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Our ATV Wader Guide—Everything You Need to Know

By Kelly Wheatley | Behind The Wheel on February 27, 2023
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Mud: soft, sticky matter from mixing earth and water.

Or as we know it—the perfect playground for us, ATV and UTV riders.

Muddin’ is a style of riding that we couldn’t live without. Seriously, there’s no better feeling than finding the perfect mud to get neck deep in. But before you sink your tires into the next bounty hole, you need to prepare yourself for the muddy mess you’re about to ride in.

How? By adding a pair of ATV waders to your riding gear. Not sure which kind of ATV waders you should get? No problem—our ATV wader guide will tell you everything you need to know.

man riding atv with waders on
Whether you’ve been riding for years or your buying your first ATV tomorrow, getting a set of ATV waders is great way to get the most out of riding experience. Photo by SuperATV

Why Do You Need ATV Waders?

Why should you where waders while off-roading? It’s simple—protection from the elements.

Let’s face it, there are tons of different environments that come with mud. Here are the are the most common:

  1. Cold water and mud—Riding in bone-chilling mud or water can quickly turn a fun day of riding into a miserable one. A nice set of waders will protect you from the elements while retaining your body heat.
  2. Wet clothes—Being wet or muddy isn’t a big deal if you’re riding for a short time. But if you’re spending hours on the trail, you’ll want to stay dry and warm. Your waders will do just that.
  3. Trail debris—When your stirring up mud, there’s bound to be other sticks and rocks in the mix. By wearing a set of waders, your feet, legs, and torso will stay protected.

Types of ATV Waders

Stockingfoot Vs. Bootfoot Waders

Stockingfoot waders are typically made from neoprene or membrane material come with sock-like booties that are attached to the wader leg. They don’t come with boots, so you’ll have to find footwear that will fit over the attached wader sock.

Bootfoot waders are a one-piece construction—meaning the boots are permanently connected to the legs of the wader.

Below is a table comparing the pros and cons of stockingfoot to bootfoot waders—check it out.

Stockingfoot FeaturesBootfoot Features
Pro—Buying boots seperately gives you a more customized fitPro—Takes less prep time because you don’t have separate footwear
Pro—Washing and drying is much easier than bootfootPro—Potentially save you money because you’re not having to buy a separate pair of boots
Pro—They’re easier to store and travel withPro—Retain body heat
Pro—They’re easier to put on and take offPro—Most bootfoot waders are insulated for additional heat
Pro—Give you a better range of motion and more comfortCon—Are not machine washable—they must be hand-washed and air-dried
Con—They retain less body heat due to lacking the one-piece constructionCon—Harder to store or transport
Con—It can take longer to get ready because you have to put the waders on first then your bootsCon—You may have to sacrifice some fit due to not being able to find the perfect boot and wader size combo
Con—Due to the waders and the boots not being connected as a single unit—water, rocks, and mud will fill your bootsCon—If you live in a warmer climate, bootfoot waders may make your feet too hot

Neoprene Vs. Membrane Waders

Neoprene material is made up of synthetic rubbers mainly composed of polychloroprene polymer. This same material is what wetsuits and orthopedic braces are made of. It’s mostly known for its chemical resistance and temperature performance.

Membrane material, which is more commonly referred to as “breathable waders,” is porous and known for its breathable properties. Due to it’s porous makeup, water vapors can pass through the fabric. Whereas water molecules are too big to penetrate the membrane material from the outside, keeping you cool and dry.

Let’s compare both materials and weigh the pros and cons.

Neoprene FeaturesMembrane Features
Pro—Lower costPro—High level of breathability
Pro—Good heat insulatorPro—Lightweight
Pro—Thicker material provides durability and insulationPro—Comfortable
Pro—Best material when standing in cold water and mudPro—Easier to get on and off
Con—Made of non-breathable materialPro—Made of thin flexible material
Con—Less flexible material, restricting movementCon—Extremely durable and abrasion resistant
Con—Made of heavy material and gets heavier when wetCon—Have no insulation

Hip Vs. Chest Waders

Hip waders are styled to give you full coverage from your feet to your hips and attach over your shoulders with straps.

Chest waders are designed to cover your body from your feet to your chest, exposing less area and maximizing coverage.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of both? Peep the the table below to see for yourself.

Hip Vs. Chest Waders

Hip waders are styled to give you full coverage from your feet to your hips and attach over your shoulders with straps.

Chest waders are designed to cover your body from your feet to your chest, exposing less area and maximizing coverage.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of both? Peep the the table below to see for yourself.

Hip FeaturesChest Features
Pro—Easily to slip on and offPro—Offers almost twice as much coverage as hip waders
Pro—Great for low physical activities like fishingPro—Offer almost twice as much coverage as hip waders
Con—Provide limited protectionPro—Will keep you drier in unpredictable situations: falling in loose mud, running water, flying trail debris

SuperATV Neoprene Waders

Like all of our products, our experts have strategically designed a set of SuperATV Men’s Neoprene Waders that are second-to-none.

We wanted a more detailed look, so we turned to the designer—Sam Fastle. Sam is a New Product Engineer here at SuperATV and has had success on numerous projects that have come to fruition.

When asking Sam what the design goal was for these waders, he responded: “We wanted them to be waterproof, comfortable, functional (so they keep your feet warm), and stylish.”

He knew for this particular project he was going to be working with neoprene fabric and a bootfoot style. He just had to come up with a design concept that would set these waders apart from anything ever seen before on the off-roading market.

So how did he do it? By making the small details the big details and using a blind-stitch.

“We used a blind stitch that only penetrates the face fabric on one side of the material. This makes a very strong, watertight seam. Our neoprene material is 3 mm thick, which is very practical for this type of stitching.”

Sam also highlighted the pockets. “The largest pocket has a trapezoid sealed design—lowering the chance of water getting into it. We added another pouch on top of that so the rider has a place to warm their hands.”

Other concepts were discussed and added into the design—600 grams of installation for the boots, colors, and a manageable cleaning process.

As we reference back to all the wader features above and combine them with our own special ingredients, we’ve developed a great a set of waders that compete directly with competitors if not surpass them.

Altogether, this one project took six months for complete development from start to finish.

And it was well worth the wait.

bootfoot atv waders
Our ATV waders have everything your looking for—a large closeable chest pocket, durable Velcro straps, orange highlights so you can easily be seen and our SuperATV logo.

Get the Most Out of Your Ride

Muddin’ is a lifestyle we embrace here at SuperATV. And we want our riders to get the most out of their mudding experiences. By adding a pair of ATV waders to your arsenal of riding gear, you’ll be protected from the elements and leave mud on the trail where it belongs.

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