A good pair of duck hunting waders makes all the difference in waterfowl hunting.
When it comes to waterfowl hunting, you can expect to spend a lot of time wading in the water. Because the ducks are rarely going to come into your decoy spread in a dry place. This means a good pair of hunting waders are a waterfowl hunter’s most valuable piece of hunting gear.
Because no one enjoys being wet on a cold morning in the wetlands. Being dry and comfortable will make the wait for those mallards a lot more enjoyable and you will be more likely to make the shot when it counts.
These are our picks for some of the best waders on the market today. These options will keep you warm and dry on even your toughest days afield waiting for the birds to fly into your spread.
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Rustic Ridge 3.5mm neoprene bootfoot waders
These neoprene chest waders feature 1000 grams of Thinsulate insulation which will help keep you warm and toasty on those frosty mornings in a deep swamp or backwater. They include a front hand warmer pocket. These are breathable chest waders thanks to a 3.5mm dura-stretch neoprene construction which also gives them excellent durability. They come with a one-year warranty and a string of satisfied user reviews. Many of whom comment these double as excellent fishing waders for fly fishing enthusiasts too.
Frogg Toggs Amphib bootfoot hunting wader
These neoprene waders feature 600 grams of Thinsulate and the boot has a wool felt midsole to keep your toes toasty warm while calling and waiting on the birds. The cleated outsole helps keep your footing in spots with an uneven bottom to that shallow backwater. All the seams of these bootfoot waders are stitched, glued, and taped, making them as watertight as possible. Most users rave about how these breathable waders last season after season with zero leaks. Frogg Toggs also gives a lot of camo pattern options. These hunting chest waders are available in everything from Realtree Max-5 to the classic Mossy Oak Bottomlands pattern.
LaCrosse Super Brush Tuff
If you deal with cold conditions and a lot of mud in your duck hunting spot, this offering from LaCrosse bears a second look. The rubber boots of this pair of waders are lined with a whopping 1,200 grams of Thinsulate ultra insulation. They also lined the insole with 9mm of felt to keep the bottom of your foot warm. The upper part of the waders is lined with 5mm of insulating neoprene. All the seams are bonded and taped from the inside. LaCrosse knows these are high stress areas, which is why they coated with liquid rubber to protect against abrasion. A chest pocket gives extra storage space for calls and other odds and ends on your hunt.
Rustic Ridge PVC Hip Waders
Perfect for the hunter who does not need the extreme protection of a pair of chest waders. These waders are made from two-ply nylon and have a PVC camo upper to keep you dry in shallow backwater marshes and streams. They are uninsulated, but these hip waders come at an excellent price point that is perfect for hunters on a budget.
Cabela’s SuperMag Chest Waders
These 5mm neoprene waders feature 1,600 grams of 3M Thinsulate Ultra Insulation in the boots to make them extremely warm. Fortunately, the fine folks at Cabela’s were thinking about all the gear waterfowlers use and they added a quick-detach shell pouch with loops for 24 shot shells. Plenty of room to throw an extra choke tube or call in a pinch. There are three front storage compartments on the front alone. There is also a fleece-lined pocket for a handwarmer to keep your hands toasty. These waders are available in four different color patterns so you can quickly match this to your existing camo clothing.
Allen Deepwoods Neoprene Chest Wader
This pair of barefoot waders come with 600 grams of Thinsulate insulation in the rubber boot portion. Allen reinforced the knees so you no longer need to worry when you kneel down working on your setups. They also added some front D-rings where you can hang calls and other accessories while hunting. There is also a little bit of extra arch support in the boots which makes these perfect for hunters who are uncomfortable standing for long periods of time. These waders are offered in a few different camo patterns including Mossy Oak Break-Up and classic Bottomlands.
Drake Waterfowl Guardian Elite
There is a lot of versatility in this pair of insulated chest waders. Most of that comes from the fact that Drake included a tear-away liner that allows you to change these waders to uninsulated in a pinch. Now you can quickly change to match conditions in a pinch. The liner has 125 grams of LokDown insulation in the front and 200 grams in the back. The boots are 1600-gram Thinsulate Buckshot Mudder Boots. Drake built these waders with their Guardian Elite 3-layer pro wader fabric. It features extra reinforcement over the boots and seat so they will last for years. There are also plenty of camo options including Mossy Oak Bottomland, Realtree Timber and more. They are a little pricey, but get great reviews and appear to be worth the investment.
LaCrosse Alpha Swampfox
LaCrosse builds a few different options of insulation for these bootfoot chest waders. Options include either 600 or 1,000 grams of Thinsulate Ultra insulation. The seams are all double-stitched and taped to keep warmth in and water out. These waters use an abrasion resistant nylon for the upper portion that LaCrosse says is easier to layer than neoprene. The “Swamp-Lite” outsole is built specifically for snow and swampy terrain where the ducks are congregating. Meanwhile, the EVA footbed provides excellent support of your feet while keeping them toasty warm in colder water.
Frogg Toggs Grand Refuge 2.0
These waist waders are a great alternative to a full pair of chest waders or hip boots. These bootfoot waders are available in eight sizes and feature abrasion-resistant nylon in high stress areas like the shins, seat, and knees. The boots have a cleated outsole and wool felt midsole lined with 5mm of neoprene. These waders have removable, adjustable suspenders and a wading belt. These waders are at home in both the duck marshes and in rivers and streams while fishing, giving a little extra use to them.
HISEA Chest Waders
These bootfoot waders are some of the highest-rated ones available on Amazon. The rubber boots are lined with 600-gram 3M Thinsulate Ultra Insulation. The knees are reinforced, and the seams are all thoroughly sealed before they even leave the factory. There is a generous zippered pocket on the front for all your extra calls and other tools. These waders come with some nice bonus features too like a waterproof phone case and eight shell holders so you can quickly reload when the action is fast. They also come at an excellent price point that should fit into the budget of most hunters.
For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis YouTube channels.
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