storing waders for the summer

[duckhnter2003]

Just curious to how most people store their waders for the summer. I have heard people say that hanging them up is bad because it stretchers the neopreme and will make them leak. I have heard others say that putting them in a box wadded up is not good either. So i was just wondering what is the best way to store your waders for the summer without doing damage to your waders.

[Don Miller]

I would think that as long as you store them inside out of the weather and UV rays would be best. Not sure about hanging them or putting them back in the box.

[gunner]

I store mine in my work shop. I usually just lay them over something.

[Bama Duck]

I hang mine up by the boot. You definately don't want to wad them up and put them in a box because if there is any moisture the waders will dry rot.

[duckhnter2003]

BAMA have you had any problems with the seams in your waders after they have been hung up for a summer. I have heard ppl say that when they hang their waders it weakens the seam were the boot is stitched to the neopreme. Have you not had any problems with this?

[Bully]

If all of that is bad for your waders, I guess I will just have to wear mine all summer.

[duckhnter2003]

lol, thats what i was getting at. Do you think people will think im crazy if i come to work at the hospital in a pair of waders.

[Bama Duck]

DHunter2003, I have never had any problems at all and I have gone through four seasons with them. Will probably get a new pair this season because my inside linning is coming out in one of the boots, but this has nothing to to do with hanging them up.

[skygazer]

I POSTED A SUBJECT ON THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO AND GOT SIMILAR RESPONSES. I DECIDED TO HANG MINE SO I WOULD NOT CREATE ANY CREASES IN THEM. HOWEVER I HAVE THE BOOTS RESTING ON A
5-GALLON BUCKET TO PREVENT ANY STRESS ON THE SUSPENDERS.

[DuckyDan]

I just sit mine in the bottom of my closet. i leave the boots on the ground and lay the uppers over to the side on top of all my old camping equipment (sleeping bag, backpack, etc.) They're not really wadded up, and they're not hanging up. It works, whatever I do. I've been going 4 years on one set and no trouble yet.....knock on wood.....and I have a set of 3.5MM that are probably around 7 years old. Still wear good!

[RedEyed Duck]

I always hang mine upside down by the boots. I have never had any problem with the seams. All my waders have been replaced because I have torn them too many times.....

[duckhnter2003]

thanks for all the good advice guys. Reason i started this thread was because my last pair of waders started leaking in the seams between the boots and the neopreme and I had hung them by the shoulder straps in my garage. Had no problems with them the first season but the second season after hanging the summer they started leaking. Maybe it was just a manufacturing mistake.

[Bully]

There is probably more stress on the seam when hanging them by the suspenders rather than the boots. At least on my waders, the boots are the heaviest part.

[acornman]

Several years ago while my father and I were hunting in Arkansas, we were surprised when the landowner/guide took several pairs of waders out of a large chest type deep freezer in his farm shop/headquarters. He said that his family had learned over many years of duck hunting/guiding that rubber waders held up really well when stored in the deep freezer. They had a separate freezer for waders; the waders were stored in layers with newspaper between them. They were spread out pretty much full length...not wadded up. They washed them off at the end of duck season and let them air dry really well before putting them away for the summer. He said that you could double the lifespan of a pair of waders by using this method.......just thought I would share this .......acornman