I like the boots. I wear a size 11.5 and got the 12's. They've yet to slide off when walking through muck. I wish they were about an inch or two longer from the inseam down though. I've got a limited range of motion while trying to sit, squat, or kneel. I'm 6' and at the top end of their regular size waders, but too short for the tall.
The elastic strap are alright, the more clothes I wear, the better they stay.

Bump.

BTW those $49 Academy specials are still being used. The neoprene is cut up in a spot but not leaking. My son uses them later season or when we're hunting in water (not the shoreline). He's 6'7" 250# now so there's no room for layering, but they do work.

I had a pair of breathable waders from academy - went through three pairs this past season.
I appreciate the warranty and return deal with academy, but i was tired of dealing with it.

Decided this year to either go with Sitka or Chene - just depends on what availability of sizes and colors.

I went with Simms for the exact reason on the Academy waders... it was great when they had what I needed to exchange but when they didn't it was a royal PITA.... time will tell if Simms are any better in regards to seam leaks....

My biggest issue with the academy waders was the inventory, now as of the last few weeks, I warrantied the last pair of breathable waders i had been using as a back up pair for the upcoming seasons.
Cannot beat the warranty deal through academy - one is none and two is one.

Now as for waders - does anyone on here have experience with chene waders? I'm so on the fence to get them, but all of my other gear i have for waterfowl is in Optifade Marsh/Timber.
I'm on a list with a Sitka dealer to get some "Earth" colored waders, but he said he wont get any inventory until mid-summer.

Chene for bigger built Fellas, and Sitkas for the athletic type. Nothing even comparable.

The science says to buy once and cry once

Delta waterfowl did a study on it

in Cancun

Btw, those gator waders weren't worth a crap. Boots ended up dry rotting after a season, company wouldn't warranty because they were 2 months past the one year warranty.
I can not recommend the gator waders.

I will have to agree with Kwood on the Gator Waders, same thing happen to mine, did not last two seasons and Gator waders would not do anything, Boots dry rotted on mine as well, same thing happened on a couple of friends too, GW said F you only covered for 1 year.

I have been wearing waders for 40 years and never had a pair of boots dry rot that soon if ever.

I’m my opinion GW is selling a defective product.

I would not recommend anyone buy Gator Waders.

I liked everything else about them and had no issues with the material other than the boots.

Not sure what style you went with in the Simms line, but I doubt you will have issues. If you do, their customer service is top notch.

Sitka, brah

Agree. I’ve worn both and both are great. To me the Chene feel like they’ll outlast the Sitkas.

Bought my Chene before the solid Browns came out, which is what I really wanted. If someone wants a deal on a nearly new set of Chene Bottomland size 11, shoot me a PM