Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Backpacking creek/river crossing leggings.

Not wiggy's.

Quite a few years ago a guy was making some ultralight weight very basic leggings.

Not meant to be worn for anything more than, slip them on at creekside, wade across then take them off.
They were nylon or poly tent/tarp material with heavy application of silicon.

Check out Hodgman Gamewades. I've never used them and can't say how well they work.

Rocky,

Good morning.
I corrected my post, I should have wrote 'leggings' not waders I consider leggings waders. The ones I saw weighed less than 10 ounces and packed down to the size of a tennis ball. They didn't cover your mid section and they tied onto belt loops or belt.
Gamewades are 25oz.

The guy making them was getting bad reviews from people who were using them as 'wear all day waders'. So maybe not around anymore.

A search on 'leggings' gets some very interesting results, none of which you're interested in.

Maybe I better go have a look.

I'm not sure what exactly "leggings" refers to. I wear gators most of the time, which won't keep deep water from getting into your boots. If the water is deep enough that you can't cross the stream without getting water over the tops of the boots and consequently inside the boots, then your feet are going to get wet. In that situation, there are other options. You know it's not a sin to get your boots wet. I always carry a couple pairs of extra socks. After you cross the stream, take off your boots, wring out your socks and drain the water out of your boots. Put everything back on and wear your wet socks for 1/4 mile. This pumps the water out of your boots. Then change into your dry socks. Hang the wet socks on the outside of your pack to dry.

One time, when I knew that I had to cross a stream that would inundate my boots, I carried a pair of deck shoes. I changed into the shoes, crossed the stream, then changed back into my boots. I knew I was coming back the same way, so I hung the wet shoes on a tree and retrieved them on the return trip.

I've seen lightweight hip waders, with waterproof Nylon tops. That might be what you are referring to. But they are pretty expensive and I wouldn't want to leave them hanging on a tree.

BTW I always use Smartwool socks.

Dang guys, my trash bags never looked so smart...

Haha same here.

I've seen what the OP's looking for. I just don't know where to find them. It's basically just a waterproof nylon bag you pull over your boot and leg. It comes up to your crotch. It's like the afore mentioned trash bags but they fit better and last longer than plastic. A guy with a sewing machine could make a pair in a couple hours but with the price of nylon and waterproof seam tape, that's more expensive than buying them ready made.

I pack two commercial grade heavy duty trash bag. I run 550 chord through the tops of the bags and over my shoulders. The bags can be useful for a lot of other things too.

Web searches never show what I want. 'waders' gives 40 pages of fishing waders. 'leggings' gives 40 pages of yoga pants, not that there's anything wrong with a well filled pair of yoga pants.

Take off boots and socks, slip on Crocks. Change back after the crossing.

I've done that while packing with the llamas.

I did that once. The Crocs filled with coarse sand/gravel and that was very painful. I took them off half-way through the stream crossing and just continued bare footed. I suppose it would be different with a sandy bottom or mud. But decomposed granite is not any fun.

Yes that's what I'm referring to.
Very thin nylon seam taped and extra silicon inside and out that come up to your crotch. A string to tie them to your belt loops or belt, nothing fancy.
Stopping and removing boots/socks or changing socks, wringing them out etc. - too time consuming.
The maker could sit down put them on cross the creek, then take them off in a couple of minutes.

Maker thoroughly explained how the ultra-light weight wader was meant to be used.

Check out Barney's Sourdough Slippers or NEOS River Trekkers.

Something like this but who knows where to find it. There's no info at all on this photo.

Too heavy/bulky.

Rocky,

That's them although the one I saw were grey.

Yep, those Alaskans just love to carry heavy stuff, they're funny like that.