riverman wrote:

"Gary M" wrote in message
...
riverman wrote:
I think if a fisherman fell into a steep-sided pool or stream while
wearing waders without a belt, they would quickly be in a very serious
life-threatening situation. The only way I can imagine getting out would
be to slice the waders open, or to somehow get them off.

On that point, do you think you could have got them off underwater in the
deep end?


I thought about trying that, but even in the warm pool and with no current,
I was very hesitant to try to get them off underwater. The thought of
having these things tangled around my legs was worrisome. I'm very certain
that, in a river emergency situation, by the time I thought about trying
that, I would be too cold and panicked to actually accomplish it. It would
involve unlacing the boots, getting them off, getting the gravel guards off,
removing my lifejacket, removing my wading jacket, removing any sweater I
put on after putting on my waders, unclipping the shoulder straps, loosening
the elastic, working the waders down over my legs, grabbing the toes and
pulling my legs out one at a time......you get the idea. I can't hold my
breath that long.

I think I'll do a followup experiement tomorrow. I want to know how much
water will get in if I don't backpaddle, and how hard it is to climb out
when the belt stays on. At that time, I think I'll try to remove them while
swimming and let you know how it goes. I might also put on my spare vest
with a few items in the pockets and see what affect that has.

If you don't hear from me, it didn't go well. ;-)

--riverman

PS: I did think an improvement to waders would be an 'emergency release'.
Imagine that, instead of being sewn on in back, the shoulder straps actually
run down inside the material of the waders where they are looped around a
strap that is inside a track, running parallel to the elastic cord. In an
emergency, you could reach inside the front of your waders, grab the end of
this strap, and pull it out (like removing the string in the waist of a pair
of sweat pants). Then shoulder straps would then be relased front and back,
and you could get the waders off without having to delayer all that gear.

You might also try falling in ( as in slipping on a rock) to see how that would
have an effect on the air in the waders that was not able to get forced out by
walking in. Be careful and have a friend there with you just in case.

Darin