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).
Waders - The awesome, the bad, the leaky
- Thread starter Evan B
- Start date
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).
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.
I really like my Dryft zipper waders and after two years of moderate use they are still going strong with no leaks. Very happy.
I used to go through a pair of cheaper waders every summer at work (Cabelas, Caddis etc). They were really put through the ringer during the in-stream construction window though. I couldn't persuade management that higher price point waders might last more than a season and be more cost effective, and so I went through a lot of aquaseal every year too. (Management might have been right, in retrospect.)
I used to go through a pair of cheaper waders every summer at work (Cabelas, Caddis etc). They were really put through the ringer during the in-stream construction window though. I couldn't persuade management that higher price point waders might last more than a season and be more cost effective, and so I went through a lot of aquaseal every year too. (Management might have been right, in retrospect.)
You might be able to find a pair somewhere on closeout if you want a backup pair.
Just keep in mind that when they discontinued them, they dropped the warranty from a year down to 60 days.
For someone who owned multiple pairs of their waders over the years, that was a bit of a surprise to be told that when mine failed within the first year.
SF
Hey Gene, what float tube do you fish out of? If it's one of those Outcast style where you're sitting on top of the water, have you considered waist-highs? I've gone that direction and will never wear full waders again. Super easy for everything....I don't even have to paddle to shore to take a leak. Then again, only works if you're sitting on top of the water, not in it.
Aquaz zip fronts that I bought three years ago have been solid, although truthfully I haven’t been able to get out to fish recently like I used to so it’s not been a fair test for their longevity. All things considered I’d buy them again if needed though.As recommended by @Greg Armstrong my latest waders are from Aquaz (S Korean & Japanese mfg) who reportedly is a shadow OEM for well known brands; one is rumored to be Patagonia. They are robust & durable.
The proprietary base fabric of the Aquaz AQUALEX® fabric relies on a multi-layered polyurethane resin for its waterproof and breathable qualities (Patagonia's H2No?). (I did not know that...) The topical Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coatings are what often contain PFAS.
About AQUAZ
About AQUAZ™ For over 30 years our state-of-the-art facility in South Korea has been manufacturing premium water proof products for use in over 30 countries in a wide range of applications including scientific, military and recreational activities. AQUAZ products are used in a wide variety of...aquazfishing.com
An older review
Review: Aquaz DRYZIP waders
In fly fishing – and the outdoors in general – we highly value what our friends and mentors think of the gear we use. I’d wager that more gear – rods especially – is sold based off a recommendation from a friend, than any number of reviews or ads. That’s how I first heard of Aquaz. I was fishing...www.hatchmag.com
Starting in the late 2000s, I got ridiculously good results buying the lightweight Caddis waders from Sportco in Tacoma every few years. They were only like $129 and would give me 3 or 4 years. One pair lasted 6 or 7. And that was with many hours in a float tube and the Commander. Sometime in early 2020s (maybe covid?), something changed. The last pair cost me $159 or $179 and leaked after just a few trips. End of an era.
I decided to up my cheap wader game to the Cabelas exclusive Simms Riffle. It was essentially a slightly upgraded Simms Tributary, which was their entry level Goretex. Cabelas had them on sale for Father's Day 2022 for $249.99.
They got a leak in the crotch after just one very gentle season. I think I've told the story. Long story short...got a free replacement from Cabelas because despite the Simms warranty being expired, the lady on the chat Customer Service told me to just go to the store and they would replace. A very reluctant store manager (Olympia) did the right thing. It did take a screen shot of the chat though.
That replacement pair started leaking, in the crotch, the very next season. So they are my back up waders now.
In 2023, my buddy gave me his 2018 Patagonia Rio Gallegos Zip Front Waders. He had to buy them in a pinch from Deschutes Anglers on our May 2018 trout trip. His cheap waders failed the first day of a 4 day trip. He definitely paid the full MSRP of $599. I think it was $639 for some reason. Maybe Amy had to account for shipping costs or something. Not sure, but he bought size Large and that was the year they slimed down their sizes. Well, he's only 5'8" and thick so they never fit him right. They fit me great!
I felt bad, but was able to give him a nice tri-fold tonneau cover for his 2009 F150 since my 2013 has the same exact bed and I'd moved onto a Leer canopy.
The Pataguccis STILL don't leak! They are heavy so I don't wear them when it's hot, but they have several steelhead trips, a few February Yakima floats and many days in the Commander. No leaks! And the zipper was a game changer. I've always had an overactive bladder and now that I'm 58 it's even worse. Especially if I down a couple PBRs.
So my recommendation is Patagonia all the way.
I decided to up my cheap wader game to the Cabelas exclusive Simms Riffle. It was essentially a slightly upgraded Simms Tributary, which was their entry level Goretex. Cabelas had them on sale for Father's Day 2022 for $249.99.
They got a leak in the crotch after just one very gentle season. I think I've told the story. Long story short...got a free replacement from Cabelas because despite the Simms warranty being expired, the lady on the chat Customer Service told me to just go to the store and they would replace. A very reluctant store manager (Olympia) did the right thing. It did take a screen shot of the chat though.
That replacement pair started leaking, in the crotch, the very next season. So they are my back up waders now.
