Hypothermia/ neoprene waders?

I was just curious, has anyone ever had or come close to Hypothermia while
fishing in their waders?
All I have is a set of breathable lightweight waders, but I layer pretty
heavily in extreme cold water conditions, and so far the cold hasn't
bothered me to the point of shivering. I usually out of the water before
that, but there were times when I'm in the water for a long period of time.
A few of my friends suggested I should get a good set of neoprene waders,
just haven't forked the bucks yet. Others have told me neoprene is a waste
of money. It might be handy to have a 2nd pair of waders.
Comments on neoprene waders? Good brands?
fwiw,
-tom

Tom Nakashima wrote:
......... Others have told me neoprene is a waste
of money.
-tom

When it's warm enough to use non-neoprene waders I wet wade
more often than not. The non-neoprenes I do have (and occasionally
wear)
are Patagonia waders, which I do like. But for me they are the frills.
Neoprene is the requirement.

Neoprene is warmer and it does keep you warm even when
wet. I wouldn't feel safe wading in April and November with anything
else.

"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.

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in
:

I was just curious, has anyone ever had or come close to Hypothermia
while fishing in their waders?
All I have is a set of breathable lightweight waders, but I layer
pretty heavily in extreme cold water conditions, and so far the cold
hasn't bothered me to the point of shivering. I usually out of the
water before that, but there were times when I'm in the water for a
long period of time. A few of my friends suggested I should get a good
set of neoprene waders, just haven't forked the bucks yet. Others have
told me neoprene is a waste of money. It might be handy to have a 2nd
pair of waders. Comments on neoprene waders? Good brands?
fwiw,
-tom



The trick that the die hard steelheaders around here use is BOOTFOOT
neoprene waders. The heavy contiguous bootfoot keeps the water further
away than the stocking foot with a separate boot, and there's usually more
room in there for heavier socks. The boot should be loose to promote
circulation.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

"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

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

Well, it's never happened to ME......but, yes, that is by FAR the most
common scenario.

Wolfgang
i mean, come on, gentlemen.......let's be honest here.

Tom Nakashima wrote:
I was just curious, has anyone ever had or come close to Hypothermia while
fishing in their waders?
All I have is a set of breathable lightweight waders, but I layer pretty
heavily in extreme cold water conditions, and so far the cold hasn't
bothered me to the point of shivering. I usually out of the water before
that, but there were times when I'm in the water for a long period of time.
A few of my friends suggested I should get a good set of neoprene waders,
just haven't forked the bucks yet. Others have told me neoprene is a waste
of money. It might be handy to have a 2nd pair of waders.
Comments on neoprene waders? Good brands?
fwiw,
-tom

I have both. Fished in 24 degree temp 34 degree water yesterday with
the breathables.
10 to 20 mph winds. Used the neoprenes the day before. It was much
warmer. 26 degrees.
I noticed no difference. The only thing that got cold was my hands. If
you layer the breathbles with under armor, then fleece, they are just
as warm as neoprene. I think the best
would be breathable with attached boots. Hard to find correct size for
me though.

"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message
...
I was just curious, has anyone ever had or come close to Hypothermia while
fishing in their waders?
All I have is a set of breathable lightweight waders, but I layer pretty
heavily in extreme cold water conditions, and so far the cold hasn't
bothered me to the point of shivering. I usually out of the water before
that, but there were times when I'm in the water for a long period of
time. A few of my friends suggested I should get a good set of neoprene
waders, just haven't forked the bucks yet. Others have told me neoprene is
a waste of money. It might be handy to have a 2nd pair of waders.
Comments on neoprene waders? Good brands?
few,
-tom


I have always used breathable waders w fleece or Patagonia underwear in
differing weights depending upon the temps
I do not like the feel of neoprene!
and I have always been warm enough even on the coldest days.
I find it much more supple or flexible layered in this fashion than with
neoprene.

Fleece will also retain heat when wet.
- The above I learned from experience - having flipped over a raft in early
spring on the North Fork of the Flathead River
a few years ago.
My wet fleece garments kept me warm

Fred