Waders Information

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been looking online for Waders and I am even more confused now than I was even before I knew what The Word "Waders" meant.
I have been detecting since April 2009 and do most of my searching in Galveston, Texas. I have the Sea Hunter and I search in knee high to waist high surf. I don't want to stop just because of the cooler weather and chilly water.
The first Info I need Help with is about what Size Waders do I need. - I am 6'2'' tall / 265 lbs (mostly in the belly area, duh!) and wear a size 12 shoe. There are all kinds of variations on the sizes from XXL to a Boot Size 12, 14 etc...
Next Please Recommend the Material (neoprene, rubber, breathable etc...) the Waders are made out of that is best suited for Metal Detecting in Galveston, Texas Cool Months.
I am wanting to wear Waders instead of say a Dry/Wet Suit because, by the time I got one of those Wet/Dry suits on over this Big Belly I would be to tired to go Detecting and I don't want someone walking along the Seawall mistaking me for a Beached Whale. 
Thanks in Advance for Your Input,
Big1011Guy.

This is just my opinion but,... Wearing waders in the surf is like saying out loud, "I have an overt deathwish". You obviously don't have much experience working in the surf.


Please don't be offended by my remarks. I just don't like to see someone do unsafe things.

HH
Ralph

Wearing waders in the surf is not a good idea, but with a belt and PFD (life vest) it can be done if your careful.  A lot depends on the surf.   I've taken some spills and waves washing over the top is not fun.  You are best served with just the Farmer John pants and don't worry, they make them in larger sizes.  Best to try them on in a dive shop.

Waders should also be tried on before plunking down your money.  I like boot waders from Cabala's http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...Type=category&parentId=cat20166

Neoprene are the warmest and fit close to the body so a spill isn't as wet.  One thing to look for is waders without a steel shank in the boot as the detector will find it.  When I wore stocking foot waders I wore wading boots that had brass tacks which  sometimes got the attention of my Excal when I was careless and got the coil to close.  Don't go cheap as good ones last for many years.  Good Luck, and have fun. 

This is just my opinion but,... Wearing waders in the surf is like saying out loud, "I have an overt deathwish". You obviously don't have much experience working in the surf.


Please don't be offended by my remarks. I just don't like to see someone do unsafe things.

HH
Ralph

No Offense Taken Montauk3. I just want to get out in the water when the seasons change.
If I would have had Chest High Waders Yesterday when I went to Galveston for the 12:33pm Low Tide, Temp Low 60's and with the wind blowing out of the North, I would have been able to get out in the water (even knee high) further than any other time I have been there. There wasn't much Wave Action and the waves that were coming ashore were very, very small. I have already learned the hard way that trying to Detect in Heavy Surf is Not a Good Idea and that a Strong Wave can sneak up on you and knock you on your *##. I also don't Detect at the Beach alone, my girlfriend is hooked on Metal Detecting as well and searches the Dry Sand/Towel Line Area.
Thanks for your concern,
Guy

Unless your wearing a life vest you should get a Farmer John wetsuit, 3 or 5 mil. I can hunt in January in the Atlantic off of Florida coast with mine and stay warm, and the Atlantic is a lot colder then the Gulf of Mexico. If you ever step in a hole, trip, or God Forbid, have a medical emergency, the waders will fill up with water and they then are like concrete overshoes. You can drown before your girlfriend can get to you if your in waist deep water.

I have stepped in holes, fell off of sandbars when they collasped, been hit with rouge wave when normal surf is only 12 inches and gone head over heals, if I had on hip waders or knee waders it would not have been fun.........Just a friendly suggestion.........

Unless your wearing a life vest you should get a Farmer John wetsuit, 3 or 5 mil. I can hunt in January in the Atlantic off of Florida coast with mine and stay warm, and the Atlantic is a lot colder then the Gulf of Mexico. If you ever step in a hole, trip, or God Forbid, have a medical emergency, the waders will fill up with water and they then are like concrete overshoes. You can drown before your girlfriend can get to you if your in waist deep water.

