The Best Fly Fishing Waders of 2025

I’m a hard sell when it comes to fly fishing waders. I wore uncomfortable, cheap ones for years, to the point that I genuinely hated waders. I’d start wet-wading in May, and continue into November if the weather held. When I splurged on my first pair of good waders, it was a game-changer. I didn’t feel like I was wearing a space suit; I stayed warm and dry, and the extra pockets were a welcome addition to my kit.

Waders have come a long way since then, and you don’t have to drop $1,000 to get a pair that’ll last. I am, however, firmly convinced that you get what you pay for when it comes to waders. Case in point: I bought a pair from a company that no longer makes waders. It was their higher-end option, and I think I spent $300 or so. A seam split on my second outing, so of course, they covered a new pair. Well, that pair also saw a seam split. And so did the next one. To help you avoid the same fate and sort through the countless offerings available, we tested the best fly fishing waders of 2025.

Best Fly Fishing Waders of 2025

• Best Overall: Skwala RS
• Runner Up: Grundens Boundary 
• Most Comfortable: Patagonia Swiftcurrent Traverse Zip-Front 
• Best Lightweight: Skwala Carbon 
• Best Under $500: Grundens Vector
• Best American Made: Simms G4Z 

Testing Process

I’ve personally used all the waders listed. I’ve had the chance to extensively test them in a variety of environments, from hiking through the Alaskan forest to chasing cutthroat in Wyoming. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend anything on this list to folks looking to get a new pair of waders.

You’ll notice that Orvis is absent from the list. That’s not on purpose. I’ve used and enjoyed Orvis waders in the past. They’ve recently updated their wader lineup, though, and I haven’t had the chance to test them yet. I’ll update this review once I’ve received a pair to use.

I fish roughly 150 days a year, so I’m on the water enough to see how durable these waders are. Some have sprung leaks, some have held strong, and others have worked their way to the forefront. This list is focused on men’s waders; for waders specific to women, check out our thoughts HERE.

Best Overall: Skwala RS

Key Features

• Designed for a wide range of motion
• Excellent quality
• MSRP: $849.00

Pros

• Extremely comfortable
• Unique design doesn’t inhibit movement
• Durable

Cons

• Cost
• A bit too heavy for year-round use

I waffled between putting the Skwala RS or the Grundens Boundary in the top spot. Both are supreme waders, but the RS Waders won out by virtue of their design. This was one of the first products that Skwala came to market with a few years ago, and they knew it had to be excellent. What Skwala focuses on in all their gear, but I think it plays out the most in their waders, is building gear around an angler’s needs. They rethought everything about wader design and function to create a bomber-style piece that moves with you. Need to scramble over logs or rocks? No problem. Need to hike for a mile or so before you get to that honey hole? It won’t even feel like you’re wearing waders.

The RS Waders don’t inhibit your movement whatsoever, which is one of the biggest gripes I had against most waders. I’ve had a pair since they were released (roughly four years ago now), and I just finally had to send them in for repair. Skwala’s warranty service is quick and excellent, and based in Bozeman, Montana. The only downside to the RS Waders is their cost. $850 is a lot for most anglers, but if you’re on the water a lot or simply want a wader that’ll stand up to rigorous abuse, the RS Wader is for you.

Since the RS is built to be an ultra-durable, bomber-style piece, it’s a bit too heavy to wear during the warmest months of the year. If you’re someone who doesn’t wet wade, that might be something to consider as well.

Runner Up: Grundens Boundary 

Key Features

• GORE-TEX Construction
• Grundens pedigree of quality
• MSRP: $599

Pros

• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Unique shoulder strap design

Cons

• Gravel guard design

If I were buying a pair of waders based purely on comfort, the Boundary Waders would be near the top of the list. It’s hard to overstate just how well these waders fit me (and I’ve got enough of a Mountain Dew and chicken wing gut that finding anything that fits right is a challenge), and how I’d often forget I was wearing them.

These were the first waders Grundens came to market with when they decided to enter the fly fishing space a few years ago. They do use GORE-TEX, so you have that product’s reputation of reliability and durability. Grundens also redesigned the shoulder straps, making them wider and thinner. They’re noticeably the most comfortable on the market, and they’re easy to adjust.

The only knock on the Boundary Wader is the gravel guard design. Grundens opted for a woven-knit guard without a hook, so they tend to ride up a bit after long days of wading. At $599, they’re reasonably priced and might be the best value wader on the market.

Most Comfortable: Patagonia Swiftcurrent Traverse Zip-Front 

Key Features

• Enormous size range for a dialed-in fit
• Most comfortable waders I’ve ever worn
• MSRP: $549

Pros

• Affordable zip-front wader
• Outstanding comfort
• Patagonia’s legendary quality

Cons

• Awful pocket design

The Swfitcurrent Traverse Zip-Front Waders are the most comfortable ones I’ve ever worn. Comfort in waders is largely about fit (although weight matters, too), and Patagonia has an extensive size range that helps you dial in the fit. These waders move with you, provide a full range of motion, and you get a quality zip-front wader for less than $600, which is outstanding. Throw in Patagonia’s legendary quality, and you’ve got a winner.

The only reason these waders didn’t steal the top spot from the Skwala RS Waders is the awful pocket design. First off, you don’t have handwarming pockets on these. Patagonia apparently considers those an “upgrade” because you’ll get handwarming pockets on the Swiftcurrent Expedition Waders (their top-of-the-line option). Also, Patagonia put the zippers for the chest pockets on the inside, near the front zipper. It’s an awkward placement and takes some getting used to. Those problems aside, I’m hard-pressed to find a better value than what you get from the Swiftcurrent Traverse Zip-Front Waders.

