What fly fishing wader to buy?

Complete guide to your choice The fly fishing wader has become, without a doubt, an essential item for many anglers both river and sea. In some modalities such as fly fishing or marine spinning, the correct choice of the wader becomes a fundamental aspect.

Impermeability, comfort of movements, transpiration, correct adjustment... there are many characteristics that must be taken into account. We will now review what the "ideal" wading should be like, so that you know what to expect when making your choice.

WHAT MATERIAL TO CHOOSE?

In general, we can talk about three types of waders depending on their manufacturing material: as for example PVC waders for kids , neoprene waders and gore-tex or breathable waders. Normally, these three categories also imply an evolution in comfort, functionalities and price. Nowadays pvc waders are not widely used because their lack of perspiration, low protection against the cold and short durability make them quite unadvisable. So the choice is reduced to two options, neoprene or breathable? Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of both models to try to clarify your choice.

NEOPRENE

Even though breathable waders have been eating away at you, neoprene is still the material of choice for many anglers who undoubtedly have their reasons. The first of these is protection against the cold: neoprene is the material that best protects against low temperatures and that, in certain waters and temperatures, is something fundamental. In addition to the coat it provides, this fabric has proved to be extremely comfortable, offering the angler total freedom of movement, thanks to its elasticity and its enormous adaptability. In recent years we have been working on the combination of neoprene with other materials that offer both durability and lightness.

The mixture with titanium is a good example of this (an inner layer of titanium is included to guarantee greater resistance). In spite of all these virtues, neoprene still has an asset that clearly plays against it: not being breathable. This fabric acts as a real barrier to both water and sweat and this means that many times we have to endure long hours with the body soaked in sweat, which is certainly not pleasant at all.

WADERS

Its operation is based on a very simple idea: a drop of rainwater is 20,000 times larger than the pores of Gore-Tex, while the molecule of water vapour released by the body in sweat is 700 times smaller. The result: moisture does not enter and sweat is expelled. The arrival of Gore-Tex to the wading world was a real revolution: getting the angler to keep both his body and the clothes inside him completely dry despite spending hours and hours in the river was, without a doubt, an achievement.

Nowadays it is the type of wading preferred by the majority of fishermen but we must also talk about some inconveniences that are usually attributed to this type of wading: - Lack of elasticity: which undoubtedly makes the garment is somewhat uncomfortable, making it difficult to move around the river. Some fishermen solve this problem by acquiring a wading a size larger than their own. - Vulnerability: they are usually so fine that they are easily punctured (although it is not normal for them to tear). There are models with several layers (between three and five) and kevlar reinforcements (knee pads, culera, etc.) that reduce this defect to a certain extent. - Low insulation against cold. Indeed the protection against the cold is not one of its strong points. In order to combat it we must use thermal garments underneath it. (Let's take this into account when choosing the size). - Another of the main disadvantages of the breathable waders, is undoubtedly the price, usually higher than Orvis Men's Ultralight convertible wader.

SOCKS OR BOOTS?

Once we have chosen the material of our wading the next question is: socks or boots? There are waders that have the boot integrated, forming part of the wader while there are other models called socks in which the boots will have to be chosen separately.

The choice between one or another model will depend on the preferences of each angler, since it has a lot to do with what is most comfortable for each one and, in addition and very important, with what makes each one safer.

Normally the sock wading is more comfortable because the separate boot allows a greater adjustment. Within the waders that include the boot, we will find different types of soles: rubber, felt, with nails ... although the final choice will depend, again, the tastes of each angler, when choosing one or the other we must bear in mind the characteristics of the area where we normally go to fish, bearing in mind that the nails always guarantee greater stability and less risk of slips. THE SIZE When buying a fishing wading size is undoubtedly one of the main issues.

Normally it is always said that the fishing clothes should be loose, but how to know what size we use wading? We must pay attention to the following aspects in order to select the correct size: - We must try the wading with the sock and warm clothes (in the case of breathable models) that we are going to use. - We must be able to raise the knee at a right angle with comfort. - The shot (measured from the crotch to the sole) does not have to be short, to have greater range of movement. - We must be able to squat without noticing any tightness in the wading.

OTHER FACTORS THAT INFLUDE IN THE CHOICE

Once we have chosen the material of manufacture, boot or sock and size there are other factors to bear in mind that can help us to choose one or another model: - Reinforcements: we all know that waders have a tendency to wear out and ultimately, spoil or break, in certain areas that we usually subject to more work: knees and butt are undoubtedly two good examples.

A wading machine that is reinforced in these areas will be ideal. - Adaptability: Nowadays the great majority of orvis encouenter wader have straps that allow the correct adaptation of the garment according to the height of the angler. It is important that these straps have quick release buckles, to facilitate the detachment of the wader in case of need. - Storage capacity: having a wader with pockets is always a plus, as it will allow us to have at hand some of the basic elements of the equipment. If these are watertight they provide additional protection.

CONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WADER

The first thing we must pay attention to is the correct storage of the wade if we are not going to use it for a long time. A good storage is essential to extend the useful life of the garment and is something very simple. Just make sure it is dry inside and out, and then hang it stretched out in a dark, cool and ventilated room or wardrobe.

Secondly, we must pay attention to washing the wading machine, a simple task that we must periodically carry out to keep it in good condition and avoid the appearance of fungi, bacteria and odours that could damage the breathable membrane. Keep in mind that dirt that accumulates in the pores of the membrane prevents proper transpiration of it. If it is used in the sea, it is advisable to rinse in fresh water after each exit to eliminate the remains of saltpetre.

For the correct washing of the wading we must follow the following instructions: - Wash in cold or warm water. - Use a neutral detergent. - Preferably wash by hand. If it is done in the washing machine, configure a delicate washing cycle. - Do not use fabric softener. - Dry properly on both sides outdoors. To sum up the eternal doubt about gore-tex or neoprene, and although evidently everything will depend on the tastes and preferences of each fisherman in particular, we can say that a neoprene wading will be suitable for the first days of the season, when the cold is greater and we need protection, while, as the heat and the problem are approaching are not the low temperatures but the sweat, we must think of a gore-tex wading or in his case, a breathable wading.

Currently the prices of these waders are much more affordable so why not allow yourself to have two models that you can use according to the conditions of each day or even use as a reserve?