In 2023, my buddy gave me his 2018 Patagonia Rio Gallegos Zip Front Waders. He had to buy them in a pinch from Deschutes Anglers on our May 2018 trout trip. His cheap waders failed the first day of a 4 day trip. He definitely paid the full MSRP of $599. I think it was $639 for some reason. Maybe Amy had to account for shipping costs or something. Not sure, but he bought size Large and that was the year they slimed down their sizes. Well, he's only 5'8" and thick so they never fit him right. They fit me great!
I felt bad, but was able to give him a nice tri-fold tonneau cover for his 2009 F150 since my 2013 has the same exact bed and I'd moved onto a Leer canopy.
The Pataguccis STILL don't leak! They are heavy so I don't wear them when it's hot, but they have several steelhead trips, a few February Yakima floats and many days in the Commander. No leaks! And the zipper was a game changer. I've always had an overactive bladder and now that I'm 58 it's even worse. Especially if I down a couple PBRs.
So my recommendation is Patagonia all the way.
I have the Patagonia Swiftcurrent Expedition waders (without the zipper). In hindsight, I kind of wish I had bought their "packable" waders, which are lighter and less bulky. But the Expeditions sure are sturdy!Starting in the late 2000s, I got ridiculously good results buying the lightweight Caddis waders from Sportco in Tacoma every few years. They were only like $129 and would give me 3 or 4 years. One pair lasted 6 or 7. And that was with many hours in a float tube and the Commander. Sometime in early 2020s (maybe covid?), something changed. The last pair cost me $159 or $179 and leaked after just a few trips. End of an era.
I decided to up my cheap wader game to the Cabelas exclusive Simms Riffle. It was essentially a slightly upgraded Simms Tributary, which was their entry level Goretex. Cabelas had them on sale for Father's Day 2022 for $249.99.
They got a leak in the crotch after just one very gentle season. I think I've told the story. Long story short...got a free replacement from Cabelas because despite the Simms warranty being expired, the lady on the chat Customer Service told me to just go to the store and they would replace. A very reluctant store manager (Olympia) did the right thing. It did take a screen shot of the chat though.
That replacement pair started leaking, in the crotch, the very next season. So they are my back up waders now.
In 2023, my buddy gave me his 2018 Patagonia Rio Gallegos Zip Front Waders. He had to buy them in a pinch from Deschutes Anglers on our May 2018 trout trip. His cheap waders failed the first day of a 4 day trip. He definitely paid the full MSRP of $599. I think it was $639 for some reason. Maybe Amy had to account for shipping costs or something. Not sure, but he bought size Large and that was the year they slimed down their sizes. Well, he's only 5'8" and thick so they never fit him right. They fit me great!
I felt bad, but was able to give him a nice tri-fold tonneau cover for his 2009 F150 since my 2013 has the same exact bed and I'd moved onto a Leer canopy.
The Pataguccis STILL don't leak! They are heavy so I don't wear them when it's hot, but they have several steelhead trips, a few February Yakima floats and many days in the Commander. No leaks! And the zipper was a game changer. I've always had an overactive bladder and now that I'm 58 it's even worse. Especially if I down a couple PBRs.
So my recommendation is Patagonia all the way.
In spite of the recent post about garage sale Frogg Toggs I will sing the praises of these:
Frogg Toggs® Hellbender Stockingfoot Guide Pant
Elevate your fishing game with the Hellbender Stockingfoot Guide Pant, designed for the dedicated angler. Constructed in durable 4-ply nylon upper material, these pants are engineered to withstand the toughest conditions. Enjoy a customized fit and secure comfort with the adjustable wading belt...www.froggtoggs.com
Waist high you say? Yes! these will actually pull up over my belly button to almost the rib cage. I ain't going in deeper than that on the waters I fish locally. They are all I need for the pontoon and with a jug in the saddle bag I can pee while on the lake! They make great boat pants and awesome rain pants.
I am currently on year five of a pair that I inherited. That includes four month-long trips to Montana, two weeks in the boat at Baker Lake yearly, two months in the boat coho fishing yearly, and yearly spring sojourns up to BC. I wear them when launching the sled and fishing out of it.
After a couple of years I decided to buy a backup pair because the price was $125. I see they are more expensive now, of co
I buy waders expecting them to fail. That is what waders do. It's what waders have always done. About 16 or so years ago I began paying attention to wader sales and closeouts. Half price waders may just be one of the best things to ever hit fly fishing. I would buy waders on discount and stockpile them in my basement storeroom. I really liked the Redington zip fronts while they lasted, and I think I got 4 or 5 seasons out of them until they began leaking where the fabric meets the neoprene. And no amount of aqua seal could seem to fix it. That moved me into the Patagonia Skeena model that are currently in rotation. They came out of storage after I don't know how many years. I've got 5 seasons on them, and they seem to be holding up quite well. When they do give up the ghost, I'll move into the Simms G3s that I bought on sale two-and-a-half years ago.
Waders ain't cheap. And waders don't last. Buying waders on sale or closeout has been my least cost option for quite a few years now.
Waders ain't cheap. And waders don't last. Buying waders on sale or closeout has been my least cost option for quite a few years now.
+1
Patagonia is my preference for fit and features. I have three generations of mid-price chest-high waders and a brand new pair of wading pants. I rotate use of the chest waders, two pair are 10+ years old. There were better deals, or at least easier to find deals, pre-pandemic.
I may have first seen this video posted here some time ago, but why can't waders be as durable as kayak drysuits?