T.W.C. - It may be just what you need to keep dry this season.
Soggy socks and cold feet are a quick way to end your day. A little T.W.C. (Tender Wader Care) may be just what you need to keep dry this season. Home wader care is essential to keeping you dry this (and any) season.
Drying and storing your waders properly is only one part of wader care. Yearly, or in-season, care of your waders can add years to their life, water repellency, waterproofness, and enhance your enjoyment of your time on the water.
Leaving your wet waders balled up in the back of your car, in your fishing bag, or anywhere else, can severely damage them and also void their warranty. The moisture held in your waders if they are not dried properly can cause mold to form, and can also cause the seam tape to peel up, causing leaks.
Also, mold is not pleasant smelling and can cause your friends to stand up-wind of you while you hit the river, or cancel plans all together.
Day to Day Care - After Every Use
1. Rinse Them Remove any debris on your waders with clean water. Also, if fishing in muddy or dirty water, always rinse your waders despite lack of visible debris.
2. Hang Them The most effective and least damaging way to dry your waders is to air dry out of the sun, in an area with good circulation, while hanging from the straps. Hanging by the straps allows for air to pass freely inside and out of the legs and neoprene booties.
Drift Outfitters Pro Tip: Dry your waders inside out first, making sure the booties (feet) are turned fully out. This will speed the drying of the booties and also the interior material of the wader, making them available for next-day use.
3. Store Them Like a tent, do not fold your waders; roll them loosely and do not form creases. Over-worked areas of fabric will wear, causing them to age prematurely and speed failure. Store your waders in a dry, ventilated area that is out of the sun until their next use (which is hopefully soon!). Before you store your waders, make sure they are 100% dry inside and out, including the neoprene booties.
Yes, you need to wash your waders.
Your waders (most likely) have a breathable membrane that needs to be clean to work properly. If the pores are clogged with mud and dirt, they can't breathe. No matter how clean the water you wade looks, your waders are still getting dirty as you use them at a microscopic level. Human sweat and oils can also make their way to your waders' breathable membrane, which can clog it up and decrease their breathability.
There is only one cure for this - wash them!
After washing your waders it is a great idea to re-coat them with a waterproofing agent to improve water repelency and breathability.
Every wader manufacture has their own recommendations for how to maintain your waders. This information can be found on their website, and we very strongly urge you to follow it. Not following the manufacturers' suggested cleaning and care methods can void the warranty of your waders, so take care!
My Waders Are Leaking
What Do I Do?
At-home repair for pin-hole leaks and small punctures is very simple and easy. You don't have to send your waders to a repair centre if you can take care of the issue yourself. It will save you time, and money.
The links above for wader care also contain information on how to fix small holes and punctures. While some waders do come with repair kits, others don't.
Don't have a repair kit?
We have everything you'll need to repair your waders in stock at Drift Outfitters!
Waders with large rips and punctures, leaks around the neoprene/wader connection, leaks on the seams, and general seepage need to be sent off to repair centers; these are in need or much larger fixes that can not be taken care of at home.
Remember, the warranty on your waders is for the usable life of the product (not yours), and only if they have been used and maintained properly.