Hip waders?

[nomad]

LaCrosse? Hodgman? Other?
Who prefers what?
Need to pick up a new pair...

[Paul H]

I'm partial to the Lacrosse ankle fit with air bob soles, have had them 3 seasons now, and have been very happy with them.

Some folks are using the ultralight breathable types, but I'll wait a few years to see how they do durability wise.  That and spending $100 plus on the Lacrosse was bad enough, I don't want to shell out $200-300.

[Dand]

I've tried Hodgman and Cabela's but since they first came available in Alaska in the early 70's or late 60's, Lacrosse have served me the best by far. Ankle fit or standard, and for really cold, use their insulated ones.  Heck I had a friend working north of Fort Yukon in November and he said his Lacrosse insulated boots turned out to be the warmest foot gear he had.  Big Rays in Fairbanks has had the best deals for me - when I watch their mail order ads.   The pair I have now are about 5 yrs old, hardly any tread left, the inner lining has rotted out in the foot - but they don't leak.  When I was working I usually could depend on a pair lasting from early June through mid August when I wore them nearly every day, often for over 10 hours each day.  Some pairs lasted through October when I'd put several miles a day on them doing streram surveys and hiking through brush.

[Daveinthebush]

Got them too but sometimes am not too happy.  The ankle fit, fits so tight that they are a bear to remove. Someone posted that talcom powder in the boot helps with the removal. Mine are also insulated and we have been in the rivers off the Yukon in November in them.  Worked great. Doing something stupid of course! Like putting a subsistance net in a partially frozen river.:roll:

[nomad]

Many thanks for the replies.

[Dand]

Those old reliable LaCrosse hip boots died this weekend.  A careless yank om my Buck Crosslock gut hook did 'em in.  When I got to the hock of the moose the hair balled up and stopped me cold.  A hard yank on it resulted in the hook comingout of the moose and slammng against a fold near the calf.  1 inch hole but no damage to me.    :oops:  Oh well the linings are so rotted out that it was hard to pull them on.  Better dial up Big Ray's.

If the boat hadn't been full of moose, it would have been real cold lining it up out of that shallow slough.  Nothing like a little good luck to overcome a few minor obstacles.

[Daveinthebush]

I will say a prayer latter for your boots Dand.  :grin:  Good hunting equipment is hard to loose for sure.