I’ve toyed with using breathable chest waders for some time, having used ordinary rubber ones and, more lately, those made from neoprene, in the past.
It’s not that I do a lot of wading but when I do I seem to wade for quite long periods, usually either when trotting for river fish such as chub and barbel, or when flyfishing for trout.
So it’s essential that you’re kept dry and comfortable, for you don’t fish happily if either of those conditions are not met.
I detest rubber waders; they keep you dry all right, but they’re terrible when walking in them, even on dry land (no wonder most of us fold them down below the knee), let alone when actually wading in them. Neoprene waders are better but they don’t half make you sweat in mild weather.
Now, before I say my piece, bear in mind that these breathable chest waders and wading boots from Wychwood are the first breathable ones I’ve used, so I can’t compare them to any others. But from the Wychwood stable I expected them to be top quality and as far as I’m concerned they certainly are.
Wearing them, for both walking and wading, was no different than wearing a thicker pair of over-trousers and normal walking boots. They were great, and if I’d known just how much difference they made to my comfort (and still be 100% waterproof) I would have had some years ago.
I must admit it felt a bit weird when I first got into the water, it being winter and the water temperature very cold. My first thought was that they were leaking, but not so, it was just the cold water having its first effect. Within two or three minutes I’d made the adjustment and they felt good. Neoprene waders are supposed to be better for wading in cold water, but there is also another school that says breathables are better in any weather if you wear the right layers underneath. I wouldn’t argue with that.
Getting out of the water and again I thought my feet were wet, I could feel the water squelching in my boots, but it was just the water that lay between the neoprene feet of the waders and the wading boots.
I like them, both the waders and the boots. They were comfortable enough to wear all day long. I could kneel down in mud or wet grass, walk into the water, sit on wet seats, fish in pouring rain, and not worry about getting wet. Not so sure yet just how hard wearing they’ll be, or I’d consider wearing them for all my winter fishing, whether I intended to wade or not.
One thing to be wary of is to buy a size bigger boot than your normal size, not because of wearing thick socks but because of the thickness of the neoprene feet of the waders. My normal size is 8 so I chose the 7/8 size, but I wish now that I’d had the size 9/10.
If you’re a regular wader wearer and haven’t had the pleasure of breathable waders, then give yourself a treat and buy some breathables. Not cheap by any means, but I reckon they’re well worth it, and I’m very pleased with these from Wychwood.
