Waders for Surf Fishing: HISEA Quality Reviewed

We’re approaching winter and it might be time to start looking for some waders. In the next couple of months, you’ll notice the water temperature will drop from 70 degrees Fahrenheit to about 60. The air temp will begin to drop even more, especially after dark. And, the idea of fishing will seem much less desirable… if you don’t have some quality waders for surf fishing. It’s also worth mentioning that with the change in seasons, different species will be on the prowl. The next two species to target will be perch and halibut. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the peak seasons and general seasons per surf species as outlined below.

Below is a review of the waders I used to wear… An updated list can be found here.

Below, I’ll be outlining the exact waders that I use for surf fishing in the winter months. They do the job, they’re high quality, well fitting, 100% waterproof and they’re inexpensive. Are they the best waders for surf fishing? I’m sure you could find more expensive ones of premium quality, but for the price, these things are pretty tough to beat and I’m very satisfied with them. If the link in the picture doesn’t have your size available, see the list of alternate links at the bottom of this page. There are multiple amazon links to the same waders and all sizes listed in the link description are available (as of 10/18/2020).

Before I hopped on the wader-wagon, I (like many So Cal natives) never even thought of wearing waders in the surf. Bare feet and swim trunks did the trick for me. That changed when I really started to fish through the cold winter months. My feet would lose feeling after half an hour and my sessions were never as enjoyable as they should have been. So check out what I have to say about these guys:

HISEA Waders for Surf Fishing Details and Info

• 100% waterproof (obviously)
• Solid, rugged, durable texture (doesn’t feel like those other rubbery trash-bag-like waders)
• Steel-toed boots
• Hard rubber sole (I’m confident I could step on a sting ray and it wouldn’t even damage the sole)
• Great traction
• 10% lighter than traditional nylon waders
• High chest coverage (for most people)- I’m 6’1″ and my size 11’s cover my lower chest.
• Attached waterproof boots
• Chest pocket (outside and inside pocket) to store pliers, phone, etc.

These Hisea waders are perfect to layer up underneath while staying warm and dry. I’m a 6’1″, 180 lb guy with a size 11 shoe. I ordered a size 11 and these things fit perfectly. The boots are attached to the waders and the overall material looks and feels high quality. The chest segment goes up to about the bottom 1/3 of my chest as it covers just below my nipples. I fit comfortably and with an adjustable chest area as well as shoulder straps, they’re pretty versatile. I could see this one size fitting a variety of body types.

At such an affordable price, I didn’t necessarily know what to expect, but after using them for one whole season already, I’m impressed. I can comfortably wear sweats underneath and these things keep me warm as ever.

When I wear my waders during those really cold mornings, this is what I usually wear: I’ll wear sweats underneath my waders (with shorts underneath those in case it gets warm by midday so I can take them off if I want). I’ll wear a long sleeve with a hoodie and then a waterproof jacket on top of that (under the wader straps). And then I’ll wear my fishing gloves and a sometimes a beanie. For all the other gear and tackle I use when I go surf fishing, here’s my gear and tackle page.

I hope that gives you a little bit of a reference point if you’ve been searching for some good waders. I remember looking for a good pair and I had no idea what to look for nor what to expect. So the goal here is to clear that up for you guys especially if you’re planning to fish late-fall through early-spring.

One Thing That Could be Better

If I have one complaint about these waders, it’d be that they have limited pocket space. After doing some digging though, I think this complaint is just a general complaint I’d have about most waders. It seems that 95% of the waders out there have very limited pocket space. I can fit my pliers and bait in the external pocket and there’s also an inner pocket that I haven’t utilized. A phone could easily fit, but I don’t like to carry my phone on me. So, for me, they’re perfect, but if you’re looking for lots of pocket space, maybe look around or add on a carrier to the belt.

I know I live in So Cal, and I know it might sound like overkill, but I’m so much more comfortable surf fishing with my waders etc., than I was when I didn’t have them. If you have any questions about the waders, how they fit, or anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments section below. I’d be happy to answer any questions I can. I hope this helps guide you in your purchase of waders for winter.

List of links to these HISEA Waders if your size wasn’t listed in the previous link:

• HISEA Waders (Men’s sizes 7-13 excluding size 10 | Women’s sizes 9-11)
• HISEA Waders (Men’s sizes 7-13 excluding size 11 | Women’s sizes 9-12)