Reply To: Leaking waders

only repair with aqua seal on the inside of the waders – not on the outside. My technique is to turn my waders inside out, dry the wader leg and one leg at a time fill with water and watch for leaks. Small leaks could take awhile but usually the leak will be at a seam. I use a ladder. Strap the inside out waders to the top of the ladder and take one leg and flip it over the top of the ladder so only one leg hangs down. Use a hose to fill the one leg (hanging down) with water and watch for leaks. Why one leg at a time? Because filling two kegs with water would be WAY too heavy to work with. Then use a Sharpie to mark where any leaks are on the inside of the waders. After finding the leaks dry the waders and apply aqua seal to the spots needed.

You can only use the alcohol technique on Gortex waders. I’ve tried it, I have gortex waders. Didn’t work well at all. I like my technique much better. 90% of the time the leak is in a seam that has been stretched out. Apply aqua seal sparingly and allow it to “flow” over the leaking area.

lastly if in the seams – make sure your waders are not too small!!