It is that time, and whether you like it or not the rubber waders you love so dearly, the ones you bought at a garage sale 3 years ago and patched twice, have now outlived their use. The ones you once called, "the best chest waders ever". Well, they are finally trash.
The rubber is weathered and cracked. Leaks are sprouting like daisies, and if you're honest with yourself, you have gotten a fair amount of use out of them. Now, it is time for new ones.
You’ve said your goodbyes, closed the trash lid, and are now ready to move on. You grab a cup of jo, or whiskey, or warm milk, or whatever makes you smile and sit down at your computer to purchase a new pair. Yet, as soon as you begin looking your jaw drops and out comes your drink down your face and onto your lap.
Why?
You weren’t aware buying a new pair of waders was going to take hours of invested time searching through hundreds of options.
Then you remembered Good Game Hunting, and smiled because you knew we got your back.
So hello, and welcome to GGH’s top 5 best chest waders.
5 Best Chest Waders
Waders | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
Overall best chest waders for hunting and our #1 Pick | ||
Best chest waders for trapping | ||
Best kids and toddlers chest waders | ||
Best chest waders for women | ||
Budget. Best chest waders under $100 |
Before reviewing these in more detail there are a few things to consider in order to choose the best chest waders for you.
What to Consider When Hunting for Chest Waders
- What do you plan on doing in your new waders? Are you hunting in them, fishing in them, trapping, or working in them?
- What type of weather will you be wearing them in mostly and what will the temp of the water be?
- How long would you like them to last? And...
- What is your budget?
These questions are important to ask yourself because they can help determine the next chest wader purchase you make. You are going to want something that matches your desired use for them.
If you're going to be in cooler temperature water/weather for longer duration's then insulated neoprene will be your best bet. Warmer water/weather and you will want nice breathable waders. Determining where you will be using them can affect the boots or booties that come attached to your waders, and whether they should have a rubber tread or felt bottom.
If you are fishing and changing your location often then a good pair of waders with flexible booties is exactly what you will want. That way you can purchase the right kind of boots to go over your “foot sleeves” which will match the terrain of the river or lake bed.
If your hunting then you may want waders with pouches. If you are constantly getting down on your knees or coming into contact with foreign objects then you may consider waders with reinforced knees or buttocks and reinforced seams.
Both neoprene and “breathable” waders are going to be the best and most sought after. PVC/Nylon or rubber will be bottom of the shelf but that does not make them bad by any means.
One more thing to consider is the comfort level you would like your waders to be at. To choose this you will have to consider your typical length of wear, what you're doing in them, and the distance you're traveling in them.
This will help you determine the type of boot, shoulder straps, or the inner lining of the waders.
You get the idea.
So here are reviews of our top 5 highly recommended chest waders.
LaCrosse Swamp Tuff Pro Bottom Land Waders
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5
These waders are a great buy and come in at #1 in our list. The half off star takeaway is simply due to them being a bit more expensive. The remaining 4.5 stars are due to them being the best hunting chest waders.
PROS:
- Built from durable and resistant neoprene making them comfortable, strong, and flexible
- 1000 grams thinsulate makes these waders very warm and designed for water with cooler temperatures
- Realtree MAX-5 camo pattern makes these the best chest waders for duck hunting
- Extra pouches including a net pouch in the back which is ideal for fish or fowl
- Reinforced areas that receive hard usage, and the neoprene is lined with a spandex and Lycra combination making the waders even more durable
- Lined with fleece for extra comfort
- Built to last
- Designed for rough terrain so you don't have to worry about snags when trudging through a swamp
CONS:
- Will make you way too hot on warm days and in warm water
- If you have to walk any sort of distance in them you will sweat tremendously as they are designed to hold in heat and neoprene is not breathable in nature
- Price - A bit expensive compared to other options
Overall these chest waders are top of the line. They will last you a very long time, keep you warmest in cold water, and provide you with an extra hunting edge considering the camo or the convenient pouches.
