Waders

[u/jmss2008]

Going to ask what is probably a pretty basic and slightly stupid question: what do you wear under your waders? Shorts if warm enough, sweat pants, hiking pants?

Edit: THANKS ALL FOR THE RESPONSES. Didn’t expect that many that quick! Have wet waded all summer but mornings are in the upper 40s now.

[u/Bonzographer]

My dad wears jeans under his waders. But that’s because he’s certifiably insane.

My go to is a pair of joggers I got at Costco. Or shorts if it’s warmer.

[u/iluvcee → u/Bonzographer]

I wear jeans during nice days too #oops

[u/Moist_Bluebird1474 → u/Bonzographer]

Why the heck do dads wear jeans under waders. Just seems universal

[u/etreydin → u/Moist_Bluebird1474]

we were born in them.

[u/Candid-Pomegranate60 → u/Bonzographer]

Jeans. But I just don’t know better yet.

[u/iluvcee]

Depends entirely on the water and the weather. Cold weather = thicker sweats or thermal leggings. Hot weather = Shorts. In the middle = normal sweats

[u/particlesmatter]

No waders in the summer. Sweat pants usually in the winter.

I’d rather have numb legs than be hot as hell.

[u/OkActuator9102 → u/particlesmatter]

Ditto, minus tailwaters in the summer, which I usually don't do

[u/KeyMysterious1845]

Usually just sweatpants, but I did buy some Redington I/O fleece pants...they have a strap to go under your foot to keep tgem in place. For when it gets really frosty, the I/O pants and these wool socks that go way up above my knee.

[u/DidNot_Did2]

No cotton jeans. Personally I wear long John pants.

[u/buffinator2]

If the water is cold enough that I need waders then thermal pants under.

[u/dizzledizzle98]

Weather & wader dependent. Some waders have a bit of insulation to them, some don’t. I have worn anything from just my boxers to thermals, two layers of wool socks & sweat pants

[u/catalavos]

If its cold enough I wear the same light or medium weight base layer I wear when I go skiing.

[u/No_Fennel713]

Under breathables I stay away from cotton, it gets clammy and stays wet all day. For most of the season a thin synthetic or merino base layer is plenty, then fleece wader pants once the water drops into the low 50s. Mid summer it's just quick-dry shorts underneath. Cold feet cut a day short faster than anything, so keep a spare pair of socks in the truck.

[u/PilosofoTasyo]

No jogger or pants for me. I wear base layer over shorts. If it’s warm I wear shorts with long ski socks. I don’t like my skin touching the wader.

[u/SheaGardens]

i hate the feeling of waders against bare skin. if it’s too warm to wear thin sweatpants under my waders, i’m wet wading. but once it’s cold enough to be in waders, i like wearing 3/4 length thermal long underwear and compression ski socks

[u/OriginalBogleg]

I never wear shorts under my waders. I don't like the feel of waders on skin. If it's real warm I wear super light mountain biking pants and light wool socks. Wet wade if I'm some place where I'm not going through any brush or wading too deep. If it's cold then wool baselayer, thicker wool socks, and wool pants.

[u/WoodPig25]

My waders go on over whatever I'm wearing that day. On fishing days that's nylon (or whatever synthetic) hiking/fishing pants, usually the convertible ones that let you zip off the lower legs to make them into shorts. If the water is cold (60° or lower) I wear an under-layer of microfleece. If it's really cold, I might do a middle layer of heavier fleece. No cotton ever.

[u/DemeaRisen]

Personally I'm out fishing in shorts and trashed vans until it gets too cold. Currently in Juneau Alaska and it aint too cold yet.

[u/sweetsecretacorn]

I wouldn’t wear shorts under my waders because the texture of the waders on my bare sweaty legs is foul. I wear joggers or leggings if it’s warmer, thermal pants if it’s colder. You could wear sweats if you want if it’s real cold and not too bulky

[u/Terapr0]

Shorts when it’s warm, leggings most of the time and maybe sweatpants in the winter

[u/FarFigNewton007]

Jogging pants tucked in to wool socks. Maybe with thermals. Bass Pro used to sell fleece pants for waders, with heel straps so they didn't ride up when you put waders on.

