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One of the most important decisions a tuber can make concerning comfort is deciding which type of wader he should wear. In some ways, it would seem that the more you spend, the better wader you're going to get for tubing. But this isn't necessarily the case, because waders of different material have different uses. You could say different strengths and weaknesses. And some types of waders are decidedly more expensive than others, but not better in every situation. In the old days, all waders were made out of some sort of rubber or canvas and rubber combination. Most all of these had heavy boot feet in them, which made them great for duck hunting but not so good for tubing. In fact, it was almost impossible to find fins large enough to fit over the waders' boot feet. This is one reason early day float tubers had to use those cumbersome, almost useless, strap on heel flippers for propulsion. Then, 30 or so years ago, wader manufacturers began to make popular stocking foot waders. These were made to be worn with wading shoes. The main idea behind stocking foot waders was the issue of comfort. Stream fisherman appreciated the lighter and more custom fit gained with this new style versus the much heavier rubber-canvas boot foot varieties. With the advent of stocking foot waders, float tubers now had available a wader perfect for belly boating. They were light, could be bought large enough for extra under clothing, and best of all, could be worn with fins. Stocking foot waders have gone through something of a metamorphosis since the early days. First they were made out of thin rubber. Then out of urethane coated nylon. These, "fly weights" were wonderfully light weight, though you did tend to sweat in them and got quite damp over the course of a day. In fact, more than once, friends and I went looking for leaks that didn't exist. We were wet due to the dampness created by the sweat of exertion. And, of course, they were cold in all seasons except mid-summer. Never more so than in early spring and late fall--the seasons which often offer the best fishing. But for large fish we were willing to suffer -- until the creation of Neoprene waders. When they first hit the market, neoprene waders were truly a wonder. They were a wonder because of how warm they were even in cold water seasons. And a wonder because of how expensive they were. In fact, a person could spend more on a decent pair of Neoprene's than on a top notch fly rod. As I think back, it seems to me I should have spent more on rods and less on waders. I'd still be throwing the rods today. And like fly weights, Neoprene's made you sweat -- a lot. Some days in them was almost like taking a sauna. By now, fly weights have pretty much disappeared and been replaced by new "breathable" waders made out of Gore-Tex and similar breathable materials. These fabrics offer the advantages of fly weights with out the dampness. Progress indeed -- except for the price. Top of the line breathables now once again run more than many a good quality fly rod. Does history repeat itself or what? So a tubing angler must decide between Neoprene waders or the new breathable kind. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of both. Neoprenes are warm, durable and are now relatively cheap -- less than half of what they were 20 years ago. But like 20 years ago, you'll still sweat in them if you exert yourself in warm weather. They now come in various thickness, anywhere from 3 to 5mm. That's nice, as you can adjust your wader to the temperature of the water. The colder the water, the thicker the wader. This will really add to comfort and cut down on sweat and dampness. And they're inexpensive enough that you can acquire several different pairs, for the price of just one pair of the breathable kind. The new breathable waders are very popular, and it's easy to see why. Without question, they are the most comfortable type I've ever worn…………..in warm temperatures. When Gore-Tex waders first came out, I found a pair up in a tree on a near a river. After a little climbing, and a lot of wondering as to how they got up there, I possessed my first pair of the new fangled things I'd heard so much about. I decided on the way home to run an ad for 2 weeks in the lost and found section of the local paper. I knew that if it were me, I'd want my $250 waders back. Two weeks later with no calls, they were mine. What I found the first time I wore them was that they were unbelievably comfortable. And I've never changed my mind about that though my "pine waders" have long since worn out. It's important to note that breathable fabric is not a good insulator. So if you go this route, be prepared to wear extra warm under clothing. Recent versions of breathable waders now have neoprene feet in them. Adding some much needed warmth where you need it most. In either case, make sure your waders have a high back on them that goes up almost to your shoulders. If your tube is a "low rider" the extra height in back will help keep you dry.
Neoprene tubing booties add extra warmth to your feet and the soles on the booties protect your waders as you walk to and from the water. I consider them an absolute necessity for tubers. Most have either zip or Velcro closures on them. Both work well. One thing I've noticed that's peculiar to booties is that all the ones I've seen run on the small side, with no allowance made for wearing waders underneath. So you may want to buy the next size up when purchasing them. Some guys prefer to wear their wading shoes instead of booties when tubing. That's fine too, except that as a rule, booties are warmer and more comfortable when tubing. This is due in part to the extended foot motion used when kicking your fins. Wading shoes are made for ankle support. Not to allow you to arch your foot while wearing fins. Tubers will want to purchase fins made specially for tubing. Such fins are cut with extra large foot pockets to accommodate Neoprene waders and booties. All are adjustable with some kind laces or straps with either Velcro or nylon snap locks. The better kinds are made to float if they come off your feet while in the water. Some folks wear "fin tethers" to keep fins attached to their ankle if they come off. The problem is that you end up with all sorts of contraptions down by your fins to snag line and leader. It's better just to buy fins that float. I've only lost a fin once, when a heel strap broke, and it was floating next to me 10 seconds later. I fixed the strap and had my buddy put it back on without having to go to shore. It took less than 2 minutes. As far as design goes, I've never noticed much power difference from one kind to the next. So just choose one that's within your budget and seems ruggedly-made. Some of the more expensive brands have upturned tips. This is a nice feature for walking forwards, but the smart tuber should never walk forward anyway. If you do, it won't be for long. Perhaps just long enough to fall on your face once. Twice if you're slow learner. |
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