During our previous discussions of waders in this series we've covered the selection of waders, the prudent use of creepers, and patching the inevitable leak. At the end of the fall season most of us will be hanging up our rods for the winter. In this final installment of our series we will be discussing the proper way to care for your waders between trips and storage of your waders at the end of the season.

While waders today are most often made from very advanced synthetic materials that can withstand quite a lot of punishment, they aren't indestructible. For those of us who prowl the surf probably the most damaging thing we encounter is the water itself. Specifically, the salt in sea water can damage to our waders over time. Although they are well constructed, the wader material (both rubber and neoprene) naturally contains millions of microscopic pores and cracks. These won't cause leaks directly but they do trap saltwater each time we enter the surf zone. When the water finally evaporates it leaves behind the salts in the form of crystals. It is these salt crystals that damage the wader material. Over time as the salt crystals form and reform over and over again they stretch the material causing it to weaken and ultimately be prone to tearing or wearing out more easily.

Fortunately the solution is simple. After each fishing trip the outside of the waders should be thoroughly washed down with fresh water. Room temperature or even luke-warm water is best (not hot water!), but not a requirement. The waders could either be soaked in a tub or hung up and sprayed with a garden hose. I prefer the latter approach since it allows the waders to drip-dry and makes it easier to repeat the washing several times if I feel it's necessary. In either case be careful not to get water into the wader as it is often difficult and time consuming to dry them out.

As the waders are soaking or being washed gently run your hand along the material to clean off any pieces of debris (seaweed, sand, mud etc.) that may have become attached. It is also a good idea to clean off your creepers or felt soles with fresh water after each trip. The metal studs in the creeps might corrode over time, but this usually doesn't effect their performance or durability to any appreciable extent. Finally, allow the waders to air dry some place away from direct sunlight or a source of heat (such as a furnace or hot water pipes). This procedure is the ideal. However, if you're on a multi day fishing trip you can usually wait until you get home to perform a thorough cleanup.

Just as cleaning your waders between trips is important, proper storage of your waders during the off season (or during long periods of non-use) is also important. Waders, both rubberized and neoprene, should be keep in a cool dry place. They should not be exposed to direct sunlight, a heat source, or a source of ozone (such as a water heater). Also the waders should not be folded or allowed to be creased during storage. Folds or creases put stress on the points of contact and will cause them to weaken more quickly than if the wader can be stored straight. To this end, it is best if the waders can be laid out horizontally or hung up, preferably by the foot/boot end. Do not hang the waders by the suspender straps as this will tend to stretch out the straps very quickly. Wader suspender straps, belts and creepers should be removed and stored separately from the waders. Also the waders should be dry before storing them to prevent mildewing.

These procedures for cleaning and storing waders are also a good method to follow in order to care for your surf jackets, boots and other foul weather gear.

A method I used with good success is to soft wrap packaging foam or foam rubber around the length of a pair of heavy wire hangers. Then fold the waders once through the hangers at about the knee area (which is usually the thickest part of the wader). Finally I wrap my waders in several layers of large plastic garment bags (the kind you get from a dry cleaning service). Each layer of bagging is sealed with a tight knot before the next bag is placed over it. The waders are then hung in the back of a basement closet until next season.

Waders can be kept in storage for a few months without adversely effecting them, but if you do not plan on using them for an extended period of time, it's a good idea to periodically take them out and rinse them. This will allow the material to absorb some moister and help relieve any creases or fold points that have formed during storage.

Since we rely on our waders to keep us dry, warm and safe was we fish the surf, it's only prudent to spend some time to taking care of them. With proper cleaning and storage you can expect your waders to last for several seasons to come.
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