Waders - The awesome, the bad, the leaky

[rattlesnake]

All I know is that my next pair of waders will be zip ones. Fit is more important than brand to me. But I'll probably start with Dryft to support a PNW company. If not them, then maybe look for sale Patagonia or Orvis.

Durability and fit are importantly to me and often these go hand in hand. I like the orvis as the calf and ankle area are a little bigger to allow for layering and fleece pants more easily (which is when I typically wear waders).

 

[GAT]

Following - my waist high Redington must be one of those on the far right end of the bell curve, they're still going strong and have been abused. No leaks (jinx saying this?).

It must be nice to have a uniform, standard physique (WTFTI) where off the shelf waders fit the way they should.

I own the Reddington zip waders and will never buy another pair of waders without a zipper. As I primarily fish out of my SuperCat and find myself in the middle of some manner of stillwater when nature calls, the zipper comes in very, very handy.

So far, knock on wood, the Reddingtons do not leak.

Now the bad news. If I ever want to buy another pair of the zipper Reddingtons I'm out of luck. Reddington no longer makes waders or wading boots:

In a significant move, Redington has announced discontinuing its wader line, signaling a shift in focus for the brand that has been a staple in the fly fishing community for over 30 years. Known for its durable and accessible wading products, Redington has decided to pivot away from this category to concentrate fully on its core offerings: quality rods and reels.