Hypothermia/ neoprene waders?

"Tom Nakashima" wrote


I was just curious, has anyone ever had or come close to Hypothermia while
fishing in their waders?


I was lucky enough to be found and rescued in Maryland while in serious
condition from hypothermia, many many years ago .... I was duck hunting,
not fishing ... when found my brain function was already well impaired (
there's a joke opportunity here folks ) and I was randomly moving decoys and
had taken off my outer layer because I thought I was too warm ( they tell
me, I have little real memory, I was that far gone ).

Since then, I have paid more than average attention to the problem and I DO
have both neoprene and breathable waders


I almost never use the neoprenes. MY opinion is that state of the art
breathables lined and layered with SOA fleece garments is the best way to
go. The only time I use neoprenes at this point is when there is a high
chance of ripping the waders and in cold, remote, conditions ( mainly duck
hunting ) .... my belief, which I hope to never test, is that wet fleece
inside neoprene would be better than wet fleece inside breathables ... more
of a wet suit deal .... if you stay basically dry you'll stay warmer in the
breathables.

"Larry L" wrote in

o
go. The only time I use neoprenes at this point is when there is a
high chance of ripping the waders and in cold, remote, conditions ( mainly
duck hunting ) .... my belief, which I hope to never test, is that wet
fleece inside neoprene would be better than wet fleece inside breathables
... more of a wet suit deal .... if you stay basically dry you'll stay
warmer in the breathables.


OH forgot, I'd prefer to fall and tumble down stream fighting to regain the
shore in neoprenes over the same battle in breathables, too .... they help
you float, sort of. But I don't do any rough and tumble wading at this
point in my life, terrible ankle, bad knees, bad center of gravity .... and
didn't think of this at first.

Neoprenes would be a good choice for big tumbling winter water .... and they
aren't that much $$$ really ...

Larry L wrote:


I almost never use the neoprenes. MY opinion is that state of the art
breathables lined and layered with SOA fleece garments is the best way to
go.

.....that'll keep you warm too, as long as you do not take a plunge.
Then you'll freeze your butt. Neoprene is better at keeping you warm
even when you've filled up with water.......neoprene also tend to fit
tighter,
so you don't fill up with as many gallons if you do go for a swim,
belt or no belt.

I've been pretty close to wally world several times, due to
hypothermia.
But it never had anything to do with waders. Maybe that's because
I've always been wading in neoprene, when wading **** happened.

"salmobytes" wrote

....that'll keep you warm too, as long as you do not take a plunge.
Then you'll freeze your butt. Neoprene is better at keeping you warm
even when you've filled up with water.......neoprene also tend to fit
tighter,
so you don't fill up with as many gallons if you do go for a swim,
belt or no belt.



Yes, the more I think about it the more I'd want neoprenes in a really bad
situation ... cold, wet, far from help, me and the boat no longer connected,
etc ...

My first thought was mainly about comfort and I DO stay more comfortable in
breathables in chilly weather fishing ... but, again, neoprenes provide more
insurance against the unexpected