I got invited to go on a January trip to Arkansas for a duck hunt. Any tips on which waders to buy?
I'll likely use them on rare occasions outside this trip.

If you don't want to spend a lot, I'd just go buy a pair at Academy. I'm on my 4th season with mine.

Just depends on how cold natured you are and where you will be hunting.
if you are sitting in a blind it really doesn't matter
if you are standing thigh deep in the timber and don't like the cold that's a different story
I wear banded red zones most of the time, ( all the banded haters I don't need any input from ya'll)
if it is gonna be damned cold I wear my neoprene Cabelas super mags, they are like a furnace.
that's just me
if you are not gonna use them much more I would say find a used pair that doesn't leak.


good luck

I hunted late last season in Arkansas in a pair of un-insulated Academy waders. They were the only ones left in my size at the Academy in Little Rock. If was so cold, we had to push a canoe ahead of us to break the ice to walk out into the reservoir.

I never got that cold. I wore long johns and a good jacket and used toasty toes on my feet. If you aren't going very often, I wouldn't spend a lot of money.

Depends what kind of hunting you’ll be doing. Sitting in a pit, wading green timber, in/out of a blind etc.

Personally I prefer hip boats, wehich would for 99% of the hunting I do

I have froggtoggs and they are warm as heck. I use the footwarmers you stick to your socks to keep feet warm and have no problem with me feet which tend to be the coldest on me.

I have the Academy breathable waders. The boots have some insulation but the rest of the waders do not. I have been very pleased with them. Layer up underneath for the cold, less for warmer conditions.

Rogers sporting goods or Wing supply should have a good selection of waders at anywhere from $100 to $1000.

The breathables are best but are more expensive, generally speaking. If you are wanting to go cheaper, get a 3.5 mm neoprene and you can add layers if you are standing in frozen water.

Thanks guys for all the advice. It's been years since I've duck hunted. Wish I hadn't sold my like new brush tuff insulated ones just months ago because I didn't foresee using them. Nothing like a good excuse to buy some new gear. I think I'll take a hard look at the 3.5mm frogg toggs and then layer accordingly.

Wing supply is running a sale right now.

For the money, Rogers breathable waders from what I have been told are hard to beat. Heck, any Rogers waders are hard to beat for the price. Unless Mack's has changed vendors, do not buy them. Bad problems with the boot area.

also saw that blackovis.com was running some wader deals. didn't really look at them, but might want to check them out.

Just buy you a pair of Bass Pro neoprene a size bigger and wear warm clothes under them.