Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Novabonker on December 09, 2008, 11:32:48 AM
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I can't seem to wear neoprene waders without having bad back-itis and so much discomfort that the pleasure gets sucked out of fishing really fast. I have hip waders, but there are big limitations. Suggestions?
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1) "Advertisers' Specials and Announcements" is probably the wrong forum for your question, Nova. lol
2) What is the problem with the neos? Simply wearing them? Or getting in and out of them? If it's just wearing them, I can't imagine it's the wader's fault... that'd be strange, though I've been surprised before. If it's getting in and out of them, you might want to look at a nice pair of breathables. They're WAY easier to get in and out of, and some of them even have a zipper halfway up the front to make the process even MORE simple.
:D
Tex
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Maybe your shoulder straps are too short.
I know mine were so Len @ Berry's gave me some longer cordura straps to sew on. you should feel little to no pressure at all once you have them on.
Best is to have neoprene straps though and Yes if I used them more I'd go for breathables much less trouble getting them on.
Also-how heavy is your vest?
Some people pack a lotta gear..... ::)
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I can't seem to wear neoprene waders without having bad back-itis and so much discomfort that the pleasure gets sucked out of fishing really fast. I have hip waders, but there are big limitations. Suggestions?
have you considered it maybe your vest? it is unusual for waders to affect the back.
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get breathables.
your back will love you for it.
neo straps are pulling you down, very hard on lower back.
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u could always get a back brace like my pops, 3 surgeries, i think 4 fused vertibrae and he's still trudging (somehow he can hike 5 hours for sheep in spences bridge, somehow! its hard for me, and i'm 16! ::) )
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u could always get a back brace like my pops, 3 surgeries, i think 4 fused vertibrae and he's still trudging (somehow he can hike 5 hours for sheep in spences bridge, somehow! its hard for me, and i'm 16! ::) )
Thats because old age and treachery will beat youth and skill every time. ;D But I will second the idea of a back brace. I am thinking of getting one as a wading belt because my back gets tired and tender by the end of the day.
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Breathables will help a lot as they sure did for me.
My old neo,s were pulling on me as well as the straps werent long enough.
Most vests are poorly designed and dont distibute the weight across your shoulders evenly whiich also causes problems.
Try and pack light and sometimes a good jacket with a few pockets is all you really need.
I also find that im not in game shape until a week or two of chasing Steelhead and then the back strengthens/loosens up for the season.
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What kind of physical shape are you in?
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I've been battling a bad back for the past year or so but I've gotten to the point where I am now able to manage it.
In my case it was a lack of mobility in my back that was giving me grief. Basically my spine was being over compressed (much of it self inflicted at the gym) which was resulting in a lack of lubrication between vertebrae and the consequential pain. What I have learned is that with the right stretches before and after loading my back I can relieve the built up stresses and avoid over compressing my spine.
As was eluded too earlier, your vest may also be a source of your problems. I have recently switched over to a William Joseph backpack/vest combo. The difference with this is huge. Rather than putting all the weight on my shoulders (and consequently through my lower back), much of the weight is instead put directly on my hips.
Another product that I would recommend are 'core shorts'. Heres the website: http://www.coretection.com/testimonials.html (http://www.coretection.com/testimonials.html)
Basically, they are spandex like shorts that I wear instead of boxers, that give my lower back support. I wear them for everything. Hockey, weight lifting, fishing, hiking, work. Trust me, these things are worth their weight in gold.
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Just be carefull not to cut off your circulation with belts or other things. That can make things worse. I get a sore back fishing but it's usually caused by static load. Meaning standing in the same spot for too long repeatedly casting ( also known as spot hogging ;D). Best thing to do is make sure every few minutes to stretch or move a bit to keep from stiffening up. Especially with age.
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Some great ideas here for sure standing on uneven rocks for hours on end doesn't do a person a lot of good.
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i think it may have more to do with the vest. Got better when i swiched to the pintail style
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I was having back problems for a season as well. It finally dawned on me that it was my vest. I've done two things now that have helped tremendously.
#1 i discovered that having lead and lures in the frontmost pockets was pulling my shoulders forward. I relocated the weight within my vest - moved some of the heavier stuff like lead and lures more to the sides so the pull was more even between front and back.
#2 When I'm fishing near or from shore I'll take my vest off. This also allows me more stability if I have to chase a fish downstream.
FWIW
Rick
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I've had a bad back for many years and find when I'm working out and staying healthy the back is all good! I use a sachel bag by William Joseph when I'm on the river. Wearing a vest and having that weight pull down on me is just not fun for the back. I can imagine, that teamed with some waders with the shoulder strap to tight and you've got yourself a recipe for discomfort.I wear Simms breathables which are extremely comfortable and have no problems all day out there! I also keep my gear to a minimum when fishing and distribute the weight more evenly throughout my waders,bag, and jacket so I don't have the pressure all in one spot all day! Works for me so I would suggest you change your gear set ups to what works for you!
Hotrod
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hey novabonker ,i did two things to stop the sore fishing back. the first was to get a pair of waders without neoprene straps, i find those continuously pull down on your spine.i like my breathable waders with the nylon straps .the second was to start carrying a small backpack instead of my overloaded vest.hope this helps tight lines...............
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I had the same problem with my neos, but I purchased a pair of cheap breathables from Cabelas this salmon season and the back is feeling much better. They only cost $80 us plus shipping/duty.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0017636830330a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCHFEAT_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=bluestream+waders&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1
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comfortable and light weight boots and very good insoles always do the trick in most cases. Do you have flat feet?
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if the pain stays go to a dirtbike store or maybe marks and pick up a kidney belt
they work very well for your lower back
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try not strapping the neo on the shoulders and use the straps as a belt thats what i do... if that dont work its the vest
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Thanks for all the replies, My conditioning is excellent as I run 30 miles a week(not all at once ;D) , weight train (not like Trophy Hunter :o) and work a physical job. I'm pretty sure it's the straps as I don't get the grief when I wear my hip waders. Oh my! Gotta run- it's 5:15 and I'm off to my first day on the Vedder in over a year. A long drive from North Vancouver...
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What kind of physical shape are you in?
Exactly!
It's probably not the waders.
You have to have your body in shape.
Do some strength training for back and abs and it will do you good.
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Try a weight belt around your waders instead of standard belt. I wear mine all the time its neoprene, I think its safer as well. I did a water buffalo on the vedder was only wet from the tits up.
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and the Buffalo let you? :P
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Novabonker,
Bottom line is you're probably screwed and it's only going to bother you more. My back started to bother me around age 30 and it just got worse. I tried everything but with a fishing vest or chest waders weighing on my back all day the only thing that helped was aspirin. Try popping some before and during your fishing trip and limit the weight in your vest or using chest waders. I finally limited my back pain by buying a boat, no more chest waders and never a vest on. Even with the boat, standing all day can really bother my back. Good luck and hopefully your back doesn't get as bad as mine.
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Thanks for all the replies. I've started working on a bit more core training, put my vest on a diet and I'm going to the breathables.
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Get breathables. You can get those Wright@Mc Gill waders for below 200 shells. They also come with back supporting belt build in. For amount of bushwhacking I do in them in last 3 years, they do great.
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I love my breathables I put on 2 layers of fleece pants and go belly boatig down the fraser in the winter mission bridge to steveston its awsom