Taking the plunge, wellies or waders?

Growing up in sodden Galloway, both wellies and waders were a staple of everyday sporting life. I once met a soldier who had been on a military exercise in Galloway. He said it was so wet that he felt certain the water must run uphill, and used the word “bogging” to describe the whole county. It really is a soggy landscape and when I’m at home I still barely venture to the car without slotting my trotter into a galosh at the very least. 

While practically my first pair of shoes were wellies to protect me from the marsh and mire of my homeland, it wasn’t until I was a teenager fishing in the Highlands that I was trusted to don a set of waders. However, I wasn’t given a new set. In the loo by the kitchen, in a cobwebbed cave under the stairs, sits a moribund stack of fishing equipment. 

Amid the plastic boxes crammed with tippet, priests hewn from antlers and ancient reels were a few dated sets of Simms stockingfoot waders. These were my stepfather’s cast-offs and, because he is rather diminutive, they provided a perfect gateway wader for an adolescent who was keen to get out into the flow. 

Doggy paddle 

While I do not always wear waders to go flighting or wildfowling, there are a number of recent occasions when they have been vital to the success of an outing. Flighting last winter in Scotland’s central belt, sadly none of the party had a dog. Over the course of the evening, we dropped a few teal and a couple of mallard, several of which sploshed into the centre of the pond. Without our bewadered friend Alex, someone would have had to strip off and brave the Lothian winter to doggy paddle through the bitingly cold water and round up our quarry. This would have been utterly desperate. 

If I have more than a few hundred yards to tramp across Solway mud, I tend to find waders to be a bit too hot. However, if you are exploring a bit of foreshore with slimy creeks that envelop you above the shin, you are left with little option. Settling down for a few hours on a promising flightline in a hardening frost when estuarine silt and brackish water have already breached the gunwales of your wellies is miserable, so often waders are a necessity. 

Waders and wellies have advanced somewhat in the past 20 years or so. Phil Anderson, customer manager for Snowbee — which has produced fishing kit since 1978 — told me the company has been improving the durability, reliability and affordability of its waders for the past four decades. In Snowbee’s bootfoot models — where the wader is permanently attached to a boot — it has shifted its production material from rubber to clever synthetic materials that will prevent perishing. 

Snowbee also now offers a variety of sole types for different terrains. This helps to make sure you are steady, whether striding around on the shingle of a Scottish salmon fishery, or carefully stepping into the babbling course of a chalkstream. 

Casting 

Improved cutting patterns also provide a better-fitting wader, and strategic seam placement in new Snowbee products reduces pressure, which serves to minimise leaks. Phil believes waders can improve your approach and positioning for fishing. The ability to stand where you want, rather than casting from the awkward position your welly height will allow, will result in much more success, something that is also a boon. 

When selecting a wader, it is important to follow a checklist that should equate to a quality assessment. To start, check the material. Look for a high waterproof rating — 10,000mm or more is ideal for most situations. Make sure the pair you go for fit and are comfortable. Waders shouldn’t be too tight, as stress on the fabric can shorten the life of the product and lead to leaks. 

It is worthwhile selecting a pair with adjustable straps and belts because these further enhance comfort and fit. 

Phil suggests “scrutinising the construction of a wader to see if the seams are taped or reinforced for leak prevention, and whether or not the material features multiple layers in high-wear areas, such as the knees”. 

I run quite hot and tend to feel like boil-in-the-bag rice if I am too active in waders, but Snowbee has worked hard to find breathable, lightweight materials to mitigate such issues. Its 24% nylon, 59% polyester and 17% polyurethane blend provides its premium STX2 waders with a 15,000mm waterproof rating, but they still have impressive breathability. 

Despite the clear utility of a good set of waders for fishing or fowling, there is no need to chuck out your hardworking wellies just yet. Bob McConnell — founder of Koolbox, wholesaler of Gateway1 Footgear — tells me they are working to improve their boots all the time. 

Gateway1 wellies are made from strong Japan-rubber, which uses a lamination process that dramatically reduces the chances of the rubber splitting. Its boots have a Coil lining that transports moisture away from the foot and makes the lining tougher. Unlike most neoprene-lined wellies, this inner forms a full sock-like membrane, rather than only a pad for the sole of the foot. This design stops your toes from turning into blocks of ice when you’re standing on an freezing marsh. 

Traction 

Gateway1 boots are innovative in yet more ways. The Lynx Ice-Grip sole allows wearers to maintain traction even in sub-zero temperatures, and its ladies’ boots are constructed from a specific female foot last rather than just a smaller version of the men’s mould, which lots of bootmakers do to save money. 

Everyone knows that the first thing to go on a high-end wellie is the zip or the attached gusset. Bob says Gateway1 vulcanises its gussets rather than glue them and on its wellies, the buckle and gusset are thoughtfully positioned at the rear. This stops them catching on undergrowth and means that dog trainers and owners can have their dog walk closely to heel without rubbing against the buckle. 

Bob even reports that customers have told him the technical soles of Gateway1 boots have significantly reduced their symptoms of plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of certain foot tissues. 

Lynn Irungu, senior account executive with Caperlan Fishing, echoed many of the sentiments of other wader manufacturers concerning their advantages over a welly and the need for durability. But she also highlighted the importance of attention to detail. 

Wherever possible Caperlan tries to incorporate user feedback to aid the design of its products. This has resulted in the addition of more waterproof pockets to its range as well as integrated gravel guards — a kind of aquatic gaiter — and moves to produce products from increasingly eco-friendly materials. For instance, in New Zealand and Alaska traditional felt-soled boots of waders have been banned because they can harbour and introduce invasive algaes or animals if used on multiple rivers. 

Affordable 

Miles Osborne, managing director of Global Outdoors and brand owner at Dirt Boot, explains how they provide a real spectrum of waders to suit all budgets. For a very affordable but still functional set of waders, he suggests a set of tough Dirt Boot nylon bootfoot waders, but advises the same maker’s 5mm neoprene waders are more likely to keep you warm when fowling in the depths of winter. Like others, Miles also emphasises how important the fit is. He says Dirt Boot waders are longer than you would think necessary, but it is the extra length that helps aid bending and squatting, allowing full freedom of movement. 

In the end, a keen fisherman or wildfowler can’t do without a pair of waders but would be even madder to try and live life without a pair of wellies. Miles highlights that with today’s affordable and robust ranges of waders, it doesn’t have to be a choice. He advises keeping your waders in the back of the car in case a situation arises that outstrips the capability of your faithful wellies and backup in the form of their big brother is required. 

If you are trying to decide to buy either or both, following some of the pointers outlined here by the experts should help you select some that will last you many seasons.