What do you recommend for someone starting out? Thanks

chest ,buy the best you can up front
it will be cheaper in the longer run

Yup....neoprene chest is the only way

i have some that leak a lil, if you are good at finding holes in neoprene you can patch them and have them. Size 10's.

My hunting partner had the same problem. He just bought some of that AS SEEN ON TV rubber spray in the can and coated all the seams. Looks pretty funny but affective.

not to highjack, but if he's not interested in them, I would be...just got into duck hunting this year and I love it...just hard to retrieve shot ducks with rubber boots and no dog! lol

Depending on your time frame but I would wait till after the season when the bargin cave will be full of Xmass returns and try and pick a pair up there. I have neoprene chest waders.

I buy the $50-$60 neoprenes from Cabelas because I always end up puncturing them regardless of how much I spend on them.

When I was hunting all the time I'd get a season or two out of my waders whether I paid $60 or $200. After going through 3 $200 pair of waders, I finally started buying the cheap ones.

My first three pairs were the rubber boot foot waders. I thought they were heavy, a pain to walk in soft mud with, and cold. I bought the neoprene waders and by the high top wading boots from Bass Pro with the three velcro straps. Extremely easy to walk in soft mud, light, and best of all, no more cold feet. I will NEVER buy boot foot waders again.

I've never kept waders long enough for the seams to start leaking. Almost always rip on trees, briars, or crossing a fence.

It doesn't matter what kind of waders you buy, no matter the brand, breathable or neoprenes...they will all tear. An yes I'm saying they "will" tear...it's gonna happen sooner or later. I have 6 chest waders (neoprenes) 1 breathable chest wader, 1 canvas chest wader, 5 pairs of hip boots and 3 pairs of rubber boots...just get some waders on sale. I personally love the feel of breathables but have been rockin neoprene for a while now. I always get academy's Game winner or hodgman brand waders at academy after the season. Cheap cheap cheap

Really depends on how you hunt. If you don't have to walk allot and can hunt stationary and not allot of brush, Chest Waders are great. I tend to walk allot to get to areas that other hunters won't go, so I prefer Rubber Hip Boots. Yes, they are tiring after a long day, but very versatile.