The Duck Hunting Blind » waders

Waders For Duck Hunting

John — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:14:54 +0000

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.

Duck Hunting Waders

John — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:36:04 +0000

Duck Hunting Waders

Invariably the pursuit of ducks and waterfowl includes going into the water. As any duck hunter long in the tooth can attest, a good pair of waders is worth their weight in gold moreso than even a good duck call. To that end, let's take a stroll through the options out there and whittle the full array of waders available into a few options that make sense to purchase. We want to remember that we want quality workmanship, comfort and warmth all to play major roles.

Neoprene duck hunting waders

Really at the top of the list has to be neoprene for waterfowl hunting. It keeps you warm in the most ducky weather, i.e. driving sleet, and the comfort is really greatly improved from the waders of yesteryear. Neoprene waders come

Neoprene duck hunting waders are a God send on cold days in the duck marsh

in 2 different thicknesses, 3.5 mm and 5 mm. I prefer the 5mm, but that is simply due to the fact that I am wont to be hunting is some COLD weather at times. I absolutely love duck hunting in the snow. If it is snowing, you know it has to be pretty cold! The 3.5 mm variety is good for most applications, it just is a little to light in the extreme cold situations. When I bought my first pair of neoprene waders I was worried that they wouldn't hold up. That fear has been proven to be unfounded as I have been wearing the same pair for 8 years and they are still going strong. A little bit of shoe goop has proven to repair any small marks in the fabric back to a water tight seal.

Breathable Waders

Breathable duck hunting waders can keep you comfortable even on warm days

The one key thing that neoprene waders don't allow if for moisture that comes from inside your waders to escape. For that reason in warm weather they can almost cook you at times. Enter the breathable wader. The beauty of these waders is that they actually allow for water and perspiration to move from the inside of the waders to the outside, all the while keeping the water you are wading in out. Pretty revolutionary. The key take back for these waders is their warmth. If you plan to hunt in weather colder than 40 degrees these are not the waders for you. That said, they are an excellent choice for the duck hunter who mostly hunts in warmer weather. Light and breathable is a great combination in these weather conditions.

Nylon Waders

The nylon wader was long the king of the duck blind. Compared to the old rubber style wader that was bulky, heavy and extremely uncomfortable, these were truly a God send. The problem was really two fold. They didn't hold warmth for beans. If you were in the water you were losing heat like a mad man. This wasn't a big deal if it was 70 degrees outside, but was if it got any colder. However, if it was 70 degrees and you were walking around at all it led to some very warm outing in the duck blind. The comfort was better than the terrible rubber waders, but really falls off in comparison to the modern day neoprene models.

Rubber waders

I won't even get started, just tell you that if you think about buying a pair of these, please take a step back and reconsider. I know they are much less expensive than other wader types, but I can't stress to you enough how truly unbearable these are to wear. Do yourself a favor and save up for a pair of neoprene duck hunting waders or if you hunt mostly warm weather the breathable waders. If you can't afford either of these, I would strongly suggest you at least take the step up to the nylon waders. Trust me here, you will be cursing yourself for buying them the very first time you take them out into the duck blind.

Waders: Which ones are right for me!

John — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:49:58 +0000

The very first time you ever duck hunted over open water you probably realized very quickly that it is important to purchase waders. The question is which type of waders should you purchase. The reality is it depends largely on your situation where you hunt. The factors to consider are depth of water, water temperature and air temperature.

If you hunt in conditions in the northern states like Minnesota, and the Dakotas the air and water temperature can get very cold. In fact often times can have ice on it during the late season. If this is the case, we strongly recommend that the hunter consider purchasing a pair of high quality neoprene waders for several reasons. One they are warm! Today's waders can be purchased with very good insulation. In addition, the neoprene waders are flexible and durable making getting in and out of the water a easy situation. Some of the better brands include: Cabela's, Lacrosse, and Hodgman.

If you are hunting in an area with less water and the air temperature is warmer their are lighter weight options available. One key thing to remember is to make sure the wader has good foot support and sole grip. Waders with poor soles will likely slip and be uncomfortable. It is critical that the tread on the waders is made of a high quality material that will last.

Good waders can make duck hunting much more enjoyable.

Good luck hunting!