waders
Waders For Duck Hunting
When it comes to duck hunting some things are expected every time out. Since you are likely to be near the water, expect things to be damp. Plus since you are hunting in the fall it will tend to be on the cooler side of the spectrum. To that end, many waterfowlers look to waders for duck hunting to ensure that they stay warm and dry. Because trust me, if you get wet while out in the duck blind, you are in for a long day in the marsh.
So what should one look for while out in the duck blind when it comes to waders? Comfort has to be near the top of the list. There is not much worse than wearing a set of waders that are bulky and heavy. Trust me, I started with a pair of rubber chest waders when I was young and just starting out my duck hunting career. Being young and stupid, I had no idea what a pain in the rear end these waders were and that there was another way to go about this whole wader thing. I was just happy to be able to wade out and retrieve ducks when they fell and also was able to stay dry when the dog shook all his water on me plus the inevitable spray from the boat as we went to and fro the blind. Being young I was able to be in these waders all day and still be spry in the upcoming mornings. These days that would be a different story. To that end, avoid rubber waders at all costs if possible. I realize they are inexpensive and allow you to get into the game with a lot less cash, but trust me you are going to pay in your comfort big time. The neoprene waders are really a great thing when it comes to comfort. Sure they aren't like being there just wearing standard pants, but they are much more fitted to your body and therefore a pleasure to wear.
As for warmth, I haven't found anything better in that regard than 5mm neoprene waders. Neporene waders come in two standard thicknesses, 3.5mm and 5mm. If you are in a warm weather climate, you might not need the added warmth of the 5mm variety and can go with the 3.5mm garden variety, but I implore you that if you are wont to hunt in an area known for sub 40 degree weather I would seriously steer you towards 5mm neoprene. They have the comfort of neoprene with some great warm tendencies which are much appreciated when the weather heads south and the ducks really start flying.
A final thing to consider is the warmth in the boot of the wader. Your feet are the area that will be most often in the water and therefore this is not a trivial matter. I would suggest going for 1,000 grams of thinsulate in the boots if you again are in a cold weather area. If you get this level of warmth in the boot you will be surprised that your feet and body don't even notice the coldness of the water and air.
When it comes to waders for duck hunting, there are many varieties and choices out on the market today. That is a good thing for duck hunters due to the varying temperature array seen across the spectrum of hunters in addition to the amount of time we all spend in the field.
