question about my waders

brian clemens · Senior Member

question about my waders

JT · Senior Member

For storage, I have a pole in my garage that I hang my waders from.� I've heard of people hanging them upside down, but I don't do that.� I've fixed waders in the past using Shoe-Goo.� I had some left over from my skating days, and it worked well.� I'd say you're out of luck as far as Hodgeman fixing your waders or honoring some sort of warranty.��You should be able to fix them yourself, though.

brian clemens · Senior Member

well like i said threw some seam sealer on there, it works great on tents, heard it would work great on neoprene waders, only the creek will tell. but if it dont work, ill try to find some shoe goo, and go that route, there is one lil hole that i patched, the rest is just the seams, and really not that bad. so we shall see, did see a few spots when puttin on the seam sealer where the seams were leaking, so doubled�up on those spots, i think i might have put a lil to much, but ohh well. ill find out on friday.�

JT · Senior Member

I bought my first waders (Hodgeman neoprenes) from a thrift store for $5.� They had a couple of leaks that were easily fixed with Shoe-Goo.� Since then, I've used Shoe-Goo on breathable waders and a couple of pairs of wading boots.� Just make sure you use it in a well-ventilated area.

brian clemens · Senior Member

sweet will have to try that out if my seamsealer doesnt work, now you said as far as hanging, do you do them upside down, inside out, do you hang them from the back strap, being that i have neoprenes i hear different remarks on this

JT · Senior Member

I hang them from the straps,�but I don't turn them inside out.

brian clemens · Senior Member

sounds good, i am hoping that my repair jobs hold up if not, ill be washing mine a few times to get out the seam sealer and tryin that shoe goo

thanks jt

brian clemens · Senior Member

hey jt where can i get that shoe goo at

shon42073 · Senior Member

Last time i saw shoe goo was at Kmart.

JT · Senior Member

Kmart, Walmart, Big5, and�lots of�shoe stores sell it.� I would call around first, though.

brian clemens · Senior Member

hey thanks jt, and captain, hey jt and captain, pms sent. hit me back

brian clemens · Senior Member

can you put waders in the dryer on low, say if you went fishing yesterday and you wanna go fishing the next day you have neos like me and there is a tiny leak here and there and they are still kinda wet, is the dryer ok to use

shon42073 · Senior Member

Dude, if i could I'd turn em inside out and put a fan blowing on em. But if you have to put em in the dryer I'm not sure if thats good or not. If you do i'd just put em in for like 5 mins then take em out for a bit, then again for a few mins then out again. The dryer might melt the seem sealer ?

brian clemens · Senior Member

ill just put a fan on them, i got a few of um, should be good to go tomorrow morning, so meeting up at the dry creek bed parkin lot at 630 then, oh ya nother pm sent

Nohackle · Senior Member

I have a pair of neoprenes that are about 20 years old and are still very useable.� Now I only use them a couple of times a year, but when they were new I used them a lot more.��These days�I use them primarily for floatubing or for very cold days.� Whenever I have used them, I have dried them thoroughly, both inside and outside.� Once the outside is dry, I fold them inside out and dry the inside.� By drying them completely it has kept the rubber from rotting.� Years ago when the strips covering the seams started coming unglued, I believe I used aquaseal to glue the strips back.� Since then, the strips have never come unglued.� I don't know if what I have done is the "approved" way of maintaining neoprene waders, but it's worked okay for me.

Lahontan · Senior Member

Hey Brian ... I don't have much experience with neoprene waders, but I used to surf quite a bit in my 20's and 30's.� Think wetsuit!� Visit O'neill, Ripcurl and maybe Body Glove's websites.� They probably have some good repair tips.� Oddly enough, a surf shop may be more experienced with repairs than some fly fishing shops.

I'd say NO to the dryer.� It's still advanced rubber! I can remember surfing so much that putting on a wet, wet suit became the miserable reality.� 6:30am ... it's so cold, your knees are knocking, your teeth are chattering, lower back spasms, and you have to put that dang wet piece of rubber on ... but as soon as your in the water you'd forget about that.

Care: rinsing was real important, just fresh cold water. I'd soak it in a tub of cold water, shower or hose it down, and hang it in the shower on a fat plastic hangar.� Always liked the results.� Sometimes, just too tired, forget and leave it in the trunk.� Go to work.� Next time out might start to mildew a little.� I'd wash it in cold water, on gentle with woolight and hang it to dry that would do it.

Weird thing was they wouldn't dry as much as "drip" dry. The water would run "down" the suit over the course of about a day and a half.� 24 hours, the lower half would always still be damp.� 36 hours pretty dry.

Now a days, if you really value those waders...you can get stuff especially for neoprene at almost any surf shop. It helps with the smell,�and has conditioners that keep it soft.� Kind of like armoralling your dash. Not so much about being touchy feely, as keeping them from drying and cracking ...especially behind the knees.

Sorry about the length.� I try to buy good stuff, and then use it until it turns to dust.� That means care and a little preventative maintenance.

bono · Master Fly Fishing Guide

As stated above I would be really carefull about putting any kind of waders in the dryer,some waders specify "do not dry the in the dryer".I also dry on the outside first for about 24hrs then turn them inside out and do the same,cause the inside of all waders breathable or not will get kind of funky.I then (when completly dry) will sprinkle an anti-fungal powder like Caldesene or Goldbond inside the waders themselves.I especially have to do this because I have clients who use my waders and I want the waders to be clean;fungal free and fresh smelling. Bono

dtp916 · Senior Member

Neoprenes!

You're killin me man!

Breathables are getting pretty cheap these days. I'd junk them if you can't fix them with the stuff you put on.

If you aint fishing Pyramid, you don't need neoprenes. Maybe use them on the Truckee this winter biggrin

But it just don't get cold enough on the creek!

brian clemens · Senior Member

well for winter time they are good, the only place they leak now is in the crotch area, so gonna get the shoe goo and see how that works, but being that it is winter time, i am just fine with the neoprenes right now. and money is stupid tight on my end right now. once i have the money ill invest in some waders and wading boots, but with the car market being down dont know when that will be. but all the rivers that i fish right now, the water is kinda cold, but also i do like being able to just slip into the neos with just my boxer briefs on.

dtp916 · Senior Member

Have you tried Aquaseal?

I just put some on my waders and it sealed it real nice smile