ST -

Agreed.  Cinching them down would make a BIG difference.  The guy my brother & I pulled out of the icy water in Sturgeon Narrows back in May of 1996 actually had on above-the-knee high Lacrosse rubber boots.  Believe me, they had water in them!  My brother & I are both pretty big guys and it was all we could do to haul that guy 30-40 meters to shore.  It didn't help much that the Narrows were a raging torrent after the spring flood, either.

Anyway, your point about cinching them down is a very good one.

Jimbo   

Quote:


After reading your story Jimbo, I went to my local warm water beach and wearing my PFD and hip waders, walked out until they filled with water to see if I still had the floatation and could maneuver enough to get to shore or maybe cling to canoe?

In calm water I barely could keep my mouth out of the water. With wind/waves, I'd of been swallowing water.
Could hardly move my legs and IF I was clinging to canoe/pack, the extra weight would sap your energy fast.

I don't think hip waders are the problem, as much as certainty unless you modify them, they'll fill with water.
If you could secure them enough with a cinch strap or when paddling, roll down so they can't fill with water, I still think they have possibilities.

Wearing them as they come is a recipe for disaster.

Ditto.

Have had to yank paddlers out of ice-out cold water wearing such gear.  Even WITH life preservers on, they could barely keep their noses above water due to water filling the boots after the spill.

Personally, in cold weather where there are few portages, I'll go with my Chotas.  That's what I'll be wearing during my upcoming base camp (mostly) pre-Memorial Day week trip (assuming I'm not sledding in mukluks across Cirrus Lake).

During my trip much further north in late June, I'll wear Chota neoprene "socks" (leggings?) under my OTB drainage boots.  I roll them down while paddling.  I make the switch in boots due to the expected amount of portaging/bushwhacking during 2nd trip.  No matter what the manufacturer says to the contrary, my Chota boots simply don't afford me the ankle support I get from my OTB's.

Anyway, waders are a bad idea when paddling.  I also roll my Chotas down when paddling (especially in cold water conditions), such is my concern about the consequences of an inadvertent spill.

All it takes is but one time watching someone flail about the lake in water-laden boots.  It's the kind of nightmare vision that sticks with you.

Jimbo   

Yea ,the hip waders are a bad idea.   down   Two friends of mine started an April trip ,couple years ago, and dumped in the middle of Seagull.  They were both wearing hip waders.  -and no life vests! Fortunately, they went over so's that their feet were up and the boots were filled with air.  They both had the good luck to keep their air filled boots up until one guy was able to grab and cling to the floating food barrel and the other got a hold of the canoe. They hung on until they blew to shore , managed to gather most of their stuff (lost a tackle box, camera, and both rods  and reels ).  Their spare clothes and sleeping gear stayed dry so they avoided hypothermia, but the next day they turned around and drove the 650miles home.  They both shudder (and say" thank you, God", I'm betting) when ever they think of it.    Above all  else , wear something you can swim in at least well enough to keep your head above water...at least long enough to get them off.

wifishpro wrote on Mar 25^th, 2014 at 2:22am:



I used to use these with whatever low cut water type shoe could pick-up at a discount place like Sierra Trading post. I'm partial to the TEVA Spider sole, and ankle support isn't a issue, so low cut works for me.

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I liked the set-up until I read a story by Jimbo one of our QJ guys, about pulling someone out of the water when their rubber boots filled with water, they couldn't get them off and were in real danger of drowning.

I realized then, my hip wader choice had a fatal flaw, that being the lack of a cinch strap like my Brookie Knee Highs do as well as brands.

However if your handy with needle and thread, you could easily make some cinch straps with say elastic straps of some type or maybe that with a Velcro type fastener of some sort.

I plan on re-visting my original set-up when my Brookies need replacing.

In the spring with high water, it was nice to be able to wade/portage with water way above my knee and still stay warm and dry.

Might get a little warm if the temp rise too much, but you could always roll them down like fireman's boots, as long as they don't become anchors if you capsize.

Like M_M, I use OTB's when wet footing. If I'm trying to stay dry in cooler weather I use an old pair of Northern rubber boots. When I need to replace them I'll try the MUCK boots. I got Martha some. I think Solus tipped me off to them. They have a nice sole with a steel shank in the arch, which is nice when you're carrying a load.

If it's warm you'll find the rubber boots hot. I've been known to kick them off while in the boat. Footwear is an old debate. If you're new here M_M is worth paying attention to IMO. He may endure an icy foot better than others. Plus go lighter n farther too.

I have a couple of pairs of water shoes with the same type/pattern of sole that is on those Kokatat boots, and similar to Chota Quetico Trekkers - don't like them at all - they just don't seem to shed the mud you just stepped in, and that means the next step on to a rock is slippery as hell.  I found myself slipping a lot when I didn't expect to.

I use th OTB Abyss boots, which have a very good traction sole.  I typically am in Quetico for Memorial Day weekend - just wetfoot.  If I were going to try and dryfoot, I'd get some waterproof knee high socks and use them inside of the Abyss boots, or some other wading type boot with a more rugged traction sole.   

SIMMS makes several wading/hiking boot types that would work well like that (i.e. with a waterproof liner) - NRS has good choices as well the Vapor Boot is new and looks like something I'd be interested in

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I've owned several Chota boots over the years...well made product.

prouboy

Thanks for the tips, everyone!  The Kokatat Nomad paddling boots look made-to-order for this type of thing, so I may just have to try a pair and leave the hip waders at home.  Much appreciated.

Kerry wrote on Mar 24^th, 2014 at 3:26am:
i have a pair of these and used them last year but not on any very long portages. i like them a lot albeit the footbed wasn't sufficient so used some inserts from a pair of low hikers and that worked great. not sure durability year after year but so far so good after year 1.