Waders & Gloves - Need Advice

J

JeffA

Jr. Member
Jun 13, 2019
65
65
RI
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
I just started prospecting earlier this Summer, and plan to continue here in New England until the ground is rock hard frozen! With that being said, I'm at the point where I need to purchase some insulated waders, and gloves to continue working in the creeks which are getting chilly. I'm looking for any advice from cold weather prospectors on good brands/products for waders and gloves to do so. Thanks in advance!
 

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Visit a trappers supply web store and pick up a pair of long arm rubber gloves. You can wear a pair of cheap brown jersey gloves for warmth under the rubber gloves. Wear some long johns under rubber waders and you're good to go.
 

None will work, get used to the pain of mining in the winter. You can get hip waders 2x larger and where extra sox's but you will still loose feeling in your feet no matter what, been there and done that many years and as for rubber gloves they will get moldy, so smelly and slimy. There was time back about 40 years ago when I had the gold fever bad that without gloves I was hand digging a 3ft. deep hole in freezing cold water and got only 3 little flakes of gold and I was so happy, You will find out what works for you and that will take time and experience, best advise figure it out for yourself , you will be stronger for it.
 

The thicker neoprene waders will be warmer - and the thickness of the neoprene is noted on the sales description, so 5mm will be warmer than 3mm. Wish I had paid more attention to my hands. After decades of freezing them ice fishing, I've damaged the capillaries and now cold weather is more painful in my hands.
 

imho hip boots are better than waders
 

Here in Michigan we wear shorts and a t shirt, cold will only bother you for a half hour or so then your good to go....8-)
 

et1955 said:
None will work, get used to the pain of mining in the winter. You can get hip waders 2x larger and where extra sox's but you will still loose feeling in your feet no matter what, been there and done that many years and as for rubber gloves they will get moldy, so smelly and slimy. There was time back about 40 years ago when I had the gold fever bad that without gloves I was hand digging a 3ft. deep hole in freezing cold water and got only 3 little flakes of gold and I was so happy, You will find out what works for you and that will take time and experience, best advise figure it out for yourself , you will be stronger for it.
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figured out a long time ago that there is no such thing as "waterproof" when it comes to placer mining.
 

Interesting......can you elaborate why hip boots and not waders Goldwasher? Thanks everyone for the info! I'm no stranger to cold weather fishing, however that didn't require being in the water as much. The creeks I generally hit aren't very deep, it's my hands I'm worried about more than anything.
 

JeffA said:
Interesting......can you elaborate why hip boots and not waders Goldwasher? Thanks everyone for the info! I'm no stranger to cold weather fishing, however that didn't require being in the water as much. The creeks I generally hit aren't very deep, it's my hands I'm worried about more than anything.
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Generally you won't be in water deep enough to require chest waders while gold mining. Every ounce counts when packing gear to the dig site. It's not worth the extra weight and space considering your usually only up to your knees at most.
 

There's always the option of a dry suit for scuba. Can be had from $600 through $3000 for top of the line. Trilam was the most expensive last time I looked. Those don't insulate, you have to wear insulation under the suit. On the plus side, if you lose your footing and go down, you're not going to sink in a dry suit. Not so much in waders. Always have a cutting tool handy when you have waders on.
 

djqix said:
There's always the option of a dry suit for scuba. Can be had from $600 through $3000 for top of the line. Trilam was the most expensive last time I looked. Those don't insulate, you have to wear insulation under the suit. On the plus side, if you lose your footing and go down, you're not going to sink in a dry suit. Not so much in waders. Always have a cutting tool handy when you have waders on.
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For winter/spring dredging and deeper digging I like a dry suit. Buy it used. Reseal the seams as needed. Wear thrift store clothes OVER it to protect the neoprene from the rocks. Life is great!
 

KevinInColorado said:
For winter/spring dredging and deeper digging I like a dry suit. Buy it used. Reseal the seams as needed. Wear thrift store clothes OVER it to protect the neoprene from the rocks. Life is great!
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Id like to see this thrift clothes over a dry suit.
Gt.....
 

Toecutter said:
Here in Michigan we wear shorts and a t shirt, cold will only bother you for a half hour or so then your good to go....8-)
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Same here in the desert its only cold the first hour after that its all about gettin gold!
 

When we started working our claim, the water level stayed pretty low so $20 rubber boots from Wally World was good enough. Lately the levels have increased so now we use thigh waders with felt soles. It's still miserable after stepping in the hole and filling one boot up though.
 

If you want waders that will last, I would buy some that are used for coon hunting. The ones I use to hunt are light weight and comfortable. The seams leak on the cheaper ones.
 

mikep691 said:
When we started working our claim, the water level stayed pretty low so $20 rubber boots from Wally World was good enough. Lately the levels have increased so now we use thigh waders with felt soles. It's still miserable after stepping in the hole and filling one boot up though.
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Get rid of those felt soles! They will transport invasive species, and are illegal to sell/use in several states.

I'll second a drysuit, but I normally use a wetsuit. I wouldn't bother with a trilam drysuit, as you poke a hole in that and it continues to flood. Neoprene drysuits can handle a small nail hole and reseal. The newer neoprene suits are a lot warmer than ones made back in the 80's, so watch for heat exhaustion. I remember a hybrid drysuit that was neoprene from the waist down, and trilam on the top, but don't remember who made it. It might be a kayaking drysuit.
 

bulky in the way. hard to really travel in.. pain to pack. harder to regulate temperature. as you do generate a lot of heat while working. they are clumsy in general.

I don't mind them for fishing but the type of movement and work in prospecting is totally different.
 

Capt Nemo said:
Get rid of those felt soles! They will transport invasive species, and are illegal to sell/use in several states.

I'll second a drysuit, but I normally use a wetsuit. I wouldn't bother with a trilam drysuit, as you poke a hole in that and it continues to flood. Neoprene drysuits can handle a small nail hole and reseal. The newer neoprene suits are a lot warmer than ones made back in the 80's, so watch for heat exhaustion. I remember a hybrid drysuit that was neoprene from the waist down, and trilam on the top, but don't remember who made it. It might be a kayaking drysuit.
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Ours are used in one creek, in a state that they are legal. I won't use cleatted soles as they are dangerous on rocks, and just rubber soles are just as bad. Felt soles grab the rocks for "no slip" which is critical when working 2-3 feet of swift moving water.
 

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