Gear Review: Orvis Clearwater Zip Waders

With some legacy wader companies struggling, and wader prices themselves skyrocketing, I know a lot of anglers who have given up on finding a good pair. More and more, the differences between cheap and high-end waders are hard to quantify. For every angler who says their high-end, $900+ waders have lasted five seasons with no leaks, there are at least as many stories of cheap, big-box-store brand waders lasting just as long.

Durability aside, the other differentiation between cheap and expensive waders has long been the presence of a front zipper. Enter the Orvis Clearwater Zip Waders, a sub-$500 wader from a legacy manufacturer with a front zipper. Sure, you can buy other brands for cheaper, but few have the warranty support Orvis offers, or the reputation of decent wading gear.

Orvis

Clearwater Zip Wader

Check Price at Trident Fly Fishing

Rating Details

Specifications

Pros & Cons

I’ve had the chance to fish with these new Orvis waders, and a few quibbles aside, I’m fairly impressed. The front zipper is the same bulletproof, fully waterproof YKK AQUALSEAL zipper found on much more expensive waders. These are machine-washable, with a PFC-free DWR finish, and Orvis managed to give you a fleece-lined handwarmer pocket, which is more of a high-end feature than you’d think these days.

The Orvis Clearwater Zip waders are comfortable, seem like they’ll hold up fairly well, and most importantly, they’re not outrageously expensive. I appreciate that Orvis appears to be focusing on providing maximum value without breaking the bank. When I first saw that Orvis introduced these waders at $498, I honestly thought that price was a typo. For the money, these waders will be fairly tough to beat.

What I Liked

Zipper

I made the switch to zippered waders a few years ago, and it has been one of my better decisions. Taking a leak is much easier in zip-front waders, especially in cold weather when you’re bundled under a ton of layers.

I’m no expert on zippers, but the zipper included here—a YKK AQUASEAL model—is the same listed product used in the Simms G4Z and Skwala RS waders. Funnily enough, Orvis uses a different zipper on their PRO Zip wader.

I waded out to mid-belly depth, and the zipper kept me completely dry. It’s easy enough to operate with one hand, and I haven’t had any issues with it catching my fly line, either. If you’re in the market for zippered waders, you’re not going to go wrong with the experience Orvis offers here.

Handwarmer Pockets

Some wader companies have shied away from lining their outside chest pockets with fleece lately. It’s a move I don’t entirely agree with. The reason is that adding more layers of material—even a single layer of adhesive and one more layer of fleece—inhibits the breathability of the materials used in building waders.

I can see that making sense if the pockets were enormous and covered most of the chest. With the Clearwater Zip waders, that’s just not the case. The pockets are tall and vertical, and lined with enough fleece to take the chill from your hands on crisp mornings. Again, this is another sign that points to Orvis really working to put value in this wader without breaking the bank.

Fit and Comfort

I could stand to lose a few pounds (at least 30, if I’m being honest), so when I talk about fit and comfort, I feel that’s an important caveat to note. That said, I thought the Clearwater Zip waders fit well enough and were plenty comfortable, even on a day when I spent more time hiking than I did fishing. They’re not on the same comfort level you’ll get from Patagonia or Skwala, but these waders are also cheaper and more fully-featured than a lot of what those companies offer.

These waders moved with me just fine. I had a mostly full range of motion while wearing them. The only thing I haven’t tried in these waders is wearing them while rowing, but I imagine they’ll be great in that setting, too.

Price

I know for some anglers that $498 is still an awful lot of money for a pair of waders. I understand that, and it wasn’t until about six or seven years ago that I spent that much money on waders, either. I had to spend considerably more time on the water to justify the price.

But in the context of where wader prices are today, and where they’re heading (Simms has a wader priced at $1,100), $498 for all these features is a great deal. A front-zip wader, with the warranty service that Orivs offers, usually doesn’t come along at this price point.

If you get 100 days of use out of these waders before they leak and need attention, that’s only $4.98 per day you paid for them. That’s a pretty good value in my opinion. Plus, if you need to set aside some cash and save for a new pair of waders, $498 feels much more attainable and reasonable than upwards of $900.

What I Didn’t Like

No Interior Pockets

Orvis didn’t put any interior pockets on this wader. That’s not a dealbreaker, but I was surprised when I went to tuck my phone into its usual place. That spot didn’t exist in the Clearwater Zip wader.

Speaking of pockets—Orvis doesn’t specify whether their fleece-lined pockets on the front are waterproof. I don’t know that I’d want to wade out that deep and test it myself, but they should work fine enough to keep your phone and wallet dry.

Final Word

I really like what Orvis is doing here. Waders with some of the nicest features on the market don’t need to cost four figures. Good waders can be made at a reasonable price, and offered with a reasonable warranty, or else Orvis wouldn’t be rolling this out. While I wish there were more interior pockets, and that there was an objective way to quantify durability, I’m surprised at how well these waders have held up so far. If you’re looking to upgrade from the bargain-bin waders and get a few more features for your money, the Orvis Clearwater Zip waders should be on your radar.