CHEAP vs EXPENSIVE Waders - Which one should YOU Buy?! [Review]

Great review of both high price and low price waders! thank you very much.

You did a dirt cheap vs cheap. Not a cheap vs expensive. You do get what you pay for.

You might want to check out waterproof hip packs or sling packs. Fly fishers use them. Pricey, though.

Excellent review! What a pleasure to watch a proper, informative review...compared to so much garbage some people are posting. Thanks for your efforts. Much appreciated 🙏

I have the $40 waders but i want to try the 369 waders.and the Simms boots too.

Awesome stuff !

Wouldnt you feel colder in Simms boots where the water can move in and out vs the boots that are attached to the Wader itself ?

Thanks for your video but expensive waders are $650 to $850 and cheap waders are around $300. That’s the review I’m looking for. $200 waders are a joke these days. You’d be amazed if you tried out some “real” waders.

Amazon’s foxheli waders are great for the price! Waterproof pockets and super durable! Just add in some cushioned foot souls in the boots and it makes them much more comfortable! Only like 50-60$ I think it’s the best cheap option in my opinion.

Have you ever tried a pair from Ali express (120$) vs simms ( 170-500$)...
I bought a lure killer bass rod with high power and spiral x...same materials in a shimano dialuna...works great for only 100$... dialing is 260 minimum...

Is Simms just that much better or is it just a typical mark up game they play... hate to be paying for the owner's Mercedes nc I like to fish....

Thanks for the review, especially showing that the cheap ones are also fine.

compass waders are trash don’t buy them they will rip at the seems within not even a year

I just bought some tidewe. Let's go pound the sand.

I have had questions for a while on waders thanks. I can now look with knowledge.

Thanks for the video Benjie. Imma buy the cheap ones...lol. 🤙

One thing I will never buy again is felt sole wading boots. I read an article online about how those were supposed to be good for rocky surfaces. The streams and rivers I fish around my area are rocky, so I figured I would try it. After losing my cellphone, a box of flies, and getting stiches from falling in, I went back to lug boots. Felts may be alright if your ONLY fishing rocks. Once they get muddy, they get like ice slick

Absolutely excellent review man. Really appreciate the time and effort. Thanks man.

You're better off buying one good pair with a warranty once than a cheap pair three times

Thanks, you made a lot of sense.

Thank you. I would be interested in Seeing a comparison between the Compass Deadfall at $140 and Simms Tributary at approx $180 for example.

Bet review

Best

I bought the Tidewe .... nice waders .... under 40 bucks .... leaked after 3 uses, but Jeff bezos was kind enough to refund me.

I will never purchase any simms product EVER again. Bought one of their heigh end waders which needed repairs during the warranty window. Spent over 2 months calling and writing to them but they never responded. Horrible!!!

Great video!

SIMMS

SIMMS all the way.

sold buying guide, well done.

Good review... 👍

I Did a cheap 80$ pair for my first time. Upgraded to the Frogtoggs Hellbender 2 for my 2nd pair. Blew both out in the neoprene bootie after about a year and a half each. I fish a couple times a week and usually do a mile or two of walking, so I wasn't too upset about it. Ordering The patagonia expedition swift current wader. Hoping to not have to replace every year and a half

Thank you for the information.

Thanks for doing this review. It's helpful to me as someone just getting into fly fishing. But I have a question. Did you say the Simm boots are waterproof? I don't understand the holes on the side that allow water to drain out of boots that are supposed to be waterproof. In fact, wouldn't those holes allow water to get in the boots?

Thank you sir very helpful

Throw some cheap insoles in them good to go.

Simms cheap waders...a special edition between Tribs and Freestone lasted me 4 years. I get a wet butt in deep water. Dilemma is new waders or pay $60+ship to repair.

Not sure if you monitor these old videos? I'm in the market for waders. Seems that the styles change somewhat over time? Would you still recommend these? Also if money were no object which are best, (toss out the high$ and the low$)? So many choices. After reading some of the reviews a lot of brand name players in this field leak. I'm liking the stocking foot option for comfort and sure footing. I'm getting too old to tough it out on chilly mornings. Thanks!

Buena bro.... Excellent review!

Perfect!!! The first pair you showed with the boots built in look like they will be perfect as rain gear while riding my motorcycles! That's why I'm watching this video, I need rain gear for my motorcycles.

I'm super cheap when it comes to fly fishing (like don't spend over $50 for a reel 5wt and under). The exceptions I found are waders and boots. I classify cheap waders as around $100-150. It really depends on how hard/conditions you fish and how often. Do you walk 25 ft from the car and step into shallow water? Or do you hike, bushwack, boulder hop and stream crawl? Now I can't imagine anything under $100 lasting for long even under light conditions. I fish very hard and tough conditions and this is what I've found. Cabela's are the best at around $120. The Compass Deadfall ($150) are junk and lack durability. I slid on a rock, nothing dramatic, and got a leak and the outer shell didn't even tear. Very evident that the fabric is not durable (and not covered by warranty). Replaced with Compass Ledges II ($170) and these are a beast! I fished/hiked 40x this year alone in demanding conditions and these held up well. Unfortunately, I think Compass might have discontinued them. At this price point I'd go with Simms Tributary ($200). I bought a pair of Simms Freestone ($300) but haven't worn them yet cause the Ledges II are still going strong. I have a pair of Patagonias that cost around $300 a few years ago but I blew the seams on them. Were fantastic up until them. A few caveats and notes: a lot of waders will begin to leak around the boots, Cabela's and Compass 360 included. Sucks when its cold out during the winter and that is when I'll switch to my new Simms. Second, look for sales: I got my Cabelas for $100 on sale, a 2nd pair of Ledges II for around $100 on sale and the Simms Freestone are on sale right now for around $225. Simms Tributary are on sale for around $140!

Got a great deal on the Simms Freestone waders -paid less than a $100 ( on line retail made a mistake $89 in the am. Then went back to $250 in the afternoon ) the SIMMs FS boots at their website had it on sale at $130 a week ago …. Haven’t tried them out yet ….need to go Surf fishing with you Benjie

Hey Benji so water can get into the boots but the neoprene is waterproof? so your feet stay completely dry?

Your feet get wet in the more expensive pair

I will say I didn't watch the video in its entirety and won't. That being said I find it amusing that your take on a "pricier" wader is the compass wader. In my opinion the Compass waders (I own compass deadfall) is a much better value for a similar Simms product that sells for 2x & 5x the price. I have more than 300 days in them with zero problems or defects. Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones.

The grommets on your simms boots will ruin the skirts/gravel gards on you waders.

So soft and comfortable, yet they provide great support. I would highly recommend

I have heard that no matter cheap or extraordinary expensive, both get holes, rip apart and leak after two seasons or earlier.
So I would say buy cheap?

Came across some new waders S1 Mars stretchable waders. Not only are the stocking foot they sell their wading boot at a discount with the waders just under $200 for both.
Recommended to buy off of their site best price

Thank you, some very good advice

Ha! I wear board shorts year round!