Number 2 on our list,
Hodgman H5 Stocking Foot Wader
Our Rating: 4 out of 5
We give the Hodgeman H5 waders 4 out of 5 stars because of their price and average lifespan, which is longer than most. Designed for a warmer climate these breathable waders are just as durable as they are comfortable.
PROS:
- Very durable with 5 layers of fabric and reinforced areas that receive the most wear and tear
- BREATHABLE; meaning they are designed for airflow and wick-away sweat. Breathable waders are probably the mos desired style of wader as they allow water vapor to pass through the material but stop larger water molecules. You can walk in these for longer distances without becoming overheated making these the best waders for trapping
- Gravel-guards on the booties to protect them from spending the majority of your day in the river
- Having booties instead of rubber boots allows you the ability to purchase boots specific to your needs that fit over top of the attached booties. We recommend the Korkers Greenback Wading Boot with Felt & Kling-On Soles
- Lined hand-warmer pockets
- Price
CONS:
- You'll eventually want to invest in boots, if nothing more than to extend the lifespan of your booties and waders
- Not ideal for cool temperatures
- Not camouflage
These are great waders and will give you a long life with a ton of use. They will help keep you cool when walking to and from your favorite fishing hole in the river, and have a lot to offer for a reasonable price.
Number 3 on GGH’s list of top 5 chest waders,
Lone Cone Kids and Toddler Neoprene Camouflage Child Size Chest Waders
These waders, designed for young kids and toddlers, are fantastic for more than just wading in a little bit of water and fishing. They are perfect for playing outside and getting muddy as they keep kids warm, protected, and dry. They clean easy after getting dirty, because you can literally hose ‘em down.
- Multi purpose
- Neoprene material providing flex and comfort while being waterproof
- Boots with good traction that can be worn with or without socks
- Easy to clean
- Easy to take on and off because of simple buckles and flexibility
- Unisex camo
- Durable for sustained versatile play
- Price - usually under $100
We give these wonderful little chest waders 4 out of 5 stars because they are well designed, offer lots of positives, and let’s be honest kids just look too darn cute when playing in them.
Number 4 on our list are the
Frogg Toggs Women's Hellbender Stockingfoot Wader
These waders are specifically designed with women in mind when it comes to fit and comfort including an anti-bunching design when maneuvering in them. We give them 4.5 out of 5 stars.
PROS:
- Female specific design with room for you to wear layers but also remaining snug around your body
- Multiple layers for added durability
- Reinforced knees and seat
- Gravel guarded booties
- Booties allow the ability to buy your favorite pair of wader boots
- BREATHABLE
- Very reasonably priced
CONS:
- Not camo
- You will eventually want to invest in boots to go over the booties
- Not designed for cooler overall temperatures as they are not insulated
The Frogg Toggs Women’s chest waders are great, and although designed more for river fishing they are a fantastic all around chest wader that will give you a long life no matter what your doing in them.
Lastly, number 5 on our list are the
Hodgman Mackenzie Cleated Nylon/PVC Boot-foot Chest
These chest waders are the best chest waders under 100. The extremely low price, makes these chest waders a whole lot more appealing than its bland appearance.
Make no mistake, although plain and simple these waders are durable, flexible, tough, and comfortable.
PROS:
- Made from lightweight nylon and PVC making them tough and durable
- PRICE!
- They will give a long life if taken care of
- The boots are also PVC which make them more durable and flexible than rubber
- Overall they are 35% lighter than traditional rubber waders
CONS:
- Simple - no extra pockets or features and simple straps
- Basic - no extra layers or reinforced areas
I personally own a pair of these and I must say I love them. For under a hundred bucks you can’t go wrong. I bought these cheap pair for simple around the property tasks such as taking out or putting in docks and hoists, or setting traps throughout my swamps. They have proven to be worth the buy, and outlived their life in my opinion. That’s because if something were to happen to them I wouldn’t lose much in the deal.
There you have Good Game Hunting’s top 5 best chest waders including kids and women. Don’t forget to consider your personal needs when choosing your next pair and hopefully this list helps make your choice a little bit easier and a whole lot less stressful. Thanks for reading!