I have stepped in holes, fell off of sandbars when they collasped, been hit with rouge wave when normal surf is only 12 inches and gone head over heals, if I had on hip waders or knee waders it would not have been fun.........Just a friendly suggestion.........

Thanks Treasure_Hunter for your reply. Someone else also suggested a Farmer John Wetsuit. I have never heard of them - I will check em' out. I hope they come with a Corset (old timey girdle) for my Belly Bulge
Thanks, Guy

I weigh about 210, 38 waist, and I wear a XXL just to give you and idea, they run small.

I have 2 shortsleeve shorties and a longsleeve farmer john, I got one shortie at a garage sell for $15, other shortie on EBay for $25 with shipping, and Farmer John cost me $38 with shipping.

Here is link just to check, link is to get an idea, ignore prices, look for a used suit.........

http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-42/...-Temperate-Water-60-75-degrees.html

I weigh about 210, 38 waist, and I wear a XXL just to give you and idea, they run small.

I have 2 shortsleeve shorties and a longsleeve farmer john, I got one shortie at a garage sell for $15, other shortie on EBay for $25 with shipping, and Farmer John cost me $38 with shipping.

Here is link just to check, link is to get an idea, ignore prices, look for a used suit.........

http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-42/...-Temperate-Water-60-75-degrees.html

With the Farmer John Wet Suits what sort of footwear do you wear to keep feet dry and warmish.
I don't think Flippers would really be a good idea
Guy

I personally use several different shoes, depending on the temperature. I have a pair of dive boots, I also got used off of EBay that I use for the winter, or cold water, 9 months a year I use Gators....

I personally use several different shoes, depending on the temperature. I have a pair of dive boots, I also got used off of EBay that I use for the winter, or cold water, 9 months a year I use Gators....

Thanks, Treasure_Hunter for the additional info. Time to go a Huntin' on Ebay!!!!
Guy

Forgot to mention dive boots also run small, buy at least one size larger then you normally wear.

Forgot to mention dive boots also run small, buy at least one size larger then you normally wear.

Thanks again, Guy

I agree with Sandman,  "Wearing waders in the surf is not a good idea, but with a belt and PFD (life vest) it can be done if your careful.  A lot depends on the surf." For Me I do wear {Hodgeman wadelites, with Boots attached}  all the time during the fall and spring when the water is from 60 and down to the high 30's, if I see the water is to ruff I make sure to have the Sterns no 4444 manual inflate, life and Fishing vest all in one, plus my pouchbelt from Joseph DeMarco. If I am in very ruff waters I wear a MSD 900 Survival Work Suit. I like the waders the best, you can be in them and out within a few minutes, {the MSD900 takes about 10 mins.} Plus the waders keep the Salty feeling off of you, this is the Alantic Coast waters, which  can be ruff most of the time, so just be careful, wearing a PDF is your best investment, here is my link to you tube which you can see the waders, and the ruff waters      <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/RLGLzSfsEi4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/RLGLzSfsEi4</a> 
Another Vid   http://www.youtube.com/user/OldeBeechnut#p/u/4/7iRLiEUZc_Y    And the waders have a steel shank and the detector does pick them up , some times, but you must keep in mind that the shanks are there and you will be fine..no major problem with the excal or the Pi..good luck...HH...Joe

Thanks OldeBeechnut for the Reply, Info and Videos.  I really enjoyed Videos and laughed pretty hard when you found that 20 dollar bill.
Thanks again, Guy

Guy, you should understand that dive boots don't keep your feet dry.  The water inside stays warm from your foot and it is better than having cold water flood in and out.  The only way to keep feet dry is with boot foot waders.

Guy, you should understand that dive boots don't keep your feet dry.  The water inside stays warm from your foot and it is better than having cold water flood in and out.  The only way to keep feet dry is with boot foot waders.

