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Tired of Using Waders

Nutterbuster

Nutterbuster

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Messages
10,069
Location
Where the skys are so blue!
When I first started hunting the swamp, I usually hunted wet because I was young, poor, and hard-headed. It was not uncommon for me to swim a creek in sneakers and shorts until it got cold. It sucked. Then I got a big boy job and started buying hunting gear. I have several pairs of rubber boots, several pairs of hip waders, and several pairs of chest waders.

But...the water is always deeper than whatever I'm wearing. The past week I have been just saying "screw it" and diving into the unmarked creeks out in the swamp instead of trying to *****-foot my way across them. I've arrived at some awesome areas this way. It doesn't get that cold in Alabama. Average is maybe 40-50, and COLD for us is 20. I know Dan Infalt talks about sitting out in snow and all that mess in Wisconsin in the rain or after getting water over his hip boots. I'm sure there's a mix of fact and tall tale in those stories.

Does anybody else do this? I know supposedly wool and synthetics stay warm when "damp" but what stays warm after you just swam a creek and now have to sit for the rest of the day? People polar bear plunge, so there's got to be a trick to not catching your death of pneumonia. And what would be folks' recommendations for footwear that doesn't stay wet all day? Every pair of hiking boot or shoe I've ever had gets wet and stays wet until you put it on a dryer. Even jungle boots with the vents.

I want something where I can wade or swim a creek or ditch, walk 100 yards, do it again, and then climb a tree without cursing the woman who birthed me 2 hours later. We put a man on the moon. This has to exist.
 
Spray your body down with this a put your clothes in a dry bag. Lol

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You’re just gonna get yourself hurt or worse... these aren’t any of your good ideas. At least wear a life jacket... even with the wet suit.

Idk why you wouldnt just get a inflatable raft to cross small creeks.
 
cutty said:
Dry suit for diving in cold temps
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How bad am I going to hate you after walking a couple of miles in a dry suit? Never wore one. I've worn a wetsuit and neoprene waders. I guess if it was cold enough I could be persuaded to wear a wet suit.

Back in the day I thought I would be slick and wear a life jacket and waders. Figured I'd float high enough to not get water in the waders. Nope. I have had some success wading for ducks in a deep beaver pond with an inner tube.

Come on. One of you yankee...fellas...bbq's by the pool in 20 degree temps. Cough the secret up!
 
Exhumis said:
Alright my dude here's what you do. Take your clothes and put them in a dry bag like @swampsnyper suggested. Forde/swim your creek/river/body of water. Change on the other side.
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Problem is a lot of times I'm making multiple crossings. Deer and hogs swim the rivers down here all the time. Surely there's a way for me to.

I guess another way to look at the question is, how cold is too cold to be soaking wet in good clothes? And what constitutes "good clothes" when you just swam a creek?

Forget beast style, unless that beast is amphibious!
 
Hypothermia can set in in 60 degree weather if there's a breeze and you're soaking wet. There really isn't a good solution for wet clothing and extended time frame. Merino wool might be your best bet. Quick drying but still has some insulating properties.
 
Exhumis said:
Hypothermia can set in in 60 degree weather if there's a breeze and you're soaking wet. There really isn't a good solution for wet clothing and extended time frame. Merino wool might be your best bet. Quick drying but still has some insulating properties.
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So what about a shell? Breeze would be largely negated if you wore something like frogg toggs, right?

I live in a semi tropical environment. I see people fishing off the alaskan coast with waves washing over the boat and ice in their eyebrows. "Impossible" isn't cutting the mustard.

@Tr33_n1nj@, I have killed several alligators.
 
Go off season and cut some logs put em across?
Is there a trout fishing tube you can sit in?
some rope and a river tube?
Chest waders with a tight belt across your chest? Add a life jacket?
 
Nutterbuster said:
So what about a shell? Breeze would be largely negated if you wore something like frogg toggs, right?

I live in a semi tropical environment. I see people fishing off the alaskan coast with waves washing over the boat and ice in their eyebrows. "Impossible" isn't cutting the mustard.

@Tr33_n1nj@, I have killed several alligators.
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Yeah but those cats have several layers on underneath plus a warm pot of coffee and a warm cabin a few yards away.
Yeah wind chill would be negated if you had a wind blocking layer on, but your clothes wouldn't dry out any time soonish. You cool with sitting in wet clothes? Also, if you do kill something, how the heck are you gonna drag it back? Are you part jaguar? I still think your best bet is to take a change of clothes and change at your final destination. Or get a yak or canoe
 
Man ain't had clothes this whole time. Might have to tap into those primitive instincts and strip 'er down. Wet bag to keep clothes dry. Put on clothes when you get to where your going.

If you do this, please don't film the walk out to your hunting spot....
 
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