[hardhat]

In warm weather I use Orvis wet-wading shoes and shorts. When it gets cooler out I will ware my chest waders. I have fished in 7 different western states the past 5 months and did not use waders on any of those trips. However, the time of year for my chest waders is coming very soon.

[MikeLove]

To address the need for cooler waders I replaced my chest waders with set of the new Riverteck stockingfoot pantwaders by simms. The pants have a nice waste belt that is easliy adjusted with velcrow and a light membrane that folds down in the pants and may be brought out easily to extend up to cover your belly. There is a draw string top.$299.00 but they are quality..MikeLove

[Joni]

Summer, I wet wade like everyone else. I have breathable boot foot hippers for my pontoon. But I would recommend going with the chest high.
Most chest high fold down to form waist highs anyway, but in the colder...WETTER seasons they are nice cause they block the wind and if it is raining, a little more protection.
I went fishing one year in IDAHO over the Thanksgiving weekend at 11:00 at night. I wore Second Skins underware, then a fleece bib over it. A wool jacket with my Tailwaters Wading jacket and wader. The only thing that got cold was my nose and fingers.
Chest waders will cover all your needs where waist or hippers won't.

[Silver Doc]

A double sausage, cheese croisant for lunch. Probably what did their damage to my heart. But boy are they good. Frank

[Fly2Fish]

Originally Posted by Joni

Most chest high fold down to form waist highs anyway ... Chest waders will cover all your needs where waist or hippers won't.

I think Joni sums it up pretty well. I rarely use my chest-highs as such, mainly wearing them folded down to waist high, but it's nice to have the higher "insurance" should I need it. And while I like boot-foot hip waders as being the most convenient, there were/are too many times when they wouldn't allow me to get where I wanted to be.