) The ability to self-rescue (kinda obvious); and 2) The extra flotation provided by a PFD.

Next, use of a wading belt and paddle jacket dramatically reduced water intrusion. Wearing this configuration, I performed an involuntary field test in 2006 in a fast-moving flat-water river. I was back on the 'yak in seconds. At most, I had half a cup of water in each foot. Note: my PFD that day was an inflatable. I had no need to trigger it. Still, I should have worn a regular vest. 

Finally, there was one test we didn't perform. I'd like to see how difficult it is to self-rescue in deep water or crawl out of the surf or a river if the waders do fill to capacity. Obviously, the water inside is the same density and weight as the water outside, so you're not going to sink deeper. On the other hand, lifting that heavy liquid above the water's surface could be an issue.   

A few still shots from the day:

A rare sight, Jim Sammons flipping a 'yak


Bobbing like a cork in waders, wading belt, paddle jacket, and PFD. Look how the air pushed out of the waders is trapped in the shoulders of the jacket.


Look Ma, no water in the wader ankles. This was with waders only, not even a belt.

bsteves, Thanks for that post, it was an eye opener for me.  I've used waders to launch a power boat, set decoys duck hunting, but the last time I used waders scared the pee out of me.  I was winter steelhead fishing along the ice covered bank of the Snoqualmie river and wading in shallow water when I realized to get away from the river I would have to climb up that icy bank-- the thought was one slippery slide down into the river --waders filled with icy water and bye bye.

With the ability to self-rescue, a waist belt and PFD, I'll be adding the waders back into my wardrobe--Thanks!

Rob.

Rob, it was little hard to find your text (It looks like you wrote from within the quote).  However, regarding  your comment, it should be noted that wearing waders in a strong current can still be an issue. 

Having water in your waders won't make you sink.  (It's not like the water in your waders is denser than the rest of the water.)   However, once water does fill your waders it can make it harder to swim.  Luckily Jim's video shows that this doesn't happen right away esp. if you have a wading belt, paddle jacket, and pfd.  This isn't so much of an issue when you just need to get back on your kayak and you're bobbing around in the ocean or lake, but if you find yourself in the middle of a flowing river, getting back to shore might indeed be difficult enough to pose a threat to your life.

Brian 

I hope they don't mind my preemptive post, but I'm not sure if Jim Sammons and PAL will remember us to the north so I thought I'd copy this over form the NCKA board.

Hey, I drop by once in a while to see what's up in the beautiful northwest. Glad to see the repost however. 

Brian, please expand on this comment:

we probably already use waders more often than our southern brethren

Some of our most vocal critics claim waders are unpopular except in SoCal. 

Paul

Waders and a drytop are popular with me.  A wetsuit is too damn cold; a good drysuit costs almost as much as a yak; and a drytop added to the breathable waders I already had, was just right.

yeh, right now it looks like my neo's, a good layer of poly, wool and fleece as needed, and a gore tex rain jacket are what i'm going to be using most of the 1st year on a yak.. dry tops and suits are way out of my budget right now, and i already have the other stuff....wet suits?? only if they make them larger enough for humpback whales! 

glad to see that video, tho.. helped put some fears to rest about drowning with waders on..also reminded me to GET OUT AND GET IN SHAPE. and sorry, round isn't the shape i mean.

I think that alot of the fears a person may have in regards to using waders was based on the use of volcanized rubber waders many years ago.
A few year ago when I was living in CA I was fishing the Russian river above Cloverdale, I was wearing an old pair of rubber waders. I had hooked a fish and had stepped in to the river took two steps and dropped into a hole. The waders filled with water and swept my feet out from under me. If I was not so close to shore I would have been washed down river. Needless to say I tossed those things and bought a pair of neo's, which are tighter on you (well me anyway) and don't act the same way.
I have yet to get a pair of light breathable waders but look forward to it. I wear my waders when I do a short outing on the yak, like dropping pots or some thing like that.
I think it all comes down to the individual and there ability to prepare them selves for what ever the water gods may throw at you.

Richard- I've seen non-breathable drytops for under $100, on Sierra Trading Post. Not ideal, but functional for hazardous situations.

thnx

Richard, NRS has some good deals on paddling tops which keep you pretty dry. I have one and love it. And it breaths. You can pick one up for about $75 or less.

guys, i've been there 2x and cant seem to find a 3XL listed. i'm 6ft 1, 250, and have a 54 chest and a 18 1/2 in neck.. (yeah, i'm broadly built)the sites didnt list anything even remotely close to fitting me.. i'll go back to both sites and check again, maybe i missed something..

thinking about just changing my name to "fat boy ' or some such.... [ oh hey! a light just went on !! i may have just named a ....well if i do it, you'll kno...]

what's the old saying? " life ain't easy when you're fat and ......."

oh, and thanx again guys for helping