The worth of duck searching waders is getting out of hand. When SITKA entered the sport with a premium wader, it appeared like each producer adopted go well with with worth hikes.
Sadly, in contrast to SITKA, most producers weren’t making a product that justified increased costs. In truth, I’ve been saying for years that outdoors of the Delta Execs, duck searching wader producers are gentle years behind their fishing counterparts.
Most choices look, really feel, and carry out like junk made in China. But, duck hunters have been nonetheless caught with the next invoice. My tin foil hat idea is that manufacturers determined to cost extra as a result of they realized they may get away with it.
That left us with duck waders that value over $500 however are nonetheless unreliable. Except you had nation membership cash, it was slim pickings. To throw salt within the wound, there have been dozens of nice selections at an analogous worth within the fishing wader house.
Happily, this yr I went on a bird-hunting journey to Nebraska. Whereas there, I used to be outfitted with the Drake Waterfowl Guardian Elite HND Entrance Zip Wader. They’re the most effective moderately priced duck-hunting waders I’ve ever used.
Briefly: The Drake Waterfowl Guardian Elite HND Zip Entrance is loads of wader for $600. No, they aren’t precisely budget-friendly, however the worth is excessive. They aren’t as good as a premium wader, however when you’ve been searching for dependable duck searching waders at a worth a standard human can abdomen, look no additional. These are the true deal, bro.
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Slipper-like boots -
One of many least costly waders with a zipper -
Nice pockets -
Inner and exterior hand pockets
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Dishevelled match -
Straps are cumbersome and clunky
Options, Options Galore
Spending lower than $800 on a set of waders usually means giving up a sturdy construct or fancy options. These waders provide you with each. Let’s dig into the options first.
Zipper
These would be the lowest-priced waders in the marketplace with a high quality zip-front design. Observe the high quality half in that assertion. The Guardian Elite HND sports activities a TiZIP MasterSeal 10 vertical zipper that extends from the chest, all the way in which all the way down to the groin.
If you happen to’re unfamiliar with TiZIP, it’s a German producer that produces insanely high-quality zippers for dry fits, luggage, and all method of waterproof, absolutely sealed merchandise. A bunch of out of doors manufacturers use it, and you’ll belief it.
Zippered waders are the way in which to go when you can afford it. I’ve sung the design’s reward quite a few occasions. I find it irresistible most for the benefit of relieving your self, nevertheless it additionally permits you to dump warmth when issues get sweaty, and there isn’t a neater strategy to get out and in of waders.
When you get zippered waders, you’ll by no means return. I promise, there are not any cons. I’ve been carrying zippered waders for 10 years and have by no means had one leak.
Hand-Warming Pockets
Much less isn’t all the time extra. That’s the stance Drake Waterfowl took with hand-warming pockets on the Guardian Elite waders. There are two separate units of hand-warming pockets on these waders. Yep, you learn that proper. Two units.
The primary is situated on the surface of the wader on either side of the chest. They’re closed up with a waterproof zipper. The second set is situated on the inside of the wader, close to the chest. You may see the tough placement within the picture above.
I assumed that was extreme at first, however I’ve grown to find it irresistible. I exploit the zippered hand-warming pockets to retailer my cellphone, automobile keys, and a pocket knife. These objects keep good and safe.
However then, I can nonetheless maintain my fingers heat in a fleece-lined pocket that isn’t stuffed with a bunch of stuff.
That being stated, on actually chilly hunts, I’ve discovered the outside handwarming pockets to be hotter. It’s not that the inner ones aren’t — they’re ample 50% of the time.
However Drake Waterfowl went above and past on the fleece lining of the outside pockets. It’s not lined with some skinny piece of material, as so many wader manufacturers do. It’s loopy thick, very comfortable, and really heat. It does line just one facet of the pocket, nevertheless it’s the most effective lining I’ve seen on any wader, together with the way more costly SITKA waders.
Magnet Pockets
And the pockets don’t cease there, which is spectacular, seeing how so many wader producers charging extra have gotten skimpy with storage. On either side of the chest is an exterior horizontal pocket that seems to haven’t any closure. However shock, shock. It does: magnets.
A big magnet tab is within the inside of the chest portion of the wader, and it strains up with an inside magnet within the pocket. They’re pretty sturdy and shut securely.
I’ve discovered the horizontal pockets to be helpful as all get out. I normally stuff mine with calls, snacks, spare shells, and infrequently gloves once I want the dexterity of a naked hand.
