Two things make an ordinary pair of waders into a pair you look forward to wearing - comfort and dry feet. Believe me I've had some terrible waders in my time; stiff rubber/plastic jobs that you couldn't kneel down in, walking in them felt like you were walking through sand dunes, and if they didn't leak your feet were wet through with sweat. And as for cold, well, in winter you may as well have paddled in your bare feet with your trousers rolled up and a hanky on your head to keep the sun off.
A good boot....
|
and a proper sole with excellent grip
|
So it was the comfort factor that caused me to smile the moment I put on these neoprene waders from Shimano. They were soft and smooth and just felt good. And when I waded out almost to the tops of them and stood in the water fly fishing in them for almost 10 hours (with a couple of breaks for a brew) and there was no sign of them leaking, well, let's say I was really pleased.
Reinforced knee pads
|
Adjustable belt straps
|
What made them even better was the boot. It was like a proper boot, with a good sole that gave good grip. On top of that they kept my feet warm on a day that had begun with cat ice in the margins and a sparkling white frost over the meadows.
The reinforced knee is a bonus. I could kneel down to unhook fish and tie up leaders and flies and not have to worry about puncturing them or forcing water through.
The two buckled straps hook round your belt to prevent the waders from slipping down; a necessity with neoprene as it's so supple.
Try as I might I can't fault these waders on any count and they get top marks.
Rating: 10/10 |
Gary Dolman