Best Lightweight: Skwala Carbon 

Key Features

• Easily convertible
• Incredibly lightweight
• MSRP: $549

Pros

• Awesome shoulder strap design
• Simple design
• Perfect for hot days in cold water

Cons

• No pass-through pocket

The Skwala Carbon waders are a fantastic piece of gear. They’re incredibly light, clocking in at just under 41 ounces in a large size. They are designed to excel in those situations when it’s 80 or 90 degrees outside, but the water is still a balmy 58. They’re light enough to throw in a pack and haul in for a day of exploring the backcountry, but stout enough to handle abuse and keep you warm when the temps drop.

Skwala also designed a wonderful magnetic-release shoulder strap system that eliminates buckles. That gets rid of bulk, weight, and the magnetic release system is simpler than buckles. If you’re just looking for a simple, bare-bones wader that’ll last forever, keep you dry, and won’t break the bank, the Carbons need to be on your list.

The only knock here is that Skwala didn’t include a pass-through pocket. You have a single zippered drop-in chest pocket. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but I love a pass-through pocket on waders that aren’t zip-front.

Best Under $500: Grundens Vector

Key Features

• Molded kneepads
• Unique chest storage
• MSRP: $499

Pros

• Focus on durability
• Plenty of storage

Cons

• In-your-face branding

The Grundens Vector waders are different enough from the Boundarys that they don’t feel like a pared-down version of that flagship product. The Vector waders stand on their own, and they do a great job of it. Grundens built these with a focus on durability, so you have a 4-layer laminate material throughout the entire wader. Most waders are built with four layers of material in the lower (from the waist down) and three layers in the upper, to reduce weight and increase breathability.

The Vector waders definitely feel hefty, and they’ve stood up well to abuse. I appreciate the molded kneepads, as well, and the unique chest storage. There’s a center zipper that allows access to a wide chest pocket. It runs vertically instead of horizontally. I’m not sure why Grundens made that design choice, but it works well. You won’t run out of storage in these waders, and you have handwarming pockets, as well.

The only thing I don’t like is how in-your-face the branding is. The bright orange Grundens is a nod to their styling of waterproof gear favored by commercial fishermen. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s interesting Grundens chose to go that route when they avoided overt branding with the Boundary waders.

Best American Made: Simms G4Z 

Key Features

• Slimmed-down zipper
• New suspenders
• MSRP: $999.95

Pros

• Bomb-proof construction
• New material and design tech, resulting in top-tier product
• Made in Montana

Cons

• Expensive

The Simms G4Z is an amazing wader. I love my pair. And when I initially reviewed them, I spent over 2,000 words talking about all the new stuff Simms packed into their flagship product.

The short of it is this: Simms found a way to reduce the layers of fabric needed to secure their waterproof zipper. The zipper isn’t stiff and unworkable like previous iterations, and it lies flat on your chest now, as well.

The G4Z uses the same 4-layer fabric in the lower that’s been proven in previous iterations of the G4 and G3 product lines. Simms stacked tons of pockets on the G4Z, and also reworked the suspenders. You adjust their length through a clip, eliminating buckles and streamlining how the waders hang on your shoulders.

Simms also sells the G4Z in 19 standard sizes, so you can dial in your fit precisely. This is important because fit matters both for comfort and durability in waders. A wader that doesn’t fit you right will put undue stress on certain seams, making failure all the more likely.

If you want the latest and greatest in material technology and wader design, it’s hard to find something that’s better than the G4Z. These things are bomb-proof waders that are just at home in an Olympic Peninsula steelhead river as they are on Montana’s Big Horn. All that tech, and making them in Bozeman, comes at a hefty price, though; $999.95 is a big pill to swallow.

FAQs

Q: What are the best fly fishing waders?

The fly fishing market has a lot of great wader options. Ranging from lightweight packable waders to heavy-duty, cold-weather waders and everything in between. The best wader for one type of fishing may not be the best for another type of fishing. To find the best pair of fly fishing waders for you, think about how you fish. Then you can look at waders that are made for your style of fishing to get the best performance out of your purchase.

Q: What should you wear under fly fishing waders?

Anglers should be cognizant of what they wear under fly fishing waders. These days, there are many specialized under-wader pants (see our favorites HERE) to get the most out of a day on the water. In general, these pants are soft and moisture-wicking. This helps your legs breathe under the waders. In addition, softness is key to not rubbing on internal seams and shortening the life of your waders. Pants like jeans are a sure way to rub through internal seams, leaving you with leaky waders.

Q: Do you need waders to fly fish?

Waders and fly fishing generally go hand in hand, but there are times when you don’t need waders. As water and air temperatures warm in the summer, waders can be heavy and taxing. This is the time to opt for wet wading. Quick-drying shorts or pants are great for wet wading during the warmer months.

Final Thoughts

Waders are an investment, but in a product that will eventually fail. If you expect your waders to last forever, you’ll be disappointed. That’s why I opt to spend more on my waders. I want the ones that’ll last the longest, have the best warranty, and are the most comfortable. You might get lucky and run a pair of big-box store waders for 5 years with no problems, but that’s often the exception, not the rule.

Dialing in the right fit and properly caring for and storing your waders will extend their life more than anything else. Try on waders and buy them from your local fly shop when possible, and make sure you always store them hanging up. Don’t let them stay crumpled and damp in the back seat of your truck. Your cab will stink, your waders will mildew, they’ll leak, and then you’ll be on the hunt for new waders.

The Best Under Wader Pants 2025

The Best Waders for Women of 2025, Tested and Reviewed