For crossing no deeper than a bit above the knee I've been using Wiggy's Light Weight Waders at $60 a pair down on this page:
http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?category=3Total weight including stuff bag that can be wadded up to softball size is 12 ounces. Intended for just occasional duty and not like trout fishing waders as much abrasive stream bottom use would be sure to cause leaks. And they need to be regularly checked for leaks and patched.
Since I carry a big tripod everywhere, I often cross streams with that fully open moving one step at a time carefully. I've crossed a lot of cold streams and there is often a section next to the bank on the far side that is flowing faster and deeper than it visually seemed.
Anything above crotch deep can get quite precarious as there is a tendency to float up on the braced foot after picking up one's other foot. In such conditions a large stick braced against the bottom can help keep the braced foot down.
Ice cold bare feet sliding around and between slimy river stones can be rather painful at every step and contribute to going even slower and falling over.
I always carry construction grade duct tape for all manner of uses and when wearing my gortex boots for stream crossings would duct tape the top of the boots to my skin all the way around. That way the water did not get inside so quickly and when it finally did was not as seriously cold. Good way remove some hair on your shins too haha.
If a crossing is dangerous or deep enough that falling might occur, consider finding a narrow spot in a stream that is often an uncrossable torrent and tossing one's sleeping bags across to the opposite side. Not only is a wet bag useless for sleeping, difficult to dry out except in desert conditions, but most can soak up a lot of water and be a heavy bear to have to carry around.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/16/2009 10:04PM by DavidSenesac.
