What do you prefer

Prospecting Australia

Help Support Prospecting Australia:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Feb 25, 2015
Messages
3,128
Reaction score
3,711
Location
Mt Gambier
I was going to buy a pair of rubber boots the other day, and then thought.....should I buy waders instead? Are waders overkill when braving the cold creek water? Or are they handy to have if the water level is over ya boots? Whats your preferences guys, and if waders do you like the lightweight ones or something in neoprene?
 
I wear neoprene chest waders only because that's what I had for fishing but it allows me to kneel down in the creeks when panning and cleaning off the bottom bedrock, they also keep me warm and block the cold wind this time of year and not to mention giving me time to spot the leeches before they make it to their intended target.
Gumboots for Summer.
 
With Welly Boots buy a Size Bigger coz in cold water you need a Couple of Pairs of heavy Socks on or your Feet Will Freeze,ok

john
 
I wear the same you can't go wrong with waders. If you're prospecting in wet and steep terrain you will sweat a lot so you need to wear double clothing socks,pants. The 1st time I used waders prospecting I was only wearing one pair of socks and trousers, end of the day I was soaked and from that day on I always wear double clothing.
 
I wear hip waders, and I find them excellent. I already had them from fishing. If I had chest waders I would wear them in preference cause I occasionally get a bit of water in my hip waders when squatting to sieve.

If I had my way I would also go for neoprene.

Terry
 
Yeah thats kinda what I thought, thanks guys, think I'll spring a little extra for the neoprene chest waders, I'm skinny and lack insulation.....wind blows right bloody thru me.
 
Always remember that waders can fill up with water and take you for an undercurrent ride. I'm not saying I don't like them, just be careful when bending down in the water!

From what I've seen they rip easily too. What's the best brand or material for hard yakka use?
 
Chewy said:
Yeah thats kinda what I thought, thanks guys, think I'll spring a little extra for the neoprene chest waders, I'm skinny and lack insulation.....wind blows right bloody thru me.

Makes Sense Chewy, just buy some with A bigger size Boot because when you keep still the cold will make your feet hurt and you need to wear 2 pairs of thicker socks,

You could Always get A Pair of these Like I have Got that are Rated to -100*c Lol,, John
1438825683_baffin.jpg
 
if you can get yourself waders now and keep an eye out for boots on sale, gumboots are great for carting gear in like carrying aluminum sharp edge highbankers and such which rip through neoprene really easily. once your gear is carted in last trip back to the car throw on the waders and your all warm and toasty.

def situations where you need one of the other i.e. neoprene is horrid in summer :)
 
My old, nearly knee high gumboots are fine for smaller creeks but even then one wrong step in a deeper hole will see them fill with water. This leaves you with wet socks, wet boots and debris including yabbies and small fish in your boot for the rest of your prospecting trip :|
Another thing I have found is that if one fella is busy shovelling and the other is standing by the highbanker clearing the hopper then the hopper man is bound to be drenched in a short amount of time from the waste down. A pair of waders would fix this problemo , I'm still trying to find a good cheap pair however
 
Yeah I think they want about $150 ish for neoprene chest waders at BCF. Taylor marine has bubba roots for about 55 bux. Bit of a price difference obviously but might be worth the extra cash to not freeze my ass off. When the back gets cold is when it plays up.
 
Hey, Chewy, If want some extremely warm welly Boot ( Gum Boots ) I can give you a link, The thing is they are extremely warm But what have found is if you are detecting or standing around a lot always buy the next Rating up if you are not mobile your feet will freeze, they even make them with Composite Toe Protectors which is great because they don't signal on your detector, and real Handy when you go rolling heavy Rocks on your Foot in the streams,

John
 
Chewy i bought my last paif from anaconda last year they were really cheap actually, and probably the best ones ive had, as in one piece neoprene over the shoulders instead of stitched straps hat always break. (i have a box of busted waders in my shed maybe 6 pairs)

here they are http://www.anacondastores.com/fishing/fishing-clothing/waders/mojiko-neoprene-wader/p/BP90032033006

looks like they are still only $110

difference between these and the ones i used to buy are they have hand warmers which are really awesome after a cleanup :) cnat find them on ebay anymore.

they were from tassy,
 
G0lddigg@ said:
Chewy i bought my last paif from anaconda last year they were really cheap actually, and probably the best ones ive had, as in one piece neoprene over the shoulders instead of stitched straps hat always break. (i have a box of busted waders in my shed maybe 6 pairs)

here they are http://www.anacondastores.com/fishing/fishing-clothing/waders/mojiko-neoprene-wader/p/BP90032033006

looks like they are still only $110

difference between these and the ones i used to buy are they have hand warmers which are really awesome after a cleanup :) cnat find them on ebay anymore.

they were from tassy,
I have the same ones which I specifically bought for Tassie fly fishing in 2010 and they've withstood bashing through skinny creeks that are overgrown with blackberries searching for gold in recent times, so far so good and if they see out a few more trips this year then it's well worth the $, I've had Hornes thigh waders, Snow Bee chesties and countless others that all ended up with leaks within a few uses, blackberries have been the main offender but the Mojico neoprene chesties have outlasted them all 10 fold.
Here's a video of my last trip where you'll see what punishment I put them through each time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9cLxIYFSe4
 
They're my first ever neoprene waders and I'd never go back to the others in cold weather, also the first pair that my socks stay up in and comfort is a big factor.
 
I've got neoprene lined gumboots - good as!
Also got some waders that have neoprene booties sewn in.
I've unstitched the Booties as I found the waders were too hard to put on once a little damp. The booties would bunch up & be very uncomfortable. Now I put the booties on & then slip into the Waders. Toes stay nice & warm.
The full neoprene waders sound the go. Sill go for them "when" these ones get a hole in them.
 
I went to a dive shop the other day and bought a good pair of reef shoes and a set of warm water wetsuit pants.
The pants have a strap that goes under your heel (like stirrups) and the boots zip up over the top. It should keep out the tiger leeches.
 

Latest posts

Top