"Scott Seidman" wrote in message
. 1.4...
"Sierra fisher" wrote in
:

Water in your waders increases your surface area, and the current will
have
an easier time pushing you around (including under water, if a current
wants to suck you down).

Yes, but there's no reason for your waders to be ballooning underwater, as
the pressure outside is equal to the pressure inside. Look at a plastic
grocery bag floating downstream: its usually collapsed, or just drifting
half-open. Its not ballooned out like a parachute. As long as you are making
some swimming efforts with your arms, you should have no problem steering
yourself and resisting undercurrents exactly as if you were floating without
waders. Like I said, I'm going to the pool with my waders this weekend to
get some real experience with this, but I've seen the videos and read the
writing.

Also, if you try to move a wader leg that's full
of water, it will be harder to move simply because you're moving more
weight. You lose agility at a time when you can least afford to lose it.

Again, since your leg isn't all ballooned full of water, there should be
very little extra water mass to move. Its when you get half OUT of the water
and your waders are full of whatever water came in that the
weight/maneuverability problems arise, which is why you crawl/roll/flounder
through the shallows to shore.


I find that water infiltrates my loose-fitting breathables more easily
than
a snugger-fitting neoprene.

I'm sorry to hear that you've had so much experience with this! :-)


Bottom line, wear a belt, consider a flotation device, and wade very
cautiously and conservatively if you're not a strong swimmer or if you
lean
toward panic when dunked.

None of those can hurt, thats for sure!

--riverman