Thanks Sandman for the clarification of dive boots. I am still leaning towards Neoprene Chest High Waders with Boots attached, a waist belt and being careful.
Guy

My Question to all the guys that hunt the cold waters, say from 30 to 40 degrees, I have a dry suit that has the rubber bootes/soxs.  And the dive boots I wear over, but my feet get cold after a few hours or so. I have used the foot warmers. which help. But am I missing something? Even my Msd900 uses the same setup but with a gortex sox, which works better but still, have I got so use to the comfort of the WarmBoots of my waders. that keep my feet warm for hours. Is there something I'm missing? Thanks Guys........Joe

Your feet still get cold because of cold water around the foot where the wader boots insulate lots better.  Suggest wool socks on feet before getting in dry suit.  I never liked dry suits because of the tight fitting around the neck.

I would say no no on the waders, I think it was in Florida a man drowned a year or so ago detecting while wearing waders. I hunt South Padre Island and the surf is brutal this time of the year, that and the undertow will knock you off your feet. I have a couple wetsuits, but the farmer john ones work really well here. The dive boots are a must and although your feet get wet you will not feel the cold. One other recomendation is dive gloves to keep your hands warm. Don't get thick ones because you won't be able to reach in the scoop and grasp anything. I made the mistake of going out last year with a wet/dry suit, the ones you would use in icy waters. The temp here was about 28 and the wind would cut through you. I was fine in the suit it worked like a charm. But I had thick dive gloves on which I found out didn't work with detecting so off they came. I kept my hands in the water, because it was warmer, and ignored the signs of them going numb and me losing feeling in them until I couldn't stand the dull throbing any more(ok until I was having problems holding onto the scoop). I almost did not get out of the wetsuit because my hands just weren't working. I still have joint pain in them now to this day. STUPID STUPID STUPID, but I really didn't think it was that cold to do any damage.

Thanks txkickergirl for your reply and input about the gloves.
Much Appreciated, Guy

BigGuy,

I wear waders to water hunt all of the time with absolutely no issues. I hunt in Lake Michigan where I think the waves can be quite big. I wear neopreme waders (which is the same stuff that wetsuits are made of) and then put a farmer john wetsuit top on which makes it virtually a dry suit. If you step in water deeper than the waders and stay there you may get a small amount of water in your waders, (they then act like a wetsuit with boots) but if you just step that deep and retreat or have an occasional wave wash past the top of the waders you will stay dry. I have purposely flooded my waders, they do not sink, and they are no more cumbersome when flooded until you get into shallow water, then you get the michelen man syndrome look. just let some water out.

Neopreme waders are more form fitting than the old style rubber waders, that did present a problem if they were flooded. Make sure that if you do get waders with boots that you get some without the steel shank in the boots.

When its really cold I put my farmer john bottoms on then the waders then the farmer john tops. I have hunted in a blizzard and stayed warm but you feel kind of like the tin man (oil me).

It only takes a couple of minutes to put them on, and when I'm done hunting I slip them off and put on my shoes and am ready to travel, and most importantly I'm dry!

Just my experience.

Steve

Thanks kaptainkosmic for your reply and info. I have chosen to try Neoprene Chest High Waders with Boots attached. I bid on and won some on E-bay. I will try them out in a couple of weeks and post how things turn out.
Thanks again, Guy

kaptainkosmic is 100% on the waders
Thanks Sandman, I do use redhead hunting sox's, guess the old feet will have to tuff it. Your right about the drysuits, first time in a drysuit like the Hangmans nuce, the MSD900 has a adjustible neck which is some what easier. I have to go thur all your post, heard you have several great tips on the excals.


During the winter I use 3 mm O'Neil neoprene gloves, wind resistant and my hands stay warm, even after hours in the water. After you get use to them you have very little problem picking up stuff if it is in the sand, on a flat table, a dime would take a couple days . Taking them off is like pealing your skin off, not painful but tight. But after 3 seasons they are looking a bit worn.

I have seen a few use these trapper gloves......http://www.nwtrappers.com/catalog/products.asp?cat=80

Good Luck Joe

Great vid on the waders of death myth for all the non believers in waders





<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/OYwG52p4yjs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/OYwG52p4yjs</a>

Thanks OldeBeechnut for the Additional Info and Wader Video. The Gloves I use are ROC Auto Mechanic Gloves they aren't waterproof but fit tight and I can pick up small items with them on.
Gotta have a little discomfort to make Findin' That There Buried Treasure Worth the Search.
Guy