Çhest waders fo launching ???

[Cat10]

Hi guys, what's the best clothing to where when you have to push your boat out into the water when launching.
I am thinking chest waders.
What do you think ?

[Fly360]

I’ve been known to wear hip waders when launching boats and I usually just keep them on the whole trip. In warm water I wouldn’t bother but I like to keep my feet warm and dry in our cold waters.

One thing you must keep in mind when wearing waders is ALWAYS wear a life jacket! You cannot swim in flooded waders and can easily slip under and not be able to get back to the surface.

[Roy54]

I have been asking myself the same question, and I think I'm going to bite the bullet and buy a dry suit , which I can then wear all day and it becomes an important part of safety equipment if I find myself in the water.

[chris moody]

I agree always wear a lifejacket, but I'm struggling with how waders could make you "slip under". Surely waders have neutral buoyancy if totally flooded, and positive buoyancy if even the tiniest bit of air is trapped inside them.

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I’ve been known to wear hip waders when launching boats and I usually just keep them on the whole trip. In warm water I wouldn’t bother but I like to keep my feet warm and dry in our cold waters.

One thing you must keep in mind when wearing waders is ALWAYS wear a life jacket! You cannot swim in flooded waders and can easily slip under and not be able to get back to the surface.

[ChrisParish]

I have a pair of neoprene waders I bought from Decathlon. I have only used them once so far, on our January outing in Poole, but they were great.

I agree with Chris Moody: unless the boots of the waders are especially heavy I don’t see how they could drag you under. However, if they flood then you won’t be able to climb back into the boat as they will weigh too much.

Two of the great things with the neoprene waders is that they have a positive bouyancy and they are flexible, allowing you to sit down.

[chris moody]

In the winter I wear a drysuit all day long. When it's too warm for a drysuit chest waders are ideal for both the launch and recovery parts of the day. Mid summer it's shorts and t shirt with suitable shoes that are fine for wading around in water.

The above combinations work for me.j

[Cat10]

Cheers guys, some good advice there.
There seems to be a lot about chest waders and the dangers of them filling up on a few websites.
Are they really that dangerous if you happen to go overboard?

[Andy]

Not wanting to start world war 3, but those guys with waders, fill em up with water and see what happens. I have been fishing in shallow rivers trout fishing and on 2 occasions slipped over and filled with water. They were full chest neoprene and believe me its hard enough to get up again let alone try to get into a boat. This suit is heavy enough when empty of water.

But we all have our own ways of doing things.

A dry suit will not only stop you freezing ya nuts off in cold water, but I believe it will also help with buoyancy, due to air being trapped in it. I have a pair of cheap diving boots-slippers that I wear to stop the foot part ripping, but I need to do some research as my feet do get a bit nippy.

[harrison]

No qualms here in starting WW3

And on that note;

I wouldn’t be seen dead in a pair of chest waders!

[Mitch]

I wear a floatation suit & thigh waders which come off pretty easy if you fall in & I did once in shallowish water, the waders filled up but I didn’t have a problem with them as you can just push them down, chest waders....not so sure, but it’s what your comfortable with.