How to Seal Neoprene Waders

Staying dry in waders

Neoprene waders allow anglers to wade and fish in water up to the chest. Usually these waders keep the angler both warm and dry. But small leaks can occur. Water leaks in neoprene waders can be easily fixed. The hardest part is finding the leak.

Things You'll Need

• Neoprene waders
• Flashlight
• Permanent marking pen
• Cleaning alcohol
• Clean cloth
• Gloves
• Neoprene adhesive/sealant
• Neoprene patch material
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Locate the leak to be sealed. Carry the neoprene waders into a dark room or closet. Turn on the flashlight. Move the flashlight around in the interior of the waders. Any leak will be identified by light streaming through the hole. Mark the leak location on both sides of the waders using the permanent marking pen.

2. Leave the dark room or closet. Lay the waders out on a flat working surface. Clean each leak location thoroughly using the cleaning alcohol and clean cloth. Allow to dry.

3. Put on the gloves. Apply neoprene adhesive/sealant directly to the outside of the waders over each leak that is 1/8 of an inch or smaller. Allow to dry overnight.

4. Turn the waders inside out to seal leaks greater than 1/8 inch. Apply adhesive around the area of the leak. Cut a patch from the neoprene patch material to a size that is 1/4 of an inch larger than the leak in all directions. Apply the patch over the adhesive-covered area, pressing down and smoothing out any wrinkles. Allow the seal to dry overnight.

5. Return the waders to their original right-side-out position. Put on the waders and test the leak repair by walking into the water. If there are any leaks, repeat the above steps until all leaks are sealed.

Tips & Warnings

• Store waders in a cool, dry area out of direct sunlight. Sunlight will rapidly deteriorate neoprene.

• Always take neoprene patch material and adhesive on fishing trips.

• Always use gloves when working with adhesives.

References

• Fixing seals on waders
• Fixing neoprene leaks

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Contact cement for waders