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[Darko]

Last year I received these waders and aqua seal as a birthday gift. Last season I used them maybe 5 times in the vedder and I enjoyed them, they fit pretty well, were comfortable and stylish without being too expensive. They costed 140$ on sale ( For some reason they are 300+ currently on amazon, mine are the boot foot version).

Although this year while using them at furry creek I noticed that they have a slow leak and after fishing for 20 minutes there is some water inside already. Which really sucks. I did dry them before storing (upright in storage locker).

That was my first time using them in saltwater and did not rinse before. I have been relatively careful and not done anything crazy in them.

When looking for the leak I tried, blowing them up with shop vac and placing underwater, nothing.

I tried blowing up and spraying soap to see for bubbles, nothing.

I didn't see anything under a visual inspection.

At last when using the flashlight method I noticed MANY small holes where the seams are in many places. I'm not sure why they seem all to be weakened after soo little use. I am wondering now if I should be patching them with aquaseal only from the outside, or inside as well ( its kind of impossible to flip inside out because of the boot foot.

Also when I wade this flap lifts up for some reason though I don't think it should be...




Please leave any advice or opinions you might have. If something similar has happened to you or you have a suggestion on why this happened please chime in. The warranty was 6 months and sadly expired before I noticed the leak. (I only use them in the fall)

I also got some tree sap on them and wasn't able to remove it  .
If you know a way please share.



Holes







No I am not interested in buying new waders, and I am not looking for simms fanboys to tell me to spend 1000$ on waders. I am a student. I am also aware that in the future stocking foot may be better.

Thanks in advance

https://www.amazon.ca/Bassdash-Breathable-Lightweight-Convertible-Available/dp/B07T896DZV/ref=asc_df_B07TBFFVP5/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459321926553&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2572882241168887397&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001530&hvtargid=pla-822887318566&th=1&psc=1

[norm_2]

Did you put the vacuum hose in one leg?  That works for me.

Putting aquaseal only on the outside works for me.

Not sure from the photos, but if the leaks are where the fabric connects to the boot, a good layer of aquaseal will work.  I had a pair of bootfoot and I did that.  That is a weak area because the boots are heavy and will not flex so the fabric does all the flexing and breaks down.

[Darko]

Did you put the vacuum hose in one leg?  That works for me.

Putting aquaseal only on the outside works for me.

Not sure from the photos, but if the leaks are where the fabric connects to the boot, a good layer of aquaseal will work.  I had a pair of bootfoot and I did that.  That is a weak area because the boots are heavy and will not flex so the fabric does all the flexing and breaks down.

I did not find any leaks at the boot/wader connection only the holes from the seam I showed, yes I put the vaccum in one leg and closed with elastic bands

[vancook]

Aqua seal on the outside should be enough...FYI you can get Simms waders for $300, you don't have to buy the guide series....My G3's are 10 years and still dry inside though

[fic]

Patch all the inside seams where you suspect there's a leak with Shoe Goo and it should stop it. Aqua Seal should work too but they are way more expensive.

[Roderick]

Yep I went through that.  First it was no waders at all which was... cold.  Then the boot foot waders which always leaked after a couple of months of beach fishing.  I tried repairing them with shoe goo (same as any other polyurethane glue like aquaseal, goop, etc.).  I maybe got another month out of that.  I figured I was spending $200-$250 a year on waders, which had slow leaks half the time.  Pouring water out of ur boots after fishing is no fun.  So I went all out and invested in a pair of G4s which were $800 at the time in 2010.  I still use that first pair for river fishing when I'm not in the water all the time.  I only notice the slow leak after wading over my knees for an hour.  I bought a second pair in 2017 for $1000 which have been hassle free until very recently - a bit damp after a day of wading deep now.  So that's $1800 in 13 years or about $140 a year to stay warm and dry.  And I do lots of beach fishing and hiking through forest which is very hard on waders.  Boots are extra of course, and as with the waders, the cheap ones aren't worth the money you pay for them.  My Simms freestones have lasted 3 years and counting. 

Bottom line is if you intend to keep fishing regularly for many years, invest in a good product and you wont have to start threads like this one. 

My 2 cents. 

[bigsnag]

You catch more fish with Simms waders.

[norm_2]

I think I know why you did not see bubbles. Use your hand instead of an elastic band. I think the elastic band did not close sufficiently for the bubbles to show. Just hold the hose and increase the squeeze until you see bubbles or you feel you don't to squeeze further.