Blogs – High 'N Dry

Zip-Front vs. Non-Zip Chest Waders

Zip-Front vs. Non-Zip Chest Waders Since Hodgman invented the chest wader over a century ago, anglers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts have relied on chest waders as essential gear for staying dry in challenging environments. Traditional waders required pulling on heavy rubber or neoprene without much thought for convenience, but the evolution of materials and design has brought about a new era in wading gear. While some bells and whistles may be more of novelty, or just one more thing to get in the way, one of the most notable innovations is the addition of a waterproof front zipper. Originally designed

Lifetime Warranty on Chest Waders?

Some things last a lifetime: diamonds, your grandparents’ wedding photos, memories of high school, and uranium degradation. There are other things that do not, and when thinking rationally, we all know this. If you made it here to this blog, you have probably worn waders. If you haven’t–listen up—waders don’t last forever. Your great grandfather had a Model T, your grandfather had a Chevy and your dad had an F-150. All of these were great vehicles, but chances are that they are no longer on the road. If you still have one, that’s a wonderful thing and we are happy

Buying a Wader That Fits

I’ve met guys who are 6’2” and 275 pounds and wear a size 10 shoe. I’ve met other guys who are 5’7” and 170 pounds who are a size 13 shoe. Buying a chest wader that fits can be a difficult proposition especially for people who are outside of what is considered an “average” build. Here are some things to consider when buying chest waders so that you are as comfortable as can be whether walking, sitting, standing, or hustling after a cripple in chest deep water. Normally you don’t buy shoes, pants and a vest at the same time,

Breathable Waterproof Fabric

Breathable waterproof fabrics have evolved greatly since W. L. Gore first created Gore-Tex back in 1969. The first fabrics were expensive, limited in variations, and did not have the long lasting-qualities of some of today’s fabrics. This blog is a basic intro on breathable waterproof fabrics and how they work. I have attempted to keep it as simple as possible in the interest of brevity. We now have many different brands of waterproof breathable fabrics that vary widely in weight, uses, breathability, waterproofness and quality. At the core of every breathable waterproof fabric is a very thin layer of PTFE.

Caring For Your Waders

When you invest in any product that is designed to protect you from the elements, one tends to focus more on, features, performance, characteristics of the gear rather than what it takes to properly care for that product. While it is certainly less exciting, but just as important, is care and maintenance. Coming from a rugged, hardcore, “need now” environment of the aquaculture world; I learned the hard way of the importance to caring for and maintaining my gear. We all want our gear to preform perfectly day in and day out, but to get that performance we have to

Hip Boot vs Chest Wader

Protective waterproof apparel has slowly been evolving over the past 4 decades. In the past 10 to 15 years there have been some major innovations and improvements throughout the marketplace. Growing up as a child in the family aquaculture business, working in and around the water, was second nature to me. Back then, there weren’t the options of gear that are available today. Materials that we are used to currently; the base layers, secondary layers, jackets, and technical waterproof fabrics weren’t an option. Rubber and plastics seemed to be the best materials to keep you dry while out in the

Surf Fishing on the Eastern Shore of VA

As the days begin to get longer and the water warms here on the Eastern Shore of VA, we look forward to making a trip out to our uninhabited barrier islands for the spring run of surf fishing. Red Drum, Rockfish (Striped Bass), Black Drum, and other species migrate along the barrier islands of the Eastern Seaboard. They are in search of food and the barrier islands offer an abundance of fiddler crabs, soft shell clams, surf clams, hard crabs, etc. to satisfy their hunger. One of the biggest challenges is simply the ability to get into their environment. When

What To Look For In A Quality Wader Boot

When I see waders advertised, most often the seller talks about shell loops, buckles, extraneous pockets, and a host of new features of questionable value. The part that is most often neglected is the boot. Typically, it gets a number put on it, followed by the word Thinsulate, and we are all conditioned to think that the bigger the number, the better the boot. Certainly there must be more to it. The wader starts at the boot and it is without a doubt one of the most critical parts of the wader. We should all give it a lot more

Neoprene vs. Breathable Waders

If you love the outdoors and being in water, whether you’re going surf fishing or getting ready for duck hunting season, you’ll need the proper protection for your body. A good quality pair of waders is an important investment, which means it’s critical to choose the right material to meet your needs. You also need something that will afford you the comfort and durability you need. Long story short, you’ll need of some kind of wader, but you may be wondering which kind: neoprene or breathable? There are advantages to each style, and depending on your need, climate, and hobbies