How to Use Hodgman Chest Waders
Fly fishermen wear fishing waders to allow them to stand in water for long periods without becoming unduly cold or soaked. Fishing waders can either be hip boots (boots that come up to the mid- or upper thigh) or full chest waders that extend in one piece from your feet to your upper chest. Hodgman is a popular manufacturer of affordable chest waders, because its chest waders are one piece with cleated soles. However, they can be difficult to put on. Learn how to get into them and fit them to your chest. It's easy to do once you know how.
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Instructions
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1
Hold your Hodgman chest waders in front of you by the shoulder suspenders so they appear to be "standing" in front of you.
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2
Begin to roll the top of the chest waders down, keeping the body of the waders open. Imagine you are rolling down the top of a tall sock so you can put your foot into it more easily. Make sure the suspenders roll on the outside of the waders and do not fall inside them.
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3
Roll the waders until you reach waist. Then gather a leg to the waist from the knee up. You will have to do this one leg at a time, holding the leg to the rolled top while you complete Step 4. You should be holding the rolled top with one leg drawn up to the knee. Don't hold the leg closed, but again, hold it like a sock you are about to put on.
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4
Sit down and stick one leg into the chest waders. Pull the waders up to your knee. This will be like pulling up a rubber boot. When you have the one "boot" on, gather the other leg of the wader up to the rolled top and put your other leg in. Make sure that your feet are fully into the boot part of the waders before going onto the next step. They should feel like any other kind of boot you would normally wear--neither pinching your feet nor having too much room.
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5
Pull the legs of the waders over your thighs while still sitting. When you have pulled both legs up to the beginning of your hips, stand up. Pull the waders over your hips and unroll the top as you pull them completely up your chest.
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6
Put your arms through the shoulder suspenders and adjust the suspenders so the the waders feel snug and the suspenders will not slip off your shoulders when you bend or swing your arms.
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7
Adjust the chest band so the waders are drawn tight across your chest by pulling the loose end of the band through the buckle and then buckling it like you would a regular belt. Tightening this will help keep water from coming in over the tops of the chest waders. Tuck the excess part of the band behind the buckle, and you are ready to fish.
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Tips & Warnings
Hodgman chest waders are made with cleated soles so you do not have to worry about traction in the water or walking on land. Put on your chest waders at camp or at home, where it will be easier to sit and get into them, rather than try to maintain your balance on the river's edge.
Don't roll your waders after you have been fishing in them; leave them unrolled so that they can dry completely. Wet waders that are rolled or folded can mildew and cause the waterproof material to rot and develop leaks.
