How to Prolong the Life of Your Waders
Shelling out a few hundred dollars for a new pair of waders is never a fun event. I am the kind of person that will wear my leaky waders until the holes are visibly noticeable. Although this may sound bad, I have heard of fisherman worse than me:
I heard of one man who had holes in his waders so bad he actually cut bigger holes in the waders, with a knife, while on the river. The thinking behind this was, with the bigger holes, that the water would at least cycle through the waders easier. This way, he wasn't carrying around extra water weight.
Although I don't recommend doing this in early spring like this gentleman, I feel his pain, and see his logic. For all those outdoor enthusiasts that are always buying new waders, here are seven steps that will help prolong the life of your waders.
1. Make sure it Fits
First, getting the proper fit may seem obvious, but many fisherman will buy waders that are close to their size, but not perfect. Most of the time, this is done because of what is currently available to buy. Simply put, purchase waders that fit you properly. Waders that fit properly minimize the rub and friction that occurs when walking in waders. Not to mention, you will be more comfortable.
Looking for a great pair of waders? Check these out.
2. Jammed up by Saltwater
Over time, saltwater can be corrosive, and jam up any exposed zippers. If the waders have been exposed to saltwater, make sure to rinse them off with fresh water.
3. Get those Waders some Air!
No matter if the waders were used in freshwater or saltwater, they need to be hung and air dried. When stored wet, waders will gather mildew, start to stink, and minimize breathability.
4. Let's talk Extensive Cleaning
Washing mud off your waders is a great idea, but I am mainly talking about extensive cleaning. This isn't a step that needs to be done after every use. I like to clean my waders once or twice a year. The best time to clean your waders is right before you store them for a few months. I recommend hand washing your waders in clean warm water with a rag and mild detergent. This will maximizes breath ability and easily extend the life of your waders. Once you finish washing your waders, allow your waders to air dry in a well ventilated area.
5. One Step Few Fisherman Take
The one step that very few fisherman take, is to re-apply water repellent to their waders. When new, your waders have a thin layer of water repellent. After continuous use, that layer will wear off.
It is important to periodically spray down your waders with water repellent. This allows your waders to bead up water better, and lessen the chance of water sneaking through the seams. I recommend using "Heavy Duty Water Repellent" made by KIWI. This spray can is effective on leather, canvas, outdoor gear, and all breathable materials. I like to apply this product twice a year. Once in the middle of the fishing season, and once right after I wash and dry my waders for storage. One can of water repellent will easily last a few years depending on use.
6. Storing Waders the Right Way
The best way to store your waders is to lay them inside on a table in the shade. For most of us, this isn’t an option. I like to roll up my waders from the feet to the straps, and store them in a plastic tub. Rolling waders from the feet is very important. If you simply fold your waders, air becomes trapped, and forced to seep out through the seams. Never store your waders in the sun! The sun with deteriorate your waders before your next use.
7. Heat is Not Good
Finally, once your waders have been stored, avoid placing the plastic tub in heated areas like an attic. Heavily heated areas may slightly weaken your wader’s durability over time.
If properly followed, these easy seven steps will extend the life of your waders.
If you are unfortunate, like my friend with the golf ball sized holes in his waders...
Stop by the Ponderay Fly Shop and get properly fitted for your next pair of waders.
Michael Doherty
Those are also great tips for the life of your waders, especially when it comes to damage prevention. We do realize damage prevention of waders is an important topic and we are glad that you brought this to the blogs attention. I think we were shooting for protection and storage of waders with this blog. Just in case someone has accidentally poked a hole with the willows or ripped their waders on a sharp rock, Calvin has a link for hole repairs in the article. Thanks again for checking out the blog and adding the helpful tips on damage prevention.
Thank you for the great question. There is in fact a number of products out there and on the market for the cleaning and care of your waders. Knowing which one to use or better yet what products not to use, will ultimately affect the life of your waders.
When it comes to the products that are alright to use on your SIMMS waders, any water repellent product that is intended for Tactical Fabric use will be fine. Brands such as ReviveX, Nikwax or the mentioned KIWI brand to name a few, all of them have a product that can be used on Tactical Fabrics. The compatibility of these products with this material will be very similar from brand to brand and should have a list of applications on the label. It is always a good idea to check that information out before using them. As for the product you have been using in the past, as long as the product you have been using is intended for Tactical Fabrics or porous, breathable materials you should be fine.
Now for what you should avoid using on your waders. I actually contacted the SIMMS Customer Care on this subject and they just said to avoid any Harsh Canvas Cleaners or any other Harsh Chemical Cleaning products. With Harsh being a key word in the information, the use of these products will cause damage to the waders. If you needed to clean your waders please use the product care tag on your waders as a reference and cleaners intended for this kind of fabric or material.
I hope the information I have provided was able to answer your question. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.