• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Tired of Using Waders

Nutterbuster said:
Maybe I need to start accumulating more wool. I've never paid much attention to it because it's really not that hard to stay warm down here most of the time.

The swamp typically floods out annually in the winter when it gets coldest. Last year the hydrograph went from 4 to 40 for by the time it was all over, meaning there was 0 dry ground and therefore no hunting. If I could get in the hunts early in the season, maybe wool would keep me in the game.

Who can recommend a boot that will drain quick enough that I don't have to squish 2 miles back to the truck like I've done twice this week? Crocs arent an option out there, since the mud is usually a foot thick and you get progressively taller as you walk through it. I took a bike out there last year and mud accumulation on the tires physically stopped the wheel from moving.
Click to expand...

I wear a pair of cheap, thin tingleys I got off amazon with the soles taken out all year. It is all rubber on the inside and can be dry in a matter of seconds. Extra pair of socks, and I’m set.
I usually swap socks on the stand anyways if it is cold due to sweat. First time I did it, I pulled my foot out of the boot after 10-15 minutes on stand to change em out and the sock had some frost on it.

That sock change was the last piece to my “sitting all day in cold and wet weather” puzzle.
 
Mengle said:
I wear a pair of cheap, thin tingleys I got off amazon with the soles taken out all year. It is all rubber on the inside and can be dry in a matter of seconds. Extra pair of socks, and I’m set.
I usually swap socks on the stand anyways if it is cold due to sweat. First time I did it, I pulled my foot out of the boot after 10-15 minutes on stand to change em out and the sock had some frost on it.

That sock change was the last piece to my “sitting all day in cold and wet weather” puzzle.
Click to expand...
Yep. I actually took the line out of my tingleys too. They're so squishy you dont really need them. That might be the easiest solution to dry and warm feet. Just take 5 minutes to wipe them down with a microfiber cloth or something and pop on fresh socks.
 
The most difficult maneuver ive had to do in the saddle yet was to remove swamped kneehigh rubber boots....in hindsight I should have just climbed down and taken them off but I tried up at height and its tuff.....ended up straddling the tree and raising my legs to drain the boots so i could break suction....the water just runs down your legs and into crotch/butt area so now u worse off that u started...i felt pretty dumb but it was pretty funny too
 
I wear vasque inhaler gtx if there’s more than a slight chance of precipitation, or if it’s above 60*. I’ll wear my leather hikers if below that and dry. The vasque weigh nothing, and if they get wet, don’t weigh more than a normal boot. They ain’t drying out though on a hunt.

the Simms wading boot and chota hippie combo served me well swamp hunting last year. And you can pair the boot with just a neoprene crew sock so it fits right if you don’t want the hip highs.

you’re combining lots of variables, and you’re going to have to accept certain shortcomings. Snakes don’t really bother me. I leave that variable out.
 
Nutterbuster said:
Yep. I actually took the line out of my tingleys too. They're so squishy you dont really need them. That might be the easiest solution to dry and warm feet. Just take 5 minutes to wipe them down with a microfiber cloth or something and pop on fresh socks.
Click to expand...
When my brother and I go ice fishing we wear sneakers in the truck and and change into our wool socks and winter boots when we arrive at the lake. My feet have been toasty warm for years now that I figured this out. No sweat=warm feet.:)
 
Weldabeast said:
The most difficult maneuver ive had to do in the saddle yet was to remove swamped kneehigh rubber boots....in hindsight I should have just climbed down and taken them off but I tried up at height and its tuff.....ended up straddling the tree and raising my legs to drain the boots so i could break suction....the water just runs down your legs and into crotch/butt area so now u worse off that u started...i felt pretty dumb but it was pretty funny too
Click to expand...
video please lol
 
Weldabeast said:
Its tougher than u think...try it a ground level. Pants tucked the whole deal....fill up with a hose and step up, tether in....try and get them off
Click to expand...
i believe you i just want to see it with my eyes so i can laugh lol
 
prvance said:
So what is a good Moreno wool brand or where can I find some
Click to expand...
I've used Minus33 in the past and had good luck with it. It's not very durable tho. First lite makes some good stuff. Course the more spendy brands do as well. Merino thermo regulates very well
 
Just an idea here....

With the humidity in your area I can imagine any "quick dry" product will be more lethargic in action than advertised. If your whole body/clothes get wet, even if you survive, isn't it gonna kinda just generally suck? To me, intentionally getting your clothes wet and but "surviving" sounds like a terrible strategy in any scenario. I do like the walking in naked approach though


You stated you have multiple crossings to make, and that you dont want to wear waders or bring in a boat etc.....

