Neopreme or Breathable?

[stephan009l]

Simple Question. Whats the difference between the two? Pro's? Con's? Thanks!

[Arctic]

Neoprene is sort of a family of synthesized "rubbers" that are produced by the pure polymerization of chloroprene... Basically what that means is you turn this stuff into a rubbery substance. If you "foam" it. Or essentially put air bubbles in it, it becomes an excellent insulator, with out having the weight of a solid substrate.

Simply, Neoprene is a coated rubber substance that hold in heat way better than a breathable. You sweat like crazy unless you are sitting in a boat, or its exceptionally cold. Most guys wear breathables.

Which are a fabric that is woven in such a way that the spaces between the threads will allow vapors thru, but not liquids. Your body will push the sweat vapors out of a good set of breathables fairly quickly, but they are not warm in the least.

You need to layer well, and wearing good base layer is the most important. After that I just throw on a pair of thin polypropylene sweats, fleece pants, and sometimes a pair of Carharrt's if its freezin!

[stephan009l]

Good to know! Thanks Ian, looks like i'm stickin with the neoprenes! Still haven't gotten used to the coldness here in Oregon so, more layers it is!

[Spade]

Simple question....what is 95% of everyone on the board wearing? Breathables. There's a reason why, layer up Tex.

[lesserevil665]

Also depends on what you are doing...if it's just fishing, the breathables rock! Yet if I am going out for a duck hunt, I much prefer neoprene as it's standing in one spot for extended time...

So what would have to be asked is...what are you planning on doing in them? Are you going to play multiple duty with them?

Other thing to consider is you want something in your budget, but the best you can get for that $$$ as both are going to wear and some faster than others...

[Osmosis]

My .02 is that it depends how far you plan on hiking. long hikes or bank scrambles the breathables win. Long day sidedrifting in a boat the neoprenes are nice.

[hamfish]

I've been a bankie most of my life, and used rubber waders w/boots only for many years, however this limited me to where I could wade without some water over the top! Then I went to Neo's but after spending 6 hours tromping through the brush and blackberries I was soaked from sweat and the pinholes from the blackberries. Now stricktly wear breathables and depending on the weather how I will dress under them.

[Blue Fox]

I have a pair of breathables and I like them but I can't seem to stay warm enough so I've been thinking of getting a pair of inexpencive neoprenes for the winter.
Ricky

[spactrukn]

I have a pair of breathables and I like them but I can't seem to stay warm enough so I've been thinking of getting a pair of inexpencive neoprenes for the winter.
Ricky

Ricky, I know that you have the same problem that I do with the breathables fitting way to tight around your calves. You should try some Under Armor type bottoms and some fleece bottoms cut off a few inches below the knees. This should keep you very warm. Been working for me and it all fits under the breathables.

[toolman]

breathables with under armor and a pair of flannel bottoms works great for me. with as much as i hike neo's killed me...