If you’ve spent time on the Internet searching for the best chest waders out there you’ll find a good deal of disagreement; but there’s one name that makes almost every list – Hodgman chest waders.
Many fly fishermen prefer chest waders since they are appropriate for any water depth; eliminating the need to have pairs of wading boots and separate hip or knee length waders. Fly fishing can be an expensive past time and finding affordable gear can be a bit of a challenge for fly fishing enthusiasts on a tight budget.
Hodgman to the rescue. They manage to offer some of the cheapest waders out there, without sacrificing quality and durability. Not only that, you can find them at places you might not expect to, like Wal-Mart. A camouflaged Hodgman breathable waterfowl stocking foot chest wader is only $119.99 – available online only.
Wal-Mart features five other Hodgman chest wader models, from the Hodgman tan breathable stocking foot wader for $79, all the way down to the very affordable Hodgman green chest wader with cleated sole for a mere $36.96.
You can also find 14 different Hodgman chest waders on Amazon.com, although their prices are slightly higher than those you’ll find through Wal-Mart online. However, Amazon features customer product reviews where you’ll read high praise for most Hodgman chest waders.
Of all their many available chest waders, the Hodgman Wadelite breathable stocking foot chest waders are arguably the most popular. The reasons go far beyond the highly affordable price, which ranges from around $100 to $140 dollars. They are extremely lightweight, making them extremely comfortable. Their superior breathability is due to their superior construction. They are made from a material called Horco-Tex CL Plus, which does an outstanding job of allowing your sweat to get out while at the same time keeping the river water from getting in!
Their outer shell of taslan nylon makes them very resistant to tears and the neoprene booties are heavy enough to resist leaking conditions. They have other handy features as well, like easily adjustable suspenders and both interior and exterior storage pockets.
The Hodgman line is so popular you can find them at more locations than any other quality brand of chest waders on the market today. You’ll even find them for sale on competitor’s web sites, like Cabela’s.com – where they have an amazing 8 different models for sale!
You’ve probably heard the adage that with some products, the cheapest is not always the best. Hodgman chest waders, however, are pretty close to the cheapest waders out there, and their product reviews clearly indicate they are also among the best.