Neoprene Waders - How do Rogers compare

ksherbine

ksherbine

Active member
My Cabelas neoprene waders finally gave out after maybe 10 years of hard use. I'm happy with that and was thinking of just replacing them with the Cabelas Ultlmate waders. I really hate the velcro though as the ones I had before this pair had that and always came loose. Someone suggested the Rogers Toughman waders as similar quality for a lot less money.

Anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks!
 
I have the Roger's toughman waders and have been happy with them. My first pair lasted 4 years and finally the seams gave out. I bought another pair this year, for $150.00 in 3.5 mm. I'm done buying expensive waders, just have not been able to get more than 3-4 years out of them before the seems go. I've had the drake MST and Cabelas and they all seem to last about the same.

The one good thing about Cabelas waders is the lifetime warranty. I think LL Bean, and Orvis offer a lifetime warranty as well.
 
I'll have to check into whether or not my old waders (Super Mags I think) were under any type of warranty?? I never even thought about that.

Thanks!
 
Not sure if Roger’s offers lifetime warranty but I bought a pair of breathable waders last year. They started leaking this year, so I gave them a call. They said send them back and they’ll send a new pair.
 
Three of us have all had the Roger's breathable waders. Out of four pair, 3 had seam leaks within one season. The fourth pair made it two full seasons then started leaking one month into the third. One of us sent back a replacement pair (actually making 5) he received that leaked after three hunts and they refused any recourse. Overall I have been very happy with Roger's but will not try any more of their waders.
 
I had a lot of reservations about switching to breathable waders for that reason. I have a buddy who has had the same experience with Cabela’s breathable waders. I may have to go back to neoprene, but then the year old pair of neoprenes I have are leaking too. So what’s a fella to do.
 
Darin Clark said:
I had a lot of reservations about switching to breathable waders for that reason. I have a buddy who has had the same experience with Cabela’s breathable waders. I may have to go back to neoprene, but then the year old pair of neoprenes I have are leaking too. So what’s a fella to do.
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Unfortunately, I think the answer is to pay a lot for high end waders. I hunt, fish, and work in the water. I spend a lot of time with a lot of people who spend a lot of time in waders. For breathables, Simms and Patagonia are head and shoulders above anything else I've used. With high use in tough conditions that don't allow me to baby them, I can get 3-4 years out of a pair of breathables. I use Patagonia because they fit me better, but Simms seem to be a little more durable for my friends who fit them. Both companies have excellent warranty and customer service.

The problem is that you will pay dearly for that reliability and good service. I think full retail is over $400 a pair for both now.
 
My old farmer friend and I always laugh about the pair of old brown $30 Red Ball waders I gave him. I got them in late 80's and gave them to him in 1993. He wore them through 2000 and never had a significant leak. Meanwhile I went through 3 or 4 pairs. I took a lot of good natured ribbing from him.
 
I got a pair of Redball canvas over rubber hip boots in 1982, I was still using them in 15 years later, with no leaks or any degradation of the rubber, when I ripped them on barbed wire.
I've talked to a number of people who all say the quality of rubber used in manufacturing today, even that used in tires, is not what it was 20+ years ago.
 
Neoprene waders that lasted for years of hard use. Those should go into some sort of hall of fame.
 
Yes, I agree the compound used is not what it once was, I have a jig saw from the early 60s with the original cord on it ,no cracks or splits. Both my Cabelas Warrior II 's breathable, cracked along the along the seam of the boot (Middle).Always dried them on my Peets drier, stored them out of the sun. Cabelas said no to replacement. Now I use them as field waders
 
As of last May, LL Bean was still honoring their waders guarantee.

That was the 2nd time they'd replaced my pair of waterfowling waders in about 2 or 3 years, and they agreed to my request to replace them with comparably priced fishing waders.

Toward the end of summer those too began leaking. I'm confident Bean's would replace this latest pair of waders if I asked, but so far a tube of aquaseal has sufficed.

Aquaseal, by the way, I think is a great item to have on hand with these waders.
 
Steve O said:
As of last May, LL Bean was still honoring their waders guarantee.

That was the 2nd time they'd replaced my pair of waterfowling waders in about 2 or 3 years, and they agreed to my request to replace them with comparably priced fishing waders.

Toward the end of summer those too began leaking. I'm confident Bean's would replace this latest pair of waders if I asked, but so far a tube of aquaseal has sufficed.

Aquaseal, by the way, I think is a great item to have on hand with these waders.
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Bean's customer service is top notch. And for those of us in Maine, we can get it on the spot by just driving in to the store. They stand behind their waders, but your experience is a common one. I can't afford leaking waders causing me to lose a day in the field (working or playing). For those who use them occasionally and only in the warmer seasons, the combination of lower price, decent-but-not-top-of-the-line quality, and great customer service makes the LL Bean waders a good value. That's what I have as my back-up pair.
 
ksherbine said:
Someone suggested the Rogers
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It seems that no matter what I buy, someone tells me that I should have checked Rogers. Check and let me know!
@

I just got a pair of Frogg Togg breathables and they are fantastic (Cabbelas tough guys are on the rack next to them for the Ice)
 
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