I have two pair of waders (I am a gear junkie beyond belief), both Patagonia (lightweight and a neoprene bootie). I have a falling problem (which I wish I could claim was a brain tumor or something dramatic...but it is merely clumsiness) and have fallen in every river, stream, and indeed, parking lot from the Snake River in the Tetons to the Pacific Ocean. I have fallen on rocks, in mud, on downed woody debris, you name it. My waders have taken this abuse and then some (they are breathables) and still, knock on some of that wood I have fallen on, no leaks. There is a blood stain on my heavier weight waders from a spectacular fall on the upper Yak when I was rescuing my terrier from some rapids...but the stain adds to the "color" of the waders.
My partner had a Patagonia fly fishing vest that the buckle broke. I bought it as a gift a zillion years ago (yes I am that old and yes our relationship has withstood all my falling). We took it to the store in Seattle, they gave us a whole new one, no questions asked...
As to my Orvis rod...I took one into the Bellevue store in mid-September and got it from the repair shop two weeks ago. My partner broke a tip and I took it in the first of October and we just got it back last week. The good news is they do all this free of charge, I didn't even pay shipping...and so far both repairs look good.
---Kimberlee McDonald
