Redington Sonic Pro Waders 08/01/2024 Photo Album
I normally do not write equipment reviews, but I thought my experience with this brand of waders merited a report. In December of 2021 my wife gave me new waders as a Christmas gift. I researched waders and picked out the Redington Sonic Pros as a wader brand that was middle of the road price wise, yet it appeared to be more durable than some of the waders in the lower price bracket.
When the waders arrived, and I inspected them, after Christmas of course, I noticed that the edges of the seam tape were curled up and not properly adhered on both the right and left neoprene boots. I thought perhaps this was an issue, but I concluded that the main portion of the tape remained adhered, and it covered up the seam. In my haste to accept the new waders and avoid the hassle of returning them, I ignored this warning sign.
Wader Top and Stocking Feet Seams
I used the waders for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and they never leaked. However, on Wednesday, July 30, when I returned to my car after a day of fishing, I removed my waders and discovered that my sock was soaked. I was able to wring water out of the sock, so it was not the typical small pinhole leak.
Large Seam Split on This Foot
The Other FootOn Wednesday afternoon I leak checked both legs and feet, and I discovered a seam leak on the right boot foot. The seam separation was over an inch in length, and this was the point of entry of the water. I was going to coat it with a sealer, but before I did so, I turned the waders right side out, and this is when I discovered that there was a severe separation of the seam on both boot feet where the tape had previously covered and protected the seam. By now the tape peeled off and was no longer protecting the seam from wear and tear. I concluded that coating the split on the inside of the neoprene boot foot was a waste of time, because the seam would surely continue to separate.
This Clearly Shows How the Tape Peeled Away Only In the One Section Where It Was Not Properly Adhered
The Other FootI emailed Redington and admitted that the waders were beyond the warranty period, but I felt that faulty workmanship reduced the life of the waders, and I asked for some consideration. A prompt reply was returned, and Redington simply cited the one year warranty policy. I am posting this report to warn potential buyers of the tape problem with Redington Sonic Pro waders. Please inspect your purchase and return it, if there is even the slightest imperfection.
I repaired mine using aqua seal FD glue (not the uv cure version);to glue the seam back down using gearaid tape. Need to use pressure (I used bricks) to keep the seams together while curing.
Thanks for this information, Tom. I already bought a new cheap pair. Were yours Redingtons and did the tape come off in the same place? I’d like to know because that would indicate to me that they have a manufacturing problem. Price does not appear to correlate with durability in the wader world. I’ve owned two pairs of Simms, and they did not last any longer than other brands, yet they cost twice or three times as much.
I thought I replied to this but maybe not. The loose tape was basically in the same place as yours but was not apparent when I bought the waders. BTW, my other set of waders is Patagonia, they have been great (although I haven’t had to use them since Spring).