I can remember jump shooting the shallows of the Illinois River as a 10-year-old kid in a grown man's pair of rain boots. My dad had tree-stump sized legs, so he had to duct-tape his boots around my skinny shins. Fortunately, my waterfowling gear has been upgraded since then, and you will be amazed at some of the new products.

Camo patterns like Max-5 and Shadow Grass Blades are so true-to-life the greenheads will never suspect a thing...until it's too late.

And forget about heavy, leaky waders that hardly keep you warm. They're now made of advanced, breathable materials, so after the spread's set, you don't freeze to death before the morning flights arrive.

Banded | RedZone Insulated Breathable

Walk far and sit long: RedZone has you covered. Warm and breathable, these waders have 900D reinforced knees and seat. The boots are lined with 1,200-gram Thinsulate and we're eternally grateful for the side-zip chest adjuster, making the waders fit more like a bib. Price: $300

Drake | MST Hybrid

A breathable wader with the insulation of neoprene, the MST Hybrid is outfitted with 800-gram Thinsulate boots, Hydro-Flex knee pads and custom-fit ankle adjustments. Uppers include three-layer breathable nylon and polyester materials. Price: $375

Drake Swamp Sole

If you're known to take too much gear afield, the Swamp Sole Backpack is the right fit. It keeps all your valuables protected from the elements and with five different compartments, shell loops, and a water bottle sleeve even the most OCD hunter will find a place for everything. Price: $150

ESP | Elite Classic Shooters

Duck hunting is in our blood, but it shouldn't cost us our hearing. The Elite Classic hearing protectors are a custom-fit device that block out the damaging decibels from shotgun blasts while allowing you to hear your buddy call the shot clearly. Now you can enjoy the blind conversation without putting your ears at risk. Price: $900

Hard Core | Backwater Full-Zip

Simple, effective and affordable, the Backwater Full-Zip is made of 100 percent polyester, anti-pilling fleece, seam-sealed to keep the elements out. An adjustable cord-lock keep drafts out and the kangaroo-style pockets will warm cold hands. Price: $100

Hard Core | Snow Goose Blind Bag

True snow goose hunters will appreciate the Snow Goose Blind Bag. Equipped with a hard bottom and white exterior, this blind bag keeps your gear dry and hidden from those pesky snows during the worst field conditions of the season. And, if you shoot like us, the 10-box shotshell capacity keeps you in the game. Price: $80

LaCrosse | AeroTuff

Constructed of AeroForm, the AeroTuff has a lightweight, glove-like feel that provides insulation and durability, Uppers are made of 5mm puncture-resistant neoprene. Injected liquid polyurethane around 7mm neoprene in the foot creates an ultra-insulating shell. Price: $350

Mossy Oak | Shadow Grass Blades

Mossy Oak's focus with its Shadow Grass Blades camo is on waterfowlers who hunt field edges and potholes. Blades precisely mimics wind-blown, broken and bent grass blades; underneath these elements are depictions of lesser and dead grass thatch.

Pelican | 1720 Long Case

You didn't spend all that money on a new auto-loader just to throw it in a $20 hard case, right? Pelican has designed gun cases that can withstand the rigors of travel. The 1720 is more compact than many rifle cases, and can easily hold two shotguns (with barrels removed). Multiple boxes of ammo can also be stored in the case, but check airline regulations before doing so. Price: $367

Realtree | Max-5

There's probably not a waterfowler on earth who doesn't own a piece of gear in Max-4. The innovators at Realtree have gone a step further with the advent of Max-5, a multi-use pattern at home in marshes, flooded timber...really anywhere. It's a remarkably detailed pattern filled with more natural elements than ever before.

Rig'em Right | Nitro-Deluxe

Stow your gun safely even if it goes overboard with the Nitro-Deluxe, a floating case that will keep your favorite auto-loader on the surface. It also has a rain-proof zipper and a pocket to store cleaning supplies and choke tubes. Price: $80

SG-20 | Outdoor Adhesive

The only thing more frustrating than watching some malcontent shoot your swing ducks are waders full of frigid pond water. SG-20 fixes rips, tears and punctures in just about anything and dries within an hour. Price: $20

Sitka | Boreal Bib Pant

For extreme conditions, the Boreal Bib is shrouded in Gore-Tex to keep out precip, and lined with 650-fill duck down blended with PrimaLoft to keep you toasty. The zippers are waterproof; cargo and hip pockets have quiet snaps. Price: $589

Under Armour | Infrared Skysweeper

We wore the Skysweeper through the worst winter Illinois has seen in 40 years, and in Arkansas' early season. It wears like a windbreaker, but has the warmth of your best ski parka when the temps dip below zero. The ArmourStorm shell wicks away rain and wind. Price: $270

Yamaha | Grizzly 700 FI

From hotrods to ATV's, everyone loves this sleek flat black tactical look. The Grizzly's 686cc liquid-cooled engine, cast aluminum wheels, and three-position on-command 4WD can haul massive loads of gear. And, since the 700 FI is Mikuni fuel-injected, there is no need to worry about cold-start carburetor problems when the migration is peaking. Price: $8,899

Yeti | Tundra 65

We slayed the snows this spring and threw the breasted white geese in the Yeti — only one problem, NO ICE! So we shoveled in some of nature's fresh winter powder. When the lid opened the following morning, that fine dusting of snow still covered our snows. The Tundra 65 is also grizz-proof if you hunt in bear country, big enough to hold a small quartered deer and keeps a bevy of pan fish fresh for the pan. Price: $400

Banded | Hand Warmer

Instead of bulky gloves, Banded's Fleece/PrimaLoft Hand Warmer lets hunters have flexibility and dexterity, ensuring crisp calling sequences and easy safety-to-finger transitions when the shot is called. With 100 grams of PrimaLoft Silver insulation, the waterproof exterior and water-resistant zippered storage area keep your hands balmy in the coldest of conditions. Price: $25