DIY Gore-Tex Wader Repair
Sean Visintainer - 03/03/13
![DIY Gore-Tex Wader Repair.](https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/images/blog/2013/03/wader-repair.jpg)
Do It Yourself Gore-Tex Repair
Last time I checked I like my waders to not leak and you probably do too. The biggest plague to any wader, doesn't matter how much you spend, is a pinhole leaks. However, higher end waders like SIMMS and Patagonia are more resistant to pinholes... no lie. Pinhole leaks are caused by a multitude of things... hooks, thorn bushes, barb wire, brush, etc. and can be hard to identify... but not if you have GORE-TEX specific fabric! Enough BS let's go through the steps of how to identify and repair pinhole leaks...
Step 1. Are my waders GORE-TEX? Should be a tag on the inside or a logo somewhere on the outside. If you are not sure shoot me a message and I will let you know... only a few companies actually are licensed to use GORE-TEX as a wader fabric.
![Gore-Tex Waders.](https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/images/blog/2013/03/wader-repair-1.jpg)
Step 2. Turn waders INSIDE OUT. Make sure they are clean and dry. By clean I mean not caked with mud... if there is mud on the INSIDE of your waders you probably have bigger problems.
![Gore-Tex Waders turned inside out.](https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/images/blog/2013/03/wader-repair-2.jpg)
Step 3. Dump some rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle. Spray the INSIDE of the wader so the alcohol soaks into the liner fabric.
![Aquaseal](https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/images/blog/2013/03/wader-repair-3.jpg)
![Spraying Alcohol on Gore-Tex Waders.](https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/images/blog/2013/03/wader-repair-4.jpg)
Step 4. As the alcohol soaks in any pinhole you may have will show up as a DARKER grey spot and will grow in size as the alcohol soaks in.
![Pin Hole in Waders.](https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/images/blog/2013/03/wader-repair-5.jpg)
Step 5. Put a small dab of Aquaseal glue on the grey spot and RUB INTO THE WADER. DO NOT GLOB THE GLUE ON THE WADER. * The glue can be applied to the alcohol soaked wader. You DO NOT have to wait for the alcohol to evaporate.
![Applying Aquaseal to Wader Pin Holes.](https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/images/blog/2013/03/wader-repair-6.jpg)
Step 6. Let it dry a couple hours and spray the waders again. If the previously repaired pinholes do not turn grey again you are good to go!!
FYI... Some other facts about DIY wader repair...
- REVIVEX is a product to rejuvenate the outer DWR (Deluge Water Repellency). It helps water bead off of waterproof fabrics to aid in breathability.
- They make a product to get rid of wader stink! Kinda cool! Testing for pinholes with rubbing alcohol also helps kill bacteria and reduce wader stink.
- UV Aquaseal is perfect for small tears/rips when out fishing.
![Revivex](https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/images/blog/2013/03/wader-repair-8.jpg)
- Wader seam leaks are usually only able to be found at the factory... unless the wader seam is completely ripped wide open. Sometimes a faint pinhole can be found in the very center of a seam when rubbing alcohol is applied and the fabric is inspected extremely carefully with trained eye. They do not show up the same a normal pinhole leak. If there are no pinholes present there is probably a seam leak.
![Gore-tex Seal Tape.](https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/images/blog/2013/03/wader-repair-7.jpg)