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Magellan Sportswear Neoprene Bootfoot Waders: OutdoorHub Review
Waders are arguably one of the most important pieces of gear for a waterfowl hunter. Their ability to keep you dry, warm, and comfortable is a key factor in how long and successful a hunt might be. So, while I already had a cheapo pair of thinner PVC waders that had done fine for scouting spots during warm days in the fall. I knew after our last scouting trip that they would not work for the winter. So instead, I got a new pair of Magellan Sportswear Neoprene Bootfoot Waders to waterfowl hunt with this past winter. And what a winter it was, while I didn’t get out to the pond nearly as much as I would have liked this season. The conditions of every hunt in these waders were quite different than the last. So let’s get into how the Magellan Sportswear Neoprene Bootfoot Waders held up to this past season of waterfowl hunting.
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Product Overview – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders
The Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders are the in-house brand of neoprene waders from Academy Sports + Outdoors. Focused on being a more budget-friendly line, these Magellan waders have an MSRP of $99.99 and are available by shoe size, from men’s 7s to 13s with no half-size offerings. These being bootfoot waders, are more of a “do-it-all” sort of waders that can be used for anything from waterfowl hunting in a swamp to chasing trout in coldwater streams.
Specifications and Features – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders
- 200 grams of Thinsulate Insulation within the Rubber Boots
- Convenient Front Storage Pocket
- Adjustable suspenders with Neoprene Shoulder Pads
- Reinforced and Molded Knees
- Bootfoot Design
- Construction – 85% neoprene and 15% polyester
- Shoe Sizes – 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13
- Color – Brown
- MSRP – $99.99
Fit & Comfort – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders – Rating: 8
When it came to choosing the size of the pair of Magellan Sportswear Neoprene Bootfoot Waders, I went with a shoe size larger than what I wear for regular shoes. This was to be able to comfortably wear and layer in thicker wool socks inside the wader boots. As the shoe size is the only way to size these chest waders, there was a slight concern that the fit would not be the best. But that was not the case, with the waders fitting well across the hips, belly, and chest. I’m 5′ 11″ and the size 12 waders stop right under my armpits, so keep your height in mind when choosing these waders. So, the only thing I would advise if you are hunting in warmer climates is to go with a boot closer to your actual shoe size if you don’t need the extra layering. When it came to comfort and mobility, I was originally concerned that the thickness and weight of the material would be an issue, especially in the bitter cold on some of these hunts. But after trudging through the sludge and slop around and in the beaver ponds all winter, I found this wasn’t an issue. I really had no issues hiking in early in the morning and setting out decoys, or later in the day when the ground softened, so we had to get the SxS unstuck from the swamp so we could make it home.
Durability & Build Quality – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders – Rating: 7
The biggest concern with neoprene waders is the stitching in the seams giving out and letting water in. But after a winter of waterfowl hunting, while they’re not the prettiest when it comes to stitching, these Magellan Neoprene waders held up just fine. The seams are still holding up with no leaks when I recently went trout fishing in the same pair. The neoprene/polyester material of the waders is still going strong with no noticeable patches of wear on them or the boots. The reinforced kneepads are still going strong, even after I accidentally put a treble hook into the stitching.
Breathability & Temperature Regulation – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders – Rating: 7
The level of cold I dealt with this winter was something new to me. Frozen-over ponds are not something I have dealt with before. While that may be the norm up north, in Georgia, that does not happen regularly. So the beaver ponds we hunt froze over and had us regularly in there trying to break up the ice, and when we weren’t, we were sitting on the bank in 15°F temps waiting for the ducks to show up. So while my face, arms, and shoulders were freezing, everything from armpits on down was pleasantly comfortable. I went a shoe size up with the waders as well, so I was easily able to fit a pair of nice thick wool socks and some waffle bottoms inside the waders. I didn’t notice any moisture trapping, but then again, it was so cold that sweat wasn’t too much of a concern even when slogging through the mud out to the spot. I assume this might not be the case, say if I were wearing these on a summer day in the Chattahoochee.
Features & Storage – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders – Rating: 6
When it comes to features on these neoprene waders, it is honestly a bit barebones. The Magellan Neoprene Waders come with a few added features, a chest pocket, shoulder pads, sewn-in knee pads, and Thinsulate Insulation for the boots. The shoulder pads are always welcome to reduce fatigue, and the chest pocket does come with a patch of velcro so you can secure whatever is in it at least a little bit. The knee pads being made of neoprene and sewn into the waders is a good, low-cost feature that helps extend the life of the waders as well.
Ease of Use & Maintenance – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders – Rating: 7
While originally I was a bit worried about the neoprene itself being a bit stiff with how cold the weather was, I did not really have any issues with putting them on or taking them off this season. While I had been told that neoprene would stiffen up and make these uncomfortable to wear and move in. I did not find that to be the case when moving around. My body heat was plenty to keep any stiffness in the neoprene at bay. For cleaning after a hunt, a simple hosing off was plenty to get almost all of the mud and clay off the waders. Anything left behind on the fabric coating of the neoprene would come off with a light brushing from a soft brush and water.
Waterproof Performance – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders – Rating: 9
These waders did exactly what they needed to this waterfowl season, which was to keep me dry and warm. I had no issues with leaks all winter long, even when going almost up to the top of the waders when I stepped into a beaver channel by accident while taking out some decoys. Even when there was ice on the outside of the waders while the air temps were in the teens, I didn’t have any condensation issue, nor did any leaks form from kneeling in the brush or punching through ice.
Price & Value – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders – Rating: 9
Coming in at just $99.99 for the neoprene waders, the Magellan Neoprene Waders are hard to beat the value you are getting. While these aren’t the fanciest or lightest pair of waders, the price is hard to beat, especially if you are taking someone new to waterfowl hunting out for the first time. They are a great entry option in the world of waders that you don’t have to worry about roughing up.
The Bottom Line – Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders – Rating: 8
Overall, the Magellan Sportswear Men’s Neoprene Bootfoot Waders are a solid choice for a good entry pair of neoprene waders. A no-frills solution that will keep you warm and dry out there during the winter while you try to bring home some ducks. The couple of extra features that these waders come with, though, are well appreciated, with the shoulder pads keeping you comfortable and the front chest pocket convenient for keeping extra shells and calls. Coming in at $99.99 and regularly in stock at the many Academy Sport + Outdoors locations keeps them easily accessible for a lot of hunters, especially ones who need waders last minute but don’t want to spend a ton. My pair held up very well this winter, in a variety of conditions. Even during the few warmer days we had, the hike to the ponds was not terrible in these waders, while not breathable, the fit is open enough to keep some air moving around you while you are walking. They even saved my ass a couple times with how high they wear when I took a stumble tripping on underwater stumps and beaver channels. I would wholeheartedly recommend these to others, like I did for my buddy’s kid, who wore a pair himself for the few hunts he joined us for this winter. These are a solid pair of neoprene waders for not a crazy amount of money, that did exactly what I needed them to do this winter, keep me dry, warm, and comfortable, so I could stay out and hunt for longer.
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