Warm wellies you can walk in?

[Endrick]

You can buy breathable waist waders thus combining the functions of waterproof trousers and welly boots! I have a pair made by Orvis and they are great if you are out on a miserable day. If you have to kneel or sit down then they are a real boon. Mine are stockingfoot so you wear footwear to suit what you are doing. I like metal studded orienteering shoes for most things - much better grip than most wellies.

[Cowgirl]

I always have to smile when I think of waders, all I can remember is my dad (Keen salmon fisher & 6'6") walking into the living room proud as punch after being able to afford to buy a new pair of green (pea pod green!) chest high ones like Endrick says with stockinged feeet, so pleased with himself that no more having to repair the old ones with all sorts of mysterious alchemical potions & finding out at the wrong time that it didn't work He was met with gales of laughter and us singing the Jolly Green Giant theme tune.

Poor dad, family will always bring you back to earth with a bump

[Deb London]

Dumb (?) question, CG (or anyone). What is suitable footwear to wear with this type of wader? I mean for under water. Basically, how does it all work?

[Cowgirl]

Not a dumb question at all Debbie, must admit I had to think a bit about it myself & rack my memeory (it was nearly 30 years ago!).

I think he used to wear them with his ordinary fishing wellies, they had studded soles so he could trundle about on the river bottom they filled with water but I don't they they were lined so the water soon emptied out and as the new waders were rubber his feet stayed dry.

[Endrick]

Deb London,

You can buy specialist wading boots. The very best ones for walking over slippery rocks in a river have felt soles and a few tungsten studs as well. However these are expensive and are a nightmare on steep slippery grass. They act like skis. I have a pair of Simms felt and tungsten studded wading boots.

What I prefer for most purposes are orienteering shoes. The ones I use are one and a half sizes larger than my normal shoes and they have metal studs in them. These are only used with neoprene stockinged waders. They are much better to walk in than specialist boots, last longer and are much better on steep grass banks. They are not so good on slippery boulder rivers.

Generally speaking there is a huge crossover between hillwalking, fishing, hunting and wildlife photography clothing. Sometimes when you are looking for things for wildlife like a really warm one piece waterproof quilted suit or a camouflaged jacket or waders it's better to look on sites like John Norris or Mullarkeys than a specialist wildlife photography or general outdoor store.


Malcolm

[PMG]

and for price you will rarely beat a fishing shop!

Google Orvis Deb and you will see that the bottoms of the waders instead of ending in wellies ends in what I guess is either rubber sockette or a neoprene sockette, which means you then stick a pair of shoes, boots or wellies on and wade right in!

[Deb London]

Thank you CG, Malcolm and Pauline.

I love water, but I've gotten a bit picky in my old age I think. What intrigues me is the idea of walking in soggy boots. Squelch/schlurrrrp - squelch/schlurrrrp. Does this not happen with the orienteering boots, Malcolm?

[kercock]

For wader variations, also boots I bought mine from USA .had them brought over by my nephew who lives in USA. Goods are vastly cheaper and of course being brought into the country,questions are rarely asked. Friends of mine,holidaying in,say Florida,have stuff delivered to their hotel to be collected when they are over there. Waders for instance, with a central zip were $75 with wading boots,felt sole $40. The variation in boots is mind boggeling just remember their size is one less than ours ie our size 10 you need to buy USA size 11, and by the way. the quality is excellent. I had 20 years experience of it !

[Endrick]

Deb London

Yes water does get in and out whatever boots or shoes you wear with stockingfoot waders. Its all a compromise and to be honest I don't notice anymore. I even manage to ingore the wet weight of felt soled boots.

As an aside (and really little to do with the post), at the other extreme a couple of times last summer in some considerable heat I was taking pictures of blue winged olives hatching. No waders - just very lightweight trousers and a pair of fell running shoes with no socks - I was dry in twenty minutes. In summer I very often take the option of just walking everywhere - over burns, up the mountains, through mud etc in fell running shoes. I find it easy to forget wet feet and to me the grip and lightness are worth the wet feet!

Best Regards
Malcolm

[Paul mabbott]

Personally, I find all wellies bad to walk in but these look comfortable:
http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/mall...EMCROFFEML3420