Hip Boots

[Adam Taylor]

Anyone out there still use them? I was considering getting a pair to use on small streams. The last pair I owned were those vulcanized, non-breathing, smell like a tire store kind.... A quick search has revealed a bunch of options, but admittedly the price tags gave me some sticker shock.

any suggestions?

[southpaw526]

Well, why not buy a new pair of chest waders, cut the legs offf the old ones, and modify them as necessary? That works if your chest waders are older, I guess.

[Adam Taylor]

Well, why not buy a new pair of chest waders, cut the legs offf the old ones, and modify them as necessary?

This is exactly why I posted the question here. That idea has some serious merit.

[Z Fisher]

I have a pair (which just started leaking) that were a $49 big box store purchase. Rubber sole, loose fit but served the purpose for small stream fishing. I've been toying with a pair of stocking feet hippers but they're like 4x the cost of my big box ones....

I think these are them (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Three-Forks8482-Insulated-Lug-Sole-Hip-Wader/732865.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3D searchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProduc ts%26Ntt%3Dhip%2Bwaders%26x%3D0%26y%3D0&Ntt=hip+waders)

[Jon]

I've taken to wearing wellies on small stream jaunts - the really posh Hunter kind, of course ;-) They force me to think about not wading.

Rather strange aside: Believe it or not, this morning a colleague at Yale walked into my office and donated a pair of thigh waders (hip boots to you) to me. Apparently her recently deceased father wanted his kit to go to another angler and she'd heard that I liked to fish. It's a funny old world.

Jon

[Adam Taylor]

they're like 4x the cost of my big box ones....

Precisely....

Jon-you are right. It is a funny world we live in. I don't mind wet wading in the warm temps, but there are a few places I have been going to that waders are necessary to get through the bogs en route to the stream. I nearly lost a pair of keens this summer.

[Jon]

Yes - I was thinking that as I wrote. In summer I'm more inclined to wear a crappy old pair of chest waders for tick protection, or for hiking through coastal marsh (no place for wellies). Luckily most of my new waders get crappy and old after one season, so an endless supply!

JA

[Adam Taylor]

I have knocked on wood prior to typing this. I have a pair of breathable redingtons that I picked up from SierraTrading Post...a few seasons ago that are holding up really well. They are taking longer to dry out now...but they still keep me dry.....it will be a sad day when they fail.

[DA]

Cabela's has uninsulated Three Forks hip boots with felt soles for $49.99. They also have them in stocking foot hippers for $44.99. The insulated lug sole hip boots sell for $54.99.

[labtrout]

I've been thinking about waist-high waders for small-stream fishing. Years ago I had hippers and found them a bit ungainly on long walks through the woods. Anybody use waist-highs?

[twistedtippet]

I like the idea of waist-high waders, most of the time i wear my Simms guides rolled down to the waist. I also like muck boots for most of my winter fishing as I try not to wade in the icy weather.

[dudley]

I wear my old school Hodgman felt soled canvas hip boots more often than I do regular chest waders
Easy on, easy off. Comfortable in hot weather. And after a while it will be second nature not to wade too deep.
Just remember the old adage.

Hip boots are just a way to measure how deep the water was when you got wet


On sale now too..... cheap!
LINKY LINKY (http://www.hodgman.com/Wadewellreg-3-ply-Hip-Wader-w-Felt-Soles-P2042C69.aspx)

[Adam Taylor]

Dudley...thanks for the link....

BTW...what is this? Have people gotten too lazy to sit down and take off their boots? Seriously?

http://www.hodgman.com/Boot-Jack-P2008C56.aspx

[dudley]

Have people gotten too lazy to sit down and take off their boots? Seriously?
Boot jacks are nothing new. I have a few including a cast iron one like this.... not very PC huh ? :razz:

http://www.patented-antiques.com/images/CONSIGN-Writ/BOOTJACKS/BJ-2/IMG_4172.JPG

[DA]

I wear my old school Hodgman felt soled canvas hip boots more often than I do regular chest waders
Easy on, easy off. Comfortable in hot weather. And after a while it will be second nature not to wade too deep.
Just remember the old adage.



On sale now too..... cheap!
LINKY LINKY (http://www.hodgman.com/Wadewellreg-3-ply-Hip-Wader-w-Felt-Soles-P2042C69.aspx)

I've had mine for at least 10 years, but I don't wear them often. They are heavy, but durable. Mine are size 10. I should have bought a larger size as they are a bit too snug with two pair of socks. At that price I may get another pair in size 11.
I just noticed on the web site that they're only available in size 8 and 12. I called anyway to see if they might have size 11 and was told they're on sale because they are being discontinued and all they have left are size 8's and 12's.

[pork]

Cabela's has uninsulated Three Forks hip boots with felt soles for $49.99. They also have them in stocking foot hippers for $44.99. The insulated lug sole hip boots sell for $54.99.


I have the felt soled hip boots. I like them, though they don't breathe that well. I hate wearing waders and will wear the hip boots any chance I can, despite the sweat.

[Apache Trout]

I have a pair of waist high breathable LL Bean stocking foot for cold water small streams in spring, summer & fall. Love 'em.
Winter I use boot foot full length LL Bean breathables, half size bigger in the foot so I can fit a heavy sock and those toe/foot warmers in there. Nothing beats warm toes while winter fishing. :)
Also, I throw a pair of hand warmers in the pocket. Those will be especially handy this winter, as I got arthritis in my left index finger for my 46th birthday this year.