So what if you spent 9 bucks for one of these bad boys at Wally World, then wrapped the bottom so water cant come up through the bottom hole and get you wet. Get to your creek, pump it up with small hand pump, plop into it, splash your way across with your waterproof boots dangling in the water and your bow and pack in your lab, and repeat.

1594415960114.png

They pack down pretty small and once its inflated you could probably leave it at least partially inflated and lash to your pack, wear as a stylish hat etc for the duration of the hunt including on your way out. Another option is to leave a "preset" paracord crossing line on your way in so when you are leaving or you return you can just tug yourself right across (not sure about the legality of that on public though)
 
BackSpasm said:
Just an idea here....

With the humidity in your area I can imagine any "quick dry" product will be more lethargic in action than advertised. If your whole body/clothes get wet, even if you survive, isn't it gonna kinda just generally suck? To me, intentionally getting your clothes wet and but "surviving" sounds like a terrible strategy in any scenario. I do like the walking in naked approach though


You stated you have multiple crossings to make, and that you dont want to wear waders or bring in a boat etc.....

So what if you spent 9 bucks for one of these bad boys at Wally World, then wrapped the bottom so water cant come up through the bottom hole and get you wet. Get to your creek, pump it up with small hand pump, plop into it, splash your way across with your waterproof boots dangling in the water and your bow and pack in your lab, and repeat.

View attachment 30002

They pack down pretty small and once its inflated you could probably leave it at least partially inflated and lash to your pack, wear as a stylish hat etc for the duration of the hunt including on your way out. Another option is to leave a "preset" paracord crossing line on your way in so when you are leaving or you return you can just tug yourself right across (not sure about the legality of that on public though)
Click to expand...

I know this is just a thought and I really like it, but please please please do not tie lines across creeks or rivers. The amount of abandoned trot lines and limb lines I cut that folks leave out is ridiculous. It can be extremely dangerous for boaters.
 
When my dad went duck hunting as a kid some of the ducks would land in the water farther than his weighted treble hook could go. For those he brought an inner tube with a fabric strap down the middle. In his waders he could float out and get his ducks while completely dry. Not sure how fast or efficiently you'd be able to move but it's an option.
 
Two XL dry bags with handles or a diy strap to hook to that's centered for balance. The dry bags pack in empty and rolled up. Wear your saddle in over your chest waders and when you get to the crossing inflate ( think trapped air only no real inflating ) the dry bags and hook your linesman loops to the handles on the dry bags like out riggers and hand paddle yourself across. When you get to the other side open the dry bags roll em up tight for transport till you get to the next crossing. You could add a few dry clothes to both dry bags in case you should roll it and you need a change of clothes. It doesn't get you out of waders but it may get you out of water filled waders. Pack it all in however, but the dry bags wouldn't weigh that much and would pack down and inflate pretty easy. Stability and mobility in the water would be the keys to work out, oh and enough buoyancy from the dry bags.
 
Last edited:
Mengle said:
I know this is just a thought and I really like it, but please please please do not tie lines across creeks or rivers. The amount of abandoned trot lines and limb lines I cut that folks leave out is ridiculous. It can be extremely dangerous for boaters.
Click to expand...
Great point. I just had a better idea any way... grappling hook toss and pull across!!!
 
I’ll take being soaked if it’s above 50* all day every day over wearing rain gear. Especially now that I have the perfect layer to regulate temp. Even without I’d still rather that.

as has probably been mentioned, it’s humid here. You will be soaked inside your suit regardless, if it’s above about 65*.

The thing you need to be concerned about further north is getting wet when it’s 40*, then the temp dropping to 15 or 20, or even lower, while you’re out there. That’s a really rare weather pattern here, and highly predictable.

I’m also a sicko, and laughed the entire 25 mile ride back to shore this past weekend after getting caught in a cel that looked totally harmless heading out. 10mph getting battered by wind rain Lightning and waves crashing bow. Temp dropped to about 60* and visibility was about 7-800feet. My lady friend had her jacket, a spare jacket, and my jacket, and never pulled her head out the hood entire trip.All I could do was laugh, otherwise I’d be cold and miserable. Life’s short, and the big fish don’t care if you’re uncomfortable. Same for the deer!
 
I appreciate the suggestions and safety warnings. But this piece of swamp is one of the craziest and wettest areas in the country, and the more inaccessible something is the more I want to hunt it. I've done what I'm talking about before, I just want a way to do it better.

Maybe I'll train by showering with my clothes on every night and sleeping by a box fan. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top