[Euan Innes]

Right folks,
Christmas pish is over so lets get on to the serious stuff! 
I have a notion to buy a pair of waist waders this year. I want to do this because if this year is like the last one then chesties might not be needed. Seriously though I can only think of a couple of occasions that chesties were actually needed. I do remember sweating in chesties and preferring to not wade deeply for most of the time. In previous experience, where I fish the fish are not that far out or are under my feet. Walking in to a hill loch in waist waders really appeals and so does shirt sleeves under a waistcoat.   I also have two pairs of boots and one pair needs using more!
I know that there are very few on the market, ranging from not a lot to  so are there any recommendations from you lot?
I know which pair I want but I am not telling yet. So ideas please or does nobody use them?

Euan

[Mike Barrio]

I haven't used them Euan, but have often thought about them ..... so will follow this topic with interest

Cheers
Mike

[Jeff Donovan]

Just my tuppence-worth, most chest waders can be turned down to be waist waders by the adjustability of the shoulder straps & that one side catch is "male" & the other is "female". Saves on a pair of waders & the option to buy something else new & shiny.

[Hamish Young]

I'd personally opt for a not too expensive option, Daiwa offer breathable waist waders and their stuff is usually reliable.

H

[Dave Robb]

Saw these the other days reduced at John Norris

https://www.johnnorris.co.uk/collections/waders-and-boots/products/guideline-laxa-waist-waders

Thought they looked decent.

[Euan Innes]

Aye Dave, the Laxa ones were what I was thinking about. The sizing is just about perfect for me.
I know they can be rolled down and clipped, but my Laxa chesties have really good chest pockets that don't fold very well which is why I liked the idea of waist waders. Very good price from John Norris too although I will probably give Neil Anderson at Angus Angling a call when I get around to buying them. 

Euan

[Jim Eddie]

Remember not to wear them if you are going tubing 

 

Jim

[Hamish Young]

You speak from experience Jim

[Rob Brownfield]

I have lived in Scotland too long to be able to justify spending money on two pairs of waders  ...so I bought one, that does both roles, as chest and waist waders

I bring you the Orvis Silver Sonic convertible waders, currently on offer

I have had mine around 5-6 years and they have been perfect.

When walking along the bank in the summer, I have them as waist waders, On arriving at a deeper pool, up they go, bingo, chesties.  They have been a god send this summer and saved sweating buckets into my waders. Also good when shooting the breeze on the river bank or in a boat.

They really are a very nifty bit of kit!

[Iain Cameron]

hi Euan


I've a pair of Snowbee waist waders. Don't use them much on the rivers, but HAVE used them on remote lochs, where a long-ish walk in means a lot of sweating.


Walked and fished up 12 miles or so one day, and it's good not to have that extra fold of rolled-down chest wader fabric.


I wouldn't necessarily recommend the snowbees (the feet are weird and hard to remove) but as a concept, I do like the waist waders for loch and hill loch fishing


cheers
iain

[Jim Eddie]

You speak from experience Jim

Nope but I know a man who did 
 

Jim

[Jeff Donovan]

Nope but I know a man who did 
 

Jim

Ah! Builder's-bum syndrome? How unfortunate! 

[Euan Innes]

Had my new Guidelines on today in the Isla and they are truly excellent. It was 15 degrees and a bit sweaty but the top half was doing fine in the wind. They are also a lot easier to get off when nature calls!
Just ordered knee pads to go with them. Expensive but worth it 

Euan

[Terry Coging]

My Scierra waist waders leaked badly so instead of getting them repaired I cut the boots off and use them as over trousers in the boat. The boots are handy for gardening.

[Euan Innes]

At the end of this season I will, of course, put them to Diver Dave and have the correct size of feet fitted. Who the hell has a 34" waist, a 30" inside leg and size 10 feet!?!?
I ordered knee pads from ww.esoterictackle.co.uk. They are a Tenkara specialist shop and the pads are for knees and shins and are made of neoprene. Ace!
Right now my brand new waders are covered in dubs and look like I have been in combat. River fishing is ace!

Euan

[Steven Sinclair]

Who the hell has a 34" waist, a 30" inside leg and size 10 feet

Try being 28" waist, 34" inside leg and size 10 feet!

The industry doesnt tend to cater for us that are built like the gable end of a fiver 

 

Steven

[James Laraway]

At the end of this season I will, of course, put them to Diver Dave and have the correct size of feet fitted. Who the hell has a 34" waist, a 30" inside leg and size 10 feet!?!?
I ordered knee pads from ww.esoterictackle.co.uk. They are a Tenkara specialist shop and the pads are for knees and shins and are made of neoprene. Ace!
Right now my brand new waders are covered in dubs and look like I have been in combat. River fishing is ace!

Euan

Me, that’s who 🤣

[Eddie Sinclair]

Euan,

Those sizes would be a perfect fit for me, assuming one size bigger for wading boots.

Eddie 😀

[Euan Innes]

Eddie,
Just my regular boots which I think are 8s. I will check. The waders are a Guideline large.
My knee pads arrived today which is super quick from the Isle of Man.
They are the dogs danglies and cover the knee and shin and have a proper articulated knee joint. Much better than looking like SWAT!

[James Lehmann]

I've had a pair of VASS waist-waders for several seasons now and I love them.

Absolutely basic PVC type - I think I paid £50 for them and I've fished them from small hill lochs to the Spey.

I find them perfectly comfortable and easy to walk in. Recommended, especially if –like me– you are much too afeared to go right in up to your chest!