Cabela's own brand waders

[Gordon]

I have been looking for some time for stockingfoot wader's in my size (52" chest and waist, 34" inside leg - and yes I should lose some weight). I do a lot of fishing on small wild streams and waders tend to suffer.

A friend has offered to bring waders home from the States for me. I have been looking at different websites and Cabela'a ownbrand are available in the right size at a very reasonable price.

Does anyone have any experience of their neoprene and breathable waders? I imagine after sales service might be difficult, but we have a company here who does wet and dry-suit repairs cheaply (unfortunately he does not want to get into making waders)

Gordon

[jan]

yes - i had a pair of the dry plus - cheap enough but only did just over a season - i thnk FG had several pairs and finally gave up with them - get your friend to bring back a pair of simms classic guides, about $220 in the usa, or dan baileys, or ask FGabout his llbean super toughs -ideal if you hack through brush and thistle much - returning cabelas to the states is just too much hassle

[The Famous Grouse]

Starting about 4 years ago, I bought a pair of Cabela's top of the range own brand waders. I believe they were the Gold Medal range.

Pair #1 began leaking after about 6 months, which was somewhat decieving because I don't trout fish in the high summer so I had only actually worn them about 6 or 8 times. Cabelas gladly replaced them. Pair #2 leaked right out of the box. Again, Cabelas replaced them. I didn't wear Pair #3 untill several months later because of the closed season and they began leaking after just a few wearings.

All three pairs developed leaks in exactly the same place. Right where the neoprene stocking foot is attached to the nylon waders. I filled one leg of the last pair with water up to the knee and the entire seam at the top of the boot foot was leaking water. To me this suggests a manufacturing problem, it certainly wasn't a situation where I was punchturing the waders.

Cabelas granted me a refund after 3 leaking pairs. Of course that doesn't compensate for the postage sending the waders back or for the general annoyance of having 2 seasons worth of leaking waders.

Now that was 2 years ago, so things may have changed, but that was my experience back then. I switched to LL Bean's SuperLight waders and I've been leak free ever since.

You've kind of got the double whammy here Gordon. Anything you buy in the States will have to be returned to the States, either because it doesn't fit or if they end up leaking.

Dan Bailey's own brand waders get high marks on the boards over here, but again anyone can end up being unlucky once.

One thought. Has anyone over in the UK ever bought Orvis wadres in the US and then had them replaced in the UK? Might be worth considering providing Orvis is willing to replace them locally.

Grouse

[Gordon]

Looks like the Cabela's breathables are not a good idea. What about the neoprene's?

Does anyone have a source for LL Bean's?

Gordon

[sagefly]

Have a look for Dan Bailey I have put mine through 5 years of reasonable abuse and they still work a treat.

Farlows did stock them but not sure if they still do I paid £120 mine and got a discount of £20 on simms guide boots for a £200 deal.

[The Famous Grouse]

gordon3 said:

Looks like the Cabela's breathables are not a good idea. What about the neoprene's?

Does anyone have a source for LL Bean's?

Gordon

LL Bean waders are only available from their website: www.llbean.com

Dan Bailey: www.dan-bailey.com

I've never owned a pair of Cabelas neoprenes. My guess is they'd be a safer bet because they are old technology and you might be able to have them repaired locally instead of returning them should they develop a minor leak.

This is always the gamble when you're buying mail order stuff from the US. Rods, reels, and lines have far fewer issues because you know what you're getting. Any type of clothing is a more risky unless you know your exact size and you know the quality is good.

Grouse