Wader Myth test video

Here is video that PAL and I put together a couple of days ago, testing out the Waders of Death myth.

Great video  Jim! Thank you for sharing. I have got one question for you though. How do you keep that hat from falling off? 

Good test with better-than-I-thought results!  i think you covered all the different combinations. I'd better start wearing that restricting belt that came with them
Thank Jim and Paul....nowIknowIhaveAchanceTOsurviveIT!  

The waders were much less likely to fill with water than I previously believed.

Here's my take as someone who has (mostly) avoided waders for years. There are two keys to reducing the hazard: 1) The ability to self-rescue (kinda obvious); and 2) The extra flotation provided by a PFD.

Next, use of a wading belt and paddle jacket dramatically reduced water intrusion. Wearing this configuration, I performed an involuntary field test in 2006 in a fast-moving flat-water river. I was back on the 'yak in seconds. At most, I had half a cup of water in each foot. Note: my PFD that day was an inflatable. I had no need to trigger it. Still, I should have worn a regular vest. 

Finally, there was one test we didn't perform. I'd like to see how difficult it is to self-rescue in deep water or crawl out of the surf or a river if the waders do fill to capacity. Obviously, the water inside is the same density and weight as the water outside, so you're not going to sink deeper. On the other hand, lifting that heavy liquid above the water's surface could be an issue.   

A few still shots from the day:

A rare sight, Jim Sammons flipping a 'yak


Bobbing like a cork in waders, wading belt, paddle jacket, and PFD. Look how the air pushed out of the waders is trapped in the shoulders of the jacket.


Look Ma, no water in the wader ankles. This was with waders only, not even a belt.

Awesome video guys. Really like how you tested all the different situations.
Thanks for the MythBusting.

Z

Nice work Jim!

I always think about ifs though and IF you got water in your waders I think you would be toast.

Great work!

I always think about ifs though and IF you got water in your waders I think you would be toast.

Since when is the water that fills your waders more dense than the rest of the water?  You're not going to sink! 

However, you may find it more difficult to swim.  So I think your fate depends on what you need to do next after water has filled your waders.  If you just need to get back on your kayak in the middle of a lake or calm ocean, that's really not a big deal. If your boat gets away from you, you might find your self unable to catch up to it or swim to shore.  But you won't drown (you do have your PFD right?).  Getting swept down river or caught in some strong surf in some flooded waders however can be pretty dangerous because of your reduced swimming ability in those situations.

Brian
 

wow, awesome video!  great job, guys!
yeah, only problem I think is when you have a lot of water movement...
when I almost drowned at river & creek, the wader took so much drag acted kinda like the drift sock.  I wasn't sinking because no current going down, but I was taking down by the current a lot.  but then again, I wasn't wearing my PFD & can't swim well...
I felt into the water wearing waders many times (a few times no wader belt...) & never sinked except stuck underneath the strainer...

With the PFD, Belt and Jacket, you would have to be in the water a long time before you had a issue. Even without the belt it took the water some time to overcome the pressure around my legs. I really was amazed how little water got inside. If you fell over in a river you would likely just float on your back down river.
Paul and I are going to do one more test and that is to intentionally fill them with water and see how hard it is to get back on the yak or to remove them. I have an idea that should make it not to tough.
Again though I think that what we proved is that the Waders in combination with the belt, jacket, PFD and self rescue skills is a pretty safe solution.
I tell you it sure is nice to have a pair of warm dry socks on my feet for a change.

"Told you so!"

Great investigative reporting guys! Thank you!
 
The only real wader-related hazard is when you fall into a river w/out a wading belt. Been there, done that. Fortunately, the river was not moving very fast and I just doggie-paddled to shore. (This was in neoprenes w/boot foot and no belt; they filled up with water relatively fast. And it was nearly impossible to swim normally.) Or, as somebody noted, if you fall off your kayak and the wind/current moves it faster than you can swim.

I should also note that the wading belt does not stop water from entering the legs of your waders IF you fall down in the surf. I 'got to test' that theory (involuntarily) a couple weeks ago while perching in Marina. Fell down facing the beach and the receding wave filled my waders. I had to struggle to get up. And there was about a gallon of water in each foot/leg! (That was with breachables w/wading boots.) My waders STILL stink after that one. [Side note: how do I make them smell fresh again?]

When using my waders in the ocean, I do not use my normal felt-soled wading boots because they're heavy and would be difficult to swim. So I got some size 15 Tevas from Ross and strap those on over the stocking-feet. They sorta act like dive fins. And make it easier to swim/manuever in the water. Also put my paddling jacket over my waders to minimize water intrusion.

Thanks again guys!
PK

I always think about ifs though and IF you got water in your waders I think you would be toast.

Since when is the water that fills your waders more dense than the rest of the water?  You're not going to sink! 

 

When it's yellow water! 

I always think about ifs though and IF you got water in your waders I think you would be toast.

Since when is the water that fills your waders more dense than the rest of the water?  You're not going to sink! 

 

When it's yellow water! 

Can't argue with that.

This was interesting. I am trying to decide right now whether to get waders or a Farmer John wet suit. Any advice would be helpful. For the wader wearers do you use the type with the built in sock and if so what do you wear over the sock?

Jim I would like to thank you for that video. It will help clear up the myth about waders. Good work thank you.

This was interesting. I am trying to decide right now whether to get waders or a Farmer John wet suit. Any advice would be helpful. For the wader wearers do you use the type with the built in sock and if so what do you wear over the sock?

I personally have never liked wetsuits, too hot, too cold and too confining.
The breathable waders are nice because you can put warm layers underneath. The sock foot is what I have then I have an old pair of Teva sandals, a size too big, that I wear over the top of them.