I remember 'em. Very slippery rubber. Funky suspenders. Sweaty and leaky. Gary Meyers Kirkland
> Does anyone remember Seal Dri's? Those were the days. They were one of the > first pair of stockingfoot waders on the market in the 1970's. I bought my > first pair while I was in school at the UW, from Tom Darling at the Avid > Angler fly shop. > > They were made of latex rubber and the performance was awesome - awesomely > horrible that is. They were very easy to puncture and leaked frequently. On > an even modestly warm day, you would be profusely soaked with sweat, and in > the winter you may as well have been wading wet. If you didn't store them > carefully the rubber would dry out and crumble. They were also the cutting > edge wader of the day, and were my most prized possesion as a college > student, along with my Hardy reel. We sure have it good today! > > -----Original Message----- > From: Andy Towell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:13 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Waders > > > I will throw my hat in the ring for the Dan Baileys (I have the base models, > not the guide series.) Not the cheapest, but not $350 either. Extremely > comfortable (especially compared to the 3 and 4 layer stand up by themselves > simms product.) My original pair is about 3 years old and see's 50+ days a > year. The complaint so far is that the knee's are starting to wear on the > insides (from rubbing while float tubing and hiking knock kneed I would > guess) and the tape on the feet seams is starting to let go. I have used the > thinned aquaseal to reinforce the knee rub spots, but I think that the tape > giving out in the feet will put me in the market for a replacement pair in > the next several months. > > For all of you wet waders out there - breathables can be a great thing when > the ticks, mosquitoes, and no-see em's are out, when the poison oak and > nettles are thriving, and for when you are just crashing through the > brambles (I do not know yet how they will fair against rattle snake > fangs...) I have worn mine in MT and ID when the temp has been pushing 95. > While you still sweat, it has certainly cut's down on the scars on the legs. > I tend to still where the neoprenes in the dead of winter, mostly because of > the extra floatation they provide (its a lot easier to fall off a raft than > out of a drift boat...) > > Tight Lines, > > Andy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "PATRICK PETERSEN" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "waflyfishers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:18 AM > Subject: RE: Waders > > >> Breathables are the way to go. When layered proprerly I never get cold not >> even in January. My first breathables were a brand named Tail Water that >> went out of business as soon as I bought them. I could understand why, > they >> leaked with in a month of use(about ten times of use). Now I have a pair > of >> Dan Bailys guide waders and they have been leak proof thus far and I have >> fished at least 75 full days in them this year. In both hot desert weather >> and cold winter river water they are comfortable and dry. I just learned >> about a cleaning solution that should be applied periodically to kep the >> pores from clogging with grime. It helps maintain the breathability after >> several uses. Because of my bad memory I cant remember the name of the >> product but it is available at fly shops like Teds in Lynnwood. The best >> advantage to breathables verses neoprene is the fact they dry much faster >> and are easier to get off and on when wet. >> >> >> >> >>> [Original Message] >>> From: Kent Lufkin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> Date: 11/15/2001 10:22:45 AM >>> Subject: Waders >>> >>> There've been several posts the past week or so regarding equipment. >>> Since we've already beat the subject of inexpensive reels nearly to >>> death, I thought a conversation on a less popular subject might be >>> interesting, namely waders. To start the ball rolling, here's my 3 or >>> 4� worth: >>> >>> I've had three pairs of breathable waders. My first pair (two pair, >>> actually) were Orvis Clearweaters that leaked like a sieve from day >>> one from dozens of tiny pinholes in the fabric. I'd bought 'em on >>> sale at an Orvis store in Boise and ended up returning 'em a couple >>> outings later for another set at the Bellevue store. (BTW, they're >>> not the cheapest line you can find, but Orvis' service is first >>> rate.) Unfortunately, the second set also leaked, so I tested their >>> service once again, this time requesting, and getting a full refund. >>> >>> Deciding to try something different (and not wanting to take out a >>> home equity loan to buy a pair of Simms ;-), I tried a pair of >>> Canadian-made Ronnys from Swede's in Woodinville. I'm finishing my >>> third season with them and they've been excellent. I virtually lived >>> in 'em for a week in Alaska. >>> >>> I've got smallish feet and the Ronny's neoprene feet fit mine much >>> better than the swim-fin sized feet in the Orvis and Hodgman models. >>> However, that means that they're a little bit tougher to get off >>> without putting too much stress on the seams. Once or twice a season, >>> the Ronnys develop pinhole leaks along the seams in the feet. A drop >>> or two of Aqua Seal easily takes care of the problem. >>> >>> In the summer, I get clammy and damp above the waterline, even in the >>> breathable Ronnys. So I found a pair of Hodgman waist-high 'guide >>> pants' waders at Gart in Bellevue on sale for $69, (or with a 'free' >>> pair of $39 Hodgman 300-wt Polartec fleece pants for $89. I got the >>> fleece pants for the extra $20.) I use them with my pontoon boat >>> since I'm only in the water from the knees down. >>> >>> It's easy to forget that I'm not wearing my chest-high Ronnys though. >>> This fall on a float trip down the N Fork of the Stilly with Sean >>> Ranson, I waded in right up past my waist before remembering I was >>> wearing the guide pants. I've only had the Hodgmans this year and >>> have worn 'em less than a dozen times. Aside from the monster feet, >>> they've performed just as well as the Ronny's. >>> >>> Finally, I've got an older pair of Hodgman 3.5mm neoprenes for cold >>> water wear. Like the guide pants, they've got monster feet but >>> they've been tough and durable. But after a day in them, I climb out >>> feeling like I've been in a sauna with my clothes on. >>> >>> My personal thermostat seems to be set lower than most, so sweat >>> condensation is an issue for me, even wearing breathables. After >>> trying several combinations of layers, I've settled on a pair of >>> polypropylene socks to wick away moisture, followed by a pair of >>> Smartwool socks, and maybe another pair of fleece socks or neoprene >>> booties if it's really cold. (With the big feet in the Hodgmans, >>> there's plenty of room for several pairs of socks ;-) I've even tried >>> those crack-n-stick foot warmers from REI. They didn't seem to work >>> very well. >>> >>> I've ended up wearing light polypropylene long johns under the waders >>> in the summer, and a second layer of 100-wt or 300-wt fleece pants >>> when it gets colder. >>> >>> When it's really cold, I wear all the above but switch from the >>> breathables to the neoprene waders. >>> >>> Wonder what's worked for other subscribers? >>> >>> Kent Lufkin >> >> >> >> --- PATRICK PETERSEN >> --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> > >
