Picking the right pair of waders will make your day on the water a lot more comfortable.

Nylon Waders are the type that most beginners end up choosing, simply due to the reason that they are considerably cheaper than the other styles. One step ahead of the pioneer rubber waders that fishing started out with, nylon is much lighter than its rubber counterpart while still keeping you warm and dry. As you probably thought, along with the cheap price associated with these nylon style waders comes an extensive list of disadvantages to using these types of waders.

First and foremost, nylon is hot and not breathable. Wearing these types of waders on hot, sunny days can make even the coolest fisherman lightheaded. The special construction of nylon although very good at not allowing water in, does not allow water to exit either. When the angler starts to sweat there isn't anywhere for the water to go, creating condensation and making your under wader garments damp. This problem becomes a concern for anglers as winter fishing becomes frequent and as we all have learned many times; once wet it does not take long to become cold. The durability of these types of waders is also in question. Nylon has a tendency to tear or rip easily making a poor choice if you plan on staying dry while walking through rough terrain. 

Taking all this into account nylon waders are good choice if you are a beginner angler who is still learning and does not plan on spending too much time out on the water. If you are a fishing nut and are just getting into fly fishing then buying a higher quality pair of waders that can withstand a certain amount of punishment will save you in the long run.

Neoprene Waders are usually thought as being in the middle class of waders available to anglers.  Due to the unique material used in these waders construction, neoprene waders are excellent in battling even the coldest of weather and conditions. Another key feature of neoprene waders is that you can buy them in a wide assortment of thicknesses to tailor them to the specific conditions that you plan on fishing in. 3mm neoprene waders are used for fishing summer conditions while the 5mm and 7mm wader varieties are better suited for winter conditions.

A few of the disadvantages associated with neoprene waders is that if you're planning on fishing cold conditions wearing extra clothing, those layers may not be an option. Neoprene waders are designed to fit snug to the body not leaving much extra room for bundling up. Additionally; like nylon waders, neoprene is not breathable and can become very hot in summer conditions.
Neoprene also has issues with its durability. Sharp rocks and sticks can play havoc with neoprene so if you are planning on a pair of these waders, you will have to watch your step.

Above all else Gore-Tex waders are the best of the breathable style of waders.

Breathable Waders are the last category of wader available on the market. Breathable waders are relatively new to the fly fishing world and have the advantage of using new materials such as Gore-Tex to help keep anglers dry and very comfortable. Above all else Gore-Tex waders are the best of the breathable style of waders. Gore-Tex allows the body to breathe naturally and for body heat and sweat to escape resulting in less build up of condensation, which keeps you drier and happy for hours on end. As far as durability goes, usually breathable waders are covered with a type of tear/snag resistant material.

Overall, for any serious fly fisherman breathable waders are really the only choice. They are good in a wide range of environmental conditions, extremely comfortable and probably the most durable type of waders available on the market. Although breathable waders are a hardy investment, after all the long hours on the water you will be extremely happy with the choice you made. Breathable waders are the only style of waders that if fitted correctly can make an angler feel as if they are not wearing waders which is a chore in itself.

Now that the three different types of fly fishing waders have been covered it is necessary to look at the styles of waders that are available to anglers. Like types of waders there are three general styles of waders; boot-foot, stocking-foot and hip waders

Hip-Waders are a style of wader that simply cover from the foot to the hip of the angler. These waders are specifically designed for shallow, slow water conditions. Hip waders make a great choice for fishing small streams in the middle of summer where water conditions are low and keeping cool is a necessity. Seeing that these waders do not extend over the waist of the angler the amount of heat produced is minimal. Also the weight of these waders is minimal making them very comfortable on long days on the river. Unfortunately these waders can not be used on fast deep rivers or in the colder months.

Boot Foot Waders are simply chest high waders that have a boot sewn in to their respective construction permanently. Having the boot attached to the wader has many advantages for the avid fly angler. First off having incorporating all you need on one piece of equipment makes the chance of forgetting a boot at home less likely. Second, having the boot attached does not allow rocks or sand to slip into the boot and rub your feet raw. Finally, with the boot attached there is just less to take care of while fishing, no laces etc to come free. The major drawback of boot foot waders is that they are heavier and bulkier than other styles of waders. At times walking in boot foot waders especially on soft river boots can be very clumsy and sloppy. Also the inseam of boot foot waders can cause problems for some anglers seeing as they seem to rub right on the lower leg causing a painful walk on long days.

A quality pair of waders and wading boots will make it seem as if you just have slacks and hiking boots on.

Overall, what type of fishing wader an angler chooses to purchase is entirely dependent on the type of water and time of year he or she plans to fish.  For warmer weather conditions that are usually coupled to lower water levels hip-waders are a great choice. They allow the angler to stay cool while still providing comfort and most importantly keeping you dry. For the colder weather months or deep water conditions a pair of thick neoprene chest waders is hard to beat.

For the greatest versatility though a high quality pair of breathable waders will handle any conditions that even the most serious angler can come across. Spending a little more money up front for a quality pair of breathable waders will pay off in the long run by keeping you warmer, drier, and fishing longer.