I have been milking my old Hodgeman waders for going on 5 years now, patched em a few
times, dealt with the pinhole leaks and the mysterious wet spots after I take them off. Well I have finally talked the wife into letting me get a nice set of waders. I am not particularly hard on waders, but I do fish a ton (3 times per week in the summer, and at least once per week in the winter). I am looking at a set of Dan Bailey EZ zip waders, and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with them. I have read good reviews on some sites, but I take the advice of the guys on this site over any online review. I also saw that Simms has a set of zip ups, but they are a bit more spendy compared to the Bailey's.
Any thoughts positive or negative about the Bailey's? Any other brands that I should look at instead? I havn't heard many negative things about Bailey's, so I am leaning in that direction.
I got the Redington pre- sonic pro zip waders on a closeout discount, and the leg seam leaked right out of the box. Sent them to Redington and they replaced them with Sonic pro model. I almost feel guilty cuz I wouldn't have bought these at full retail, but after a half dozen fishing trips I can only report that they've been very good. As another poster mentioned, it's handy to hike with the front zipped open.
Welded waders rock. Stitching and seam tape just creates thousands of little failure points. I have a pair of cabelas welded waders that have lasted longer than any pair has ever lasted for me. I usually get new waders in june and they're leaking by January--they get the hell beat out of them. I've had this pair going strong since june, not so much as a slow leak. My next pair of waders will be the Redingtons, not so much for the zipper as for the welded construction. I know someone who has almost 100 days on a pair he got as a prototype, and the zipper just gave out--and he feels too guilty to send them back b/c he got them for free. I'm sold.
The original post was from 2008. I didn't think that we were supposed to bring up these old topics. I don't find it such a big deal to stop fishing, take off my layers, and pee.
I fixed my problem for taking a leak. I don't ever wear my waders. I don't fish when it's cold out anymore. And in the summer time I just wear shorts and tennies.
I have a pair of Dan Bailey waders (no zipper) and they are great.
I bought my lady a pair of Redington guides and she loves them, again no zipper.
Maybe you can trust a zipper to not leak, but I don't think I would.
Now as for taking a "P" in the river, it's just not good PR.
Besides I find the water to be cold and deep.
Plus I would not want NFL to break down laughing.
Jeff I was just trying to validate the purchase of my Simms G-4 Zip front waders. I love mine but I had to avert my eyes when we rung them up..
BUT the first time on a frigid winter day on the Grande Ronde when I needed to relieve myself I didn't freeze my A** off, it was all worth it.
there's no need for zippered waders, or even potty breaks any longer. this revolutionary new product, the result of a joint-development venture between simms and their new partner, is now available. you'll never lose another fishing minute again. introducing "Flypers": for serious anglers.
I noticed something while skimming this thread, which I’ve also noticed here in the shop: Almost everyone who owns a pair of zippered waders likes them, most of the guys who speak poorly of them have never owned them…
So far, I have not had a customer that owned the G4Z (zipper) wader, go back to non-zippered waders when the time came to replace them.
I noticed something while skimming this thread, which I've also noticed here in the shop: Almost everyone who owns a pair of zippered waders likes them, most of the guys who speak poorly of them have never owned them…
So far, I have not had a customer that owned the G4Z (zipper) wader, go back to non-zippered waders when the time came to replace them.
I have DB EZ-Zips and they are great. Last spring in Montana, it was below freezing and the rod guides were freezing. My buddies had to layer down to relieve themselves and were chilly by the time they got everything back in place. I simply dropped the front end of my waders, took care of business and got back to fishing. This year (week before last) my DB's malfunctioned and the zipper started coming apart from the bottom end. I called DB and they said that my waders would need to be replaced. I sent them back and will wait to see how that goes. Botom line is that I am still a big fan of zippered waders for us older guys, if you know what I mean.
$50.00 to change bootie size or shorten them. They will NOT do customs or add length. Got this on the phone, from the Rep, about two years ago.
Thanks to Brita at Avid I found out the inseams on the G-3's were very generous and a 38" inseam would work for my 40" legs. First pair of waders I've ever owned that fit.
I had the opportunity to get a pair of the Redington welded seam zipper waders last year. But they only make up to a 34" inseam.
The real downside to zip front waders is that the new generation of anglers will never learn the "junk enhancement" technique of oldtimers who just hoisted their package up and over the top of their chest waders to pee. Most fishermen acknowledged adding a few inches after a few seasons of this treatment. Zip fronts will cause the next generation of fishermen to rely on internet male enhancement gimmicks.
The real downside to zip front waders is that the new generation of anglers will never learn the "junk enhancement" technique of oldtimers who just hoisted their package up and over the top of their chest waders to pee. Most fishermen acknowledged adding a few inches after a few seasons of this treatment. Zip fronts will cause the next generation of fishermen to rely on internet male enhancement gimmicks.
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