They aren’t so safe that I might belief them to maintain objects inside when you bend over, however for fast, quick access, they’re implausible. Identical to the handwarming pockets, these further storage pockets outpace the costlier SITKA waders.
Boots on the Guardian Elite Zip Entrance Wader
The very very first thing I seen concerning the Guardian Elite Waders once I slid into them on a cold Nebraska morning was how comfy the boots have been. As I sat within the blind, chatting it up with mates, it felt like I had slippers on.
The others on the journey, additionally outfitted with the identical waders, echoed the identical sentiment. The 1,600g insulation sits comfortably in your foot and supplies cushion, in addition to heat.
I’ve discovered the boots match fairly nicely. They didn’t come off my foot when wading by thick muck on a backwater slough of the North Platte River, and the soles gripped slippery muck on a big lake in Tennessee.
The one draw back to the boots is that they don’t provide as a lot help as others. They’re comfy as a result of the rubber is malleable, which may develop into problematic when you hike in tough terrain to achieve far-flung public land hidey-holes.
Sturdy Construct of the Guardian Elite Zip Entrance Wader
As I stated earlier, regardless of the value and extreme options, sturdiness doesn’t endure. Drake Waterfowl makes use of 5 layers of breathable cloth to assemble the decrease portion of the layer and 4 layers to assemble the higher.
If you happen to aren’t accustomed to waders, I can let you know that’s spectacular given the value tag. Most waders that fall beneath $600 max out at 4 layers, and extra usually, three.
Identical to the entire different Drake Waterfowl gear I personal, they only really feel burly. On this planet of pants, they’re extra akin to a thick, canvas brush pant, slightly than a sturdy waterproof pant.
The seams have been positioned with precision as nicely. Friction on seams usually causes untimely leaks, so Drake Waterfowl positioned the leg seams on the outside of the leg to stop them from rubbing collectively when strolling.
What May Be Higher
Sadly, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are some things that might be modified on this wader to make it the most effective on the market.
Match of the Drake Waterfowl Guardian Elite Waders
The match is fairly dangerous. For causes I don’t absolutely perceive, it’s ridiculously frequent for duck searching wader producers to make waders completely too dishevelled. It’s bizarre as a result of fishing wader producers have match dialed, even in price range waders. The Guardian Elite Zip Entrance Wader doesn’t buck the pattern.
Except for trying a bit ridiculous, a dishevelled match is an actual downside. Extra materials across the waist, hips, and legs will rub collectively if you stroll. That further friction causes failure 100% of the time.
Happily, there may be a variety of sizes accessible. It could be smart to order these waders in a measurement down in a “lengthy” model, to attempt to mitigate the friction. Nevertheless, I’m sure that it’s going to nonetheless give a barely dishevelled match.
Shoulder Straps
The shoulder straps are clearly a spot the place prices have been lowered. They’re simply meh. In my view, it looks like they advised no matter manufacturing facility they use to easily slap on no matter straps they’d mendacity round.
The buckles are massive and hulking, and might mess along with your gun mount a bit. They aren’t terrible, and mine haven’t failed in any means. I’m simply declaring that for the cash, I’d count on a bit higher.
Seams?
My remaining grievance, I’ll admit, is completely in my very own head. Nevertheless, I’ve owned over 20 units of waders within the final decade, and belief my very own instinct.
I extremely doubt the seams on the Guardian Elites are as well-constructed as these discovered on higher-priced waders. Wader seams are very finicky. Because you’re stabbing holes into cloth by stitching them, they’re susceptible to leaking. Just like the straps, corners needed to be reduce someplace to supply such an superior wader. And I guess these aren’t inbuilt a manufacturing facility by extremely skilled wader-building professionals.
That being stated, mine have but to leak, so this might be made up. However I might guess my life financial savings that when these waders leak, which they may, it will likely be at a seam.
Ultimate Ideas on the Drake Waterfowl Guardian Elite Zip Entrance Wader
These waders are kick-ass, man! When worth is taken into consideration, they’re the highest-value waders in the marketplace.
No, they clearly aren’t good. Nevertheless, they’re ridiculously feature-rich and keep a strong construct. They aren’t the most cost effective waders by a protracted shot, however they’re a number of the solely ones within the duck searching house that provide you with all the things you want with out taking out a mortgage to pay for them. The Drake Waterfowl Guardian Elite Wader is a diamond within the tough of duck searching waders.