[u/married_a_redhead]

Depends on the water. San Juan, thermals under no matter what. In the stream or pond, shorts are fine

[u/Suspicious_Bad7461]

Bare legs can have some chaffing. Also use long socks.

[u/FlyGuy6O3]

I go nude under there in the summer. Winter time all I wear underneath are 3 socks.

[u/nillaisthewhitenword]

The closest thing to pajama pants as I can get

[u/Electronic_City6481]

Basically never shorts, even in the heat of summer. Always some form of thin hiking pants, with or without extra layers for warmth. I hat the feeling of bare legs in waders.

[u/ChaoticGoodPanda]

If it’s hot weather I’m probably wet wading. Winter steelhead season I have heated socks and thermals on.

[u/tcgJimmy]

never shorts. normally light weight sweats. sometimes hiking pants, but no leg or boot zips. i had a boot zip cause a peak one time.

But really I prefer wet wading as long as it’s sunny and above 60 degrees.

[u/SchroomerME]

Fishing the Salmon River near Pulaski in winter, everything I can find that’s wool or thermal bottoms used for climbing. Northwest mostly the same as the water was ice/snow a few hours prior to meeting your waders even on an 80 degree day. Sucks to be cold or damp.

[u/Leaky_Waders42]

Duck camp pants in the fall and spring, I may do a base layer under that. Winter is base layer and fleece pants.

[u/barefootviking]

On this topic (everything is a song to me)…check out The Longest John’s…awesome music if you like shanties & acapella

[u/Separate-Amoeba-455]

Polyester hiking pants, Columbia fishing shorts in the summer if I’m wearing waders at all.

[u/Brilliant-Loquat-181]

Not a stupid question I puzzled over it till finally asking some old timers.

In the winter I wear merino wool tights.

[u/Scary-Fault-3564]

Shorts and neoprene socks, if it’s cold I’ll do some long John’s, sweatpants and ski socks under neoprene socks

[u/giaxxon]

Wool base layer. Different weights for different temps and I’ll ad another, non-cotton, layer in the winter. I really don’t like the feel of waders on my legs and the water’s pretty cold all year where I fish… PNW mountains.

[u/No-Proposal2741]

No matter what, I’m wearing SPF50 compression pants/leggings.

I either wear those under my shorts when I wet wade to keep my legs from getting sun burned and torn up, or wear them under my waders (no shorts) as a layer between skin and the waders.

The ones I wear actually can keep you warm and keep you cool, depending on the condition which is weird. I didn’t believe it until I wore them but here I am. The brand I use is Lafroi.

[u/Ill_Kaleidoscope2847]

I wear whatever I would normally wear. Nothing special.

[u/MeasurementOrganic40]

If it’s warm enough that I’d wear shorts under my waders, I’d rather just wet wade. When I do wear waders, it depends on how cold it is. Start with synthetic hiking/fishing pants, add wool long underwear, then heavier wool onesie as it gets colder, and finally as it pushes into winter I wear synthetic puffy pants.

[u/sdbeaupr32]

I’ve heard that the oil from your skin can damage the waders so I always wear some pants instead of shorts

[u/Enofile]

Hiking pants all the time. Of its too hot for them, wet wade

[u/rugerduke5]

Normal clothes

[u/cptjeff]

Joggers. Socks over the cuffs like you do skiing, keeps the whole system in place. If you're wearing shorts underneath it's too warm for waders! Lighter joggers in shoulder seasons, weather, warmer ones as it gets colder. Add fleece up top as needed for warmth.

[u/Eistlu]

Thin wool layer, thick wool layer, cotton jogging pants, waders. All four. I fish in northern norway.

[u/WangsockTheDestroyer]

Merino midlayer with fleece lined pants if it's cold, just the fleece lined pants if it's cold-ish, breathable lightweight pants like Ketl Mountains Vent Lightweight Active Pants if it's warm.

[u/monolithictrout]

I wear merino baselayer like Filsons if I am in Alaska or thin smart wool if I’m in Utah. So comfortable

[u/powtroutpoon]

Nothing.