Finding leaks in neoprene waders

[Steve]

After I am in water for a couple of hours I get a wet patch inside my waders on one of the legs. The problem is if I fill my waders up with water on the inside to try and find the leak, I never get any water to come out on the outside. Anybody else run into this problem?

[WEEZER]

Yeah I've had this problem! In my case it was just due to sweat.
Here is how you tell if you have a hole in your waders: Pick the coldest day of the fall and go duck hunting at Shiawasee, way back in the flooded woods!!! You'll know right away! HEHE
Now that this subject came up I'll probably get a hole in mine today!

[Steve]

Yeah, I hear ya WEEZER, that's exactly when you'd find the hole. I don't think its sweat though as it only happens on one spot on one leg.

[badcast]

Are those neoprenes or something else. Sometimes you can take a finger and run it along the area of the suspected hole, stretching the fabric. This will make the hole more visible. I've had about 50/50 luck stopping leaks in neo. Good luck.

[Steve]

Yes they are neoprene. I will have to try the streach method to see if I have any better luck.

[WEEZER]

Damn! I new it the minute I read this post that I'd have problems with my waders!! Discovered the leak this afternoon.
Does neoprene shrink? I have lost like 20 pounds since I bought my backup pair and they are very tight now! What gives??

[Blaketrout]

Here's a trick I used to use when I had Neoprenes. Take some soapy water and soak the area of the leak on the outside of the waders. Next take the hose off the inlet of a vacumn and put it in the outlet end. Put the end of the hose in the waders and squeeze the waders around the hose. This will blow air into the waders and slightly inflate them. When this happens the leak will show when a bunch of bubbles start forming. ONce you find the leak let the waders dry and apply Aquaseal. Also don't squeeze the waders too tight or you could stand the chance of making a few more leaks!!!

[Steve]

Thanks for the tip Blaketrout and welcome to our forums. That sounds like the best way I've heard to find a leak.