By Paul Lebowitz

Chest waders. Warm and toasty when right side up, scuttlebutt has it they sink like a stone if they fill with water. Would you wear them on a kayak?

A lot of guys do. If any of them have been sucked to the bottom, I haven’t heard the story.

Waders can’t sink. The water inside is the same density as the stuff outside so they can’t drag anyone down.

But wait! Worn improperly, they are indeed potentially dangerous. There are accidents to prove it, nearly all involving swift moving streams and rivers and a decided lack of wading belts and PFDs. Come on, when was the last time you saw a fly guy working a crease with an orange Mae West around his neck? 

Water is a heck of a lot denser than air, so the real problem posed by flooded waders is its weight when it’s time to get out of the water. That stuff is a hefty 8 lbs per gallon.

That’s plenty to make a set of rapids or surf zone into a widow-maker. In calm water, the extra weight could be the margin between getting back on the ‘yak after a spill or chilling out in the drink. In rough water, where dumping a ‘yak is more likely… well, I wouldn’t want to try it. 

The hazard kept me in a soggy wetsuit or paddle pants and jacket combo, while others who paddled by in breathable waders stayed dry all day. Kayak fishing guide Jim Sammons of La Jolla Kayak Fishing was another wader hold-out, preferring to dress for immersion in paddlesports gear.

Lately we’ve been feeling very much alone. Take a look around La Jolla on a crisp springtime morning. Most of the ‘yakkers are ‘styling’ in breathable waders. Are they taking a risk? Sammons and I wanted to know.  

To find out, Sammons collected a kayak, breathable waders, wading belt, and a PFD and toted them all over to his neighbor’s pool. While I shot photos and video, Sammons went for a series of swims in 55 degree freshwater. Ah, refreshment!

First up, the full ensemble. Sammons leapt into the pool with a belt, paddle jacket, and PFD over his breathable waders. Cork-like, he bobbed right back to the surface and easily climbed back on his ‘yak. His waders didn’t fill, not with water nor with air. In other words, no big deal. 

Sammons repeated the test, gradually removing the PFD, paddle jacket, and even the wading belt. The belt let in a little water, but Sammons wasn’t really wet until he cannon-balled in wearing just his waders. Even after swimming a few laps, the waders never filled completely with water.  

“I hate to disappoint anyone, but I’m not dead yet,” Sammons said jokingly after the series of tests. “I wish I’d done this sooner.”

Before anyone draws too fine a conclusion, let’s note a few key points. This was a test in artificial conditions, not the wild ocean. The results could differ in the rough stuff.  Sammons is as skilled a paddler as any fisherman I’ve met; each time he was out of the water and back on his boat in a flash. The average Joe may not fare as well, giving more time for water to sneak into the system. Sammons used soft breathable nylon waders, not the older, rigid and rubbery style.

So here’s my personal risk assessment. Yours could be different, and should take into account your individual skill set. If you have any trouble climbing quickly back on your kayak, waders are probably not for you (and you need to practice, practice, practice until you can self-rescue). Likewise with extreme surf; that’s surfer territory. Those guys wear wetsuits. 

For me, the combination of breathable waders, wading belt, paddling jacket, and PFD is a reasonably safe choice for most Southern California conditions. The PFD should go without saying. The wading belt is another must-have for anyone who uses waders, whether on a kayak or off. Remember, when waders flood it may be difficult to swim or climb out of the water.

Here’s another consideration. When it’s cold, there’s another risk factor. That’s hypothermia, even if getting out of the water is no problem. It’s important to wear clothing beneath the waders that insulates even when wet. Avoid cotton, choosing synthetic fleeces and products such as Mysterioso. They’re comfortable wet or dry.

WADERS OF DEATH? – Kayak fishing guide Jim Sammons ‘braved’ 55 degree pool water to see how easily breathable waders fill with water. While wearing a wading belt, paddle jacket, and PFD above his waders, he rolled into the water, bobbed upright, swam a lap or two, and then climbed back on the boat. When he emerged, his legs were still dry.