Return of experience
Personally, I got my Simms waders 8 years ago now and haven't had to change them since. Before that, I had tried waders from different brands and categories but they were not very solid and I had to change them several times a year. I'm only going to talk about the Gore-Tex model I own, the G4 Z, but I have no doubt that the other models are also worth looking into given the good reputation of the brand.
A solidity to any test
The big strength, and these are the only waders that did not betray me at this level, is the solidity. The wetsuit part, composed of several very solid layers, is very resistant. For the anecdote, it happened to me that a pike of about 70 cm escaped from my hands, the lure still in my mouth. A branch of one of the triples of the lure came to plant itself in the waders and the hook had not even managed to perforate the first layer! When I saw the action, I thought my waders were going to be thrown away, but they were not. I'm incredibly surprised at how durable they are.
The weak point would be the Neoprene shoes that you have to be careful to always protect (wading shoes, diving boots...). If you are serious about this point you will have no worries. Moreover, this liner has been improved on the new version of these waders, the G4 Z Slate.
A long-term investment
From my point of view, and after having had more than ten waders before finding the perfect ones, I think that you have to think in the long term when choosing one. For example, it's better to invest 1000euros on waders that you will keep for several years without any problem than to take a 100euros waders that will leak every 3 outings, ruin your moments of relaxation at the water's edge and make you lose time with the returns etc.. All this to finally buy others some time later and so on. Of course, Simms waders are a big investment but in the long run, I'm sure they will become much cheaper and will allow you to enjoy your fishing trips without getting wet.
Moreover, the same waders allow you to fish comfortably all year round, whether the water is 1°C or 25°C. It all depends on your use and frequency of fishing, but if you frequently do long wading and float tube sessions, this is definitely a good choice for years to come.
My opinion
If I had to change my waders tomorrow for any reason, I would definitely use the same ones. Simms is a brand that deserves to be better known in the lure fishing community, whether you fish from the shore or from a float tube, especially if you are looking for strength, comfort and durability, summer or winter.
