Simms waders

[nympher]

Has anyone else had trouble with Simms waders leaking. I thought I was buying a top of the line waders which would last for a long time. $300 and 2 years later I have leaks if the feet and legs. My brother also had leaks during the first season. My first waders from Walmart for $30 lasted 4 years. I am writing this as my sock is still wet from fishing today. I guess I will look into their web site to see if I can get them repaired??????????

[Troutfitter]

All waders leak. In the case of Simms waders, its often the result of briar bushes. Simms can repair them for a few dollars.... typically $25-$35.

Here is Simms instructions on repairing them yourself:

Repairing Your Simms Gore-Tex Waders

Tears, punctures and pinholes do happen. Luckily, Gore-Tex® waders are easy to repair. 1) Turn waders inside out. 2) Apply rubbing alcohol to suspect area. Leaks will show as dark gray spots. 3) Immediately apply AquaSeal® to the area and cure for six hours. Please note: this method will not work on seam leaks. If you think you have a seam leak, call 406-585-3557 for information on returning your waders for repair.

The rubbing alcohol method works well. Typically, a tiny amount of Aquaseal does the job.

[Farmy Joe]

If the tear is in his foot, it'd be a leak in the neoprene. Had a similar thing happen to my G3's yesterday. Any advice on hotw to reair that?

[Troutfitter]

The post indicates a wet foot... not neccesarily a hole in the foot.

As for repairing a hole in neoprene. I just stuff the hole with aquaseal or sportsmen's goop. A patch will just lead to another leak.

Simms will replace the neoprene feet for $50.

[Farmy Joe]

Grady,
How long do you think an aquaseal patch-up job in that area would hold?
Guess I can't really complain, my G3's are 3 years old now. Was considering a new pair of cloudveils, but being that they're a new player in the FF market, I haven't heard any reviews positive or negative about them. Maybe I'll just shell out the 50 bucks to get these things fixed... :oops:

[The Patriot]

My Simms Freestone waders (?) $200 Gore tex model, are three or four years old, and are fine, despite my "skinning" my knee the first week I got them. Wasn't sure if they were gonna leak or not, so I put some Aqua Seal inside and out and they never leaked. Then, last July, I jumped off the tail gate of my Suburban and caught the back of my leg on something and tore them. I repaired the tear myself with aquaseal and a patch, inside and out, and again, no problem.

This year I'm noticing that my left foot is slightly damp, and the seam on the neoprene bootie appears to be separating just a bit. I was debating wether to attempt to fix it myself with Aquaseal, or have the factory repair them.

I have no complaints, as I am hard on my gear (like my St. Croix rod :roll: :? :oops: :lol: ) and as Grady said, all waders leak. I have never had a pair for very long (in terms of years) that didn't eventually leak, neoprenes even worse.

[Richard W. Fleet]

Had 2 pair of Chota's leak in their 1st season and a pair of Orvis leak in their 1st season before buying my Simms G3's. I've owned my G3's for 3 or 4 yrs with no problems whatsoever. In my experience best I've ever owned with the only exception a pair of old canvas Red Ball's that never leaked in over 15+ yrs. They, however, ran away on their own.

[Troutfitter]

Grady,
How long do you think an aquaseal patch-up job in that area would hold?
Guess I can't really complain, my G3's are 3 years old now. Was considering a new pair of cloudveils, but being that they're a new player in the FF market, I haven't heard any reviews positive or negative about them. Maybe I'll just shell out the 50 bucks to get these things fixed... :oops:

The aquaseal may hold forever... the problem is with patches of material.... they tend to peel off. So don't spend the $50 yet.

[nympher]

Thanks for the good info......I'll go get some AquaSeal. Does Upcountry carry it?

[Troutfitter]

yes.