I know we've got some hunters and fishermen in here. I've recently decided to fish one of the local spots 5 minutes up the road from me. It involves wading out onto a rip rap point. Looking for Chest height with a bootfoot, so most of the trout fishing stuff is out of the question. Also not trying to spend a fortune either. Let's go $150 MAX since they will only be used November-April maybe 2-3 times a week. Don't need to be insulated because I wear wool socks and a good base layer. I doubt the water gets much colder than 45, so I should be good. Not worried about tears or rips walking to the spot. It's straight from the truck to the water. I just need something to keep me dry and last about 5 years.

What suggestions does the hive mind have?

I like Simms waders. But unless you can get them as a used pair, they are way north of your budget. Might try Ebay.

I’m in the same boat so to speak. Spending $500+ for a pair of waders is ridiculous!

Cabellas has neoprene boot foot chest waders in that price range…just checked and they are on sale now …. I have a pair and use them fishing trout/land locked salmon in some rivers up north….they work well for my needs

Check out Cabelas.

Simms waders haven't been the same for a while. They're making the waders thinner and thinner, which creates spots that rub through. It's something that's happened over the last 5 years or so. There is simply no reason to pay $600-900 on something that only lasts a season, maybe 2.

I'll be checking Bass Pro/Cabela's when I get down that way to see what they've got handy, but looking at the reviews, I'm not hopeful that they're much better than the stuff you can get from Amazon for half the price. I may just have to settle for some cheapie Frogg Toggs and replace every few years.

rogerssportinggoods.com has some sub-$100 neoprene waders. And I would definitely use neoprene in 45 degree water.

I would just order a pair of Tidwe off Amazon. I’ve duck and goose hunted for 55 years, I’ve had many many pairs of waders, some of the guys I hunt with have some of the 7-9 hundred dollar pairs and they rip, tear, leak etc just as easy as a $120 pair. Look for a pair that has a good boot and thinker neoprene if you plan on using them more that occasionally. I bought my step son a pair of the Tidewe for Christmas in 2022, he works for Fish and Wildlife and wanted a beater pair for at work, they have held up to his abuse and he wore them this past duck season 2 or 3 times a week for hunting plus whatever he got into at work and are still going strong. He may have got the one good pair they made, I don’t know but they work for him. Rodgers is another good place to order from.

Awesome responses everyone. I have never heard of Rogers and when I looked, they had something for every budget. I'll be looking more into them and the Tidwe's.

I guess I need to get my head around waders being consumables. I distinctly remember how well some of the older ones held up, but now, they seem to build in failure points that require you to get a new set every season or two.