How to Choose the Best Duck Hunting Waders

The short answer: For most duck hunters, the right wader is a breathable chest wader with as few seams as possible, a boot that fits like your everyday shoe, and a warranty backed by real repairs. Add warmth by layering underneath instead of buying a heavier wader.

Waders take more abuse than anything else you own. Ice, sunken timber, boat edges, pit blinds and a dog climbing over you all wear on them every morning. The pair that lasts comes down to a few choices you make before you buy. This guide covers each one.

Breathable or neoprene?

Neoprene waders are made from insulated foam rubber. They're warm in the coldest water, but they're heavy, and the warmth is built in. On a long walk to the hole or an early-season morning, you'll sweat, and that moisture has nowhere to go.

Breathable waders use a waterproof fabric that lets water vapor escape. You control the warmth with what you wear underneath, so one pair covers opening day through the late season. Chêne only builds breathable waders. The 2S Wader uses a 4-layer laminate that blocks water from the outside but lets vapor out, so things don't get swampy when the temperature or your effort goes up.

Count the seams

Busted seams retire more waders than anything else. Every seam is a place where water can eventually get in, so fewer is better.

The 2S Wader has two: a body-length seam down the side, and one that runs from below the zipper up your back. We also cut out excess fabric that tends to catch on boat edges and pit blinds. When you compare waders, look at how many seams they have and where they sit.

Chest waders or wading pants?

• Chest waders are the standard for flooded timber, deeper marsh and anywhere you'll be in water above the waist.
• Wading pants stop at the waist. They suit shallow water and give you more mobility. The 2S Wading Pant uses the same two-seam construction as the 2S Wader.

Get the fit right

Fit decides how comfortable your waders are and how long they last. Baggy waders rub and wear out. Tight waders stretch at the knees and seat every time you kneel.

• Boots: wear the same size as your athletic shoes. If you're a half size, go down to the nearest whole size. Don't size up for thick socks. Boots that are too big let your foot move, which causes blisters and wears the boot faster.
• Inseam: if your inseam is 36 inches or longer, look at tall sizes.
• Legs: one or two folds of fabric above the boot is right. No fold means too tight. Several folds means too loose.
• The knee test: kneel or sit the way you would in the blind. Snug is fine. If it pulls at the crotch, seat or knees, you need more length or a bigger body size.
• Chest: you should be able to wear a fleece or insulated layer underneath without bulk.

The 2S comes in boot sizes 6 to 14 and body sizes XXS to 4XL, with tall options. Use the wader sizing chart, or read How Should My Waders Fit? for the full walkthrough.

Stay warm by layering

With breathable waders, what you wear underneath does the insulating. Start with a moisture-wicking base layer such as merino wool. On cold-water days, add an under-wader pant like the Sherpa Fleece Wader Pant, which has stirrups to keep it from bunching inside the wader leg. Finish with warm socks; alpaca holds up well on long wader days.

For more detail, see What to Wear Under Waders.

Look at the warranty, and who does the repairs

Every wader will eventually need a repair. What matters is what happens then. Look for a warranty that covers the wader for its life and a company that repairs waders itself, so you aren't out of the field for weeks.

Chêne waders carry a lifetime warranty, and our in-house repair department works only on waders. Our goal is to get your waders back to you within 7 business days. Before we sell a wader, it goes through years of field testing by our team and guides who spend 60-plus days a season in them.

Care matters too. Rinse off mud after each hunt, hang your waders to dry, and store them out of direct sunlight and heat. Our wader care guide covers each step.

Waders for young hunters

Kids grow out of waders fast, which makes them hard to buy for. The Youth 2S Wader is built on the same platform as the adult wader, in boot sizes 4 to 7 and body sizes 6/7 to 12/14.

The Youth Wader Program keeps them in the right size. Hunters 14 and under can trade in an outgrown pair for the next size up, as often as needed, for a $125 exchange fee per trade. Trade-ins need to be in good condition. When they outgrow every youth size, they can make a final trade into an adult 2S Wader for the $125 fee plus the price difference.

Pick a pattern for where you hunt

• Mossy Oak Original Bottomland: muted browns, deep blacks and fractured bark, built for flooded timber.
• Mossy Oak Bottomland: earth tones that read right in flooded fields and timber alike.
• Mossy Oak Original Shadow Grass: marsh and field camo for layout blinds and open-water setups.
• Mossy Oak Original Treestand, Cypress, and solid Brown and Olive.

Frequently asked questions

Are breathable waders warm enough for late season?

Yes, if you layer. The wader keeps water out and lets sweat escape. A merino base layer and a fleece under-wader pant provide the warmth.

What size wader boot should I get?

The same size as your athletic shoes. If you're a half size, go down to the nearest whole size. Don't size up for thick socks.

How do I know if my waders fit?

Look for one or two folds of fabric above the boot, and kneel the way you would in the blind. If the fabric pulls at the knees or seat, go longer or bigger.

Do Chêne waders have a warranty?

Yes. Chêne waders carry a lifetime warranty, and repairs are handled by our in-house wader repair department. See the warranty page for what's covered.

Should I buy chest waders or wading pants?

Chest waders for timber and anywhere the water gets above your waist. Wading pants for shallow water when you want more mobility.

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