What Do Waders Do?

Waders keep you warm and dry in the water. Anglers are often amazed at how cold water can be even in the middle of the summer. Unless you are fishing in tropical waters, you will need waders to fish in lakes, rivers, and streams.

Finally, good fly fishing waders can help you stay in water for long stretches of time, as you won’t need to change clothes. If you choose breathable waders, you will find they deliver warmth without causing excessive perspiration. You will feel comfortable and be able to fly fish for hours.

Today’s Waders are made from breathable lightweight materials like Gore-Tex, which is a material we are all familiar with. Every company nowadays uses its own proprietary materials and manufacturing methods. So just like buying a rod or anything else that’s an investment it pays to do some research and shop different brands. When fishing in colder climates, it’s more about what you wear under your waders. Cotton is bad, synthetics are better.

Different Types of Waders

Before you choose the type of waders you need, you should consider the kind of fly fishing you will be doing:

• Fly fishing hip waders are very comfortable and practical for fly fishing in shallow waters: in this case, the water should be knee-high.
• Fly fishing waist waders reach up to your waist and are held up by a belt. They are great for summer fishing when you want your feet to stay warm but don’t want a full-bodywader that keeps your torso and chest hot. However, waist waders should not be worn in deep waters.
• If you want to fish in deep waters in the middle of winter, then you need chest waders. As their name suggests, they reach up to your chest and keep you warm and comfortable even in the coldest and wettest conditions.

Note that you will be on a boat if you go float fishing. In this case, do not wear a wader. If you fall in the water, the wader will get water inside and make any movement difficult and heavy, which can be very dangerous.

Fly Fishing Waders and Boots

Waders come in two types, depending on whether they can be worn on their own or with boots: bootfoot waders and stockingfoot waders.

Bootfoot Waders

Bootfoot waders integrate an insulated and waterproof boot at the bottom of the wader trousers. This means you don’t need to buy a separate pair of wader boots.

Bootfoot waders have the advantage of being exceptionally versatile: you just put them on and you are ready to go fishing.

However, they can be a little difficult to put on and are heavier than stockingfoot waders because they incorporate the boots, which tend to be heavy. Also, you may find it difficult to find the right size of wader and boot: sometimes the boot size doesn’t match your body size.

Stockingfoot Waders

Stockingfoot waders have neoprene socks at the bottom of the pants. When you buy stockingfoot waders, you also need to buy a pair of wading boots.

Neoprene socks will keep your feet warm while the boots will protect your ankles from rocks and give you a good grip on muddy and slippery soil. Since the boots are bought separately from the waders, you don’t need to worry about sizes.

However, stockingfoot waders require you to make a bigger initial investment. You also need to remember to carry the boots alongside the waders.We highly recommend stocking foot waders because in the heat of mid-summer you might not want to wear your waders but opt to wear your boots with a neoprene stocking.

What Material Are Fly Fishing Waders Made of?

Fly fishing waders are made of PVC, rubber, or breathable Gore-Tex.

Rubber used to be the most common material used in fly fishing waders, as it is highly insulating. Also, rubber waders can be more durable.

However, rubber is not breathable: when you start moving, sweat will stay inside the waders and make your body feel damp. Rubber waders are also heavier and warmer, particularly in the summer.

Thankfully, technology has improved and we now have breathable materials such as nylon and Gore-Tex. These keep you insulated and waterproof yet let excess sweat breathe out. This way, you stay warm and dry throughout your fly fishing expedition. As a bonus, these materials are lightweight, so you tire less.

Breathable materials are more expensive than non-breathable ones, but are worth the expense as they will make your fly fishing hobby much more comfortable and enjoyable.

You should gauge your fishing habits against the equipment you need and find the best fly fishing waders for you: the ones that match your preferences, budget, and comfort level.

How Should I Choose My Waders?

As fly fishing outfitters, we suggest you evaluate how and where you want to go fly fishing. Fly fishing in the summer requires different equipment than fly fishing in cold Colorado rivers in the winter.

You can then decide whether you want chest waders, waist waders, or hip waders. This depends on the water depth. Make sure you calculate the depth of the water carefully. Remember that if water gets in your wader—if you fall or go in deeper waters. We advise our customers to get breathable chest high waders for extra comfort and warmth. This is especially true in the colder seasons. Some waders offer helpful extras, such as insulated and waterproof zippers that make putting your waders on and taking them off very easily.

Fly Fishing Outfitters have a variety of waders on sale, including women’s fly fishing waders, Orvis waders, Redington waders, stockingfoot waders, and bootfoot waders. Once you have your wader on, nothing can keep you from enjoying fly fishing!