A common assumption is that LOC 3-D Mesh Tech Waders must be warmer than ordinary waders simply because they have a 3-D mesh layer inside. And, at first, that sounds perfectly logical—add another layer and you would expect more heat.
But the construction of LOC Waders works a little differently.
So, are LOC Waders warmer than conventional breathable waders?
Traditional breathable waders rely on a membrane to allow water vapour to pass from the inside to the outside. How well this works depends on several factors, including temperature and humidity, your activity level, what you're wearing underneath, and whether the outer fabric is wet or saturated.
LOC Waders take a different approach.
The patented 3-D Mesh Tech™ system creates a three-dimensional air space between the outer fabric and your body. Instead of having the inner surface of the wader sitting directly against your clothing, the mesh creates separation and an open structure through which air, moisture and heat can move.
The hydrophobic mesh also helps keep perspiration and condensation from sitting directly against the body. By maintaining an air gap between you and the outer shell, the system is designed to help manage moisture and reduce that clammy feeling that can happen when perspiration builds up inside a wader.
There’s another important point: the mesh itself isn't an insulating layer in the same way that a thick fleece or thermal lining would be. It is primarily a structural spacer that creates air space inside the wader.
In other words, more material doesn't necessarily mean more heat.
How you dress matters, too.
When you're walking on land to or between fishing spots, you're generating considerably more body heat than when you're in the water. During these periods of higher activity, it makes sense to dress down on your upper body and avoid unnecessary layers.
Taking off a jacket or reducing your upper-body insulation before a longer walk can make a noticeable difference in how comfortable you feel and can help reduce overheating and excessive perspiration.
Once you reach the river and your activity level drops, you can simply add a layer again if you need it. The idea is to adjust your clothing to what you're actually doing, rather than wearing the same amount of insulation all day.
Your choice of base layer matters as well. Lightweight, moisture-managing clothing, such as merino wool, helps keep the microclimate inside the wader more comfortable.
And here's another little tip: if you're walking or hanging around on land in warm conditions, wetting the outside of your LOC 3-D Mesh Waders can help keep the outer surface cooler as the water evaporates. In warm, dry conditions, this can provide a noticeable cooling effect.
During periods of high activity, opening the waterproof zipper when conditions allow can also help increase ventilation.
We don't claim that LOC Waders eliminate heat or perspiration. No wader can do that. What we have done is take a different approach to managing air, moisture and the space between your body and the outer shell.
The result is a piece of gear designed to provide the durability and protection you expect from a wader, while helping you stay comfortable throughout a long day on the water.