The Best Under Wader Pants 2025

Winter fishing, spring runoff, and cooling fall temperatures all have one thing in common: cold water. When it comes to staying warm, base layers are the name of the game. Just as you wear upper base layers, bottom base layers are key to staying warm and comfortably fishing when temps drop. While sweatpants may have been the gold standard of the past, the fly fishing industry is trending toward under wader pants. These pants maximize comfort and insulation, creating a comfortable cold-weather layering system on the water. With an ever-growing market for under wader pants, we left no stone unturned in testing the best under wader pants of 2025. So here’s to embracing the cold, the lack of crowds, and the memories made while staying comfortable in the most uncomfortable conditions. 

Best Under Wader Pants 2025

• Best Overall: Orvis Pro HD Under Wader Pant
• Best for Warmth: Sitka Gradient Pant
• Best Puffy Pant: Skwala Fusion 90 Pant
• Best Value: Orvis Pro LT Under Wader Pant
• Best Lightweight: Patagonia R2 TechFace Pant
• Most Comfortable: Skwala Thermo 350 Pant

How We Tested 

Field testing an array of winter fly fishing pants made us suckers for type 2 fun. Whether we were battling 3-foot waves in 40-degree water and 20-degree air temps, standing waist-deep swinging flies for b-run steelhead, or standing on ice shelves watching bobbers, we put these pants to the test to find the best pants to help you stay warm all winter long. To make our list, pants had to be comfortable, offer features that aid in the fishing experience, and, above all, be warm. Below, you will find what each pair of pants excels in and how they stacked up against one another.

Key Features:

• Materials: Polyester/spandex with fleece lining
• Foot Stirrup: Yes
• Sizes: Small to 3XL

Pros: 

• Phenomenal Heat retention from a “High-Pile” fleece interior 
• Features an abrasion-resistant semi-hard lining that doesn’t pill 
• Two YKK 10” side vents for improved ventilation

Cons: 

• Almost too warm

When it comes to the best overall, a pant had to be comfortable, warm, and designed to fish. The Orvis Pro HD Under Wader Pants did all that and more. For starters, the pants feature properly sized foot stirrups. This ensures your pants stay in place when you put them on while not constricting movement when fishing. For warmth, the pants feature a fleece lining that keeps you warm, in fact, it is almost too warm at times (hiking into a spot may leave you toasty). Orvis thought of this, too, with 10″ side vents to improve ventilation and cool you off on strenuous hikes.

The best feature of these pants is the abrasion-resistant lining meant to reduce friction against your waders. Now, wait a minute, friction? You might be thinking, why am I talking about friction for a thermal pant review? Well, friction dramatically affects how your pants fit in your waders, how hot you get, the wear and tear of your internal wader seams, and last but not least, your mobility. So, in short, you don’t feel these pants under your waders, and that is a great feeling. When you add in the warmth, the vents, the 3 pockets, and a clean look, these pants take the cake.       

Key Features:

• Materials: Compression-resistant fleece inner and nylon outer
• Foot Stirrup: Yes
• Sizes: Medium to 3XL

Pros: 

• Compression-resistant fleece is incredibly warm and soft
• Outer material is soft and has incredible flexibility, allowing for no friction or restricted movement 
• Foot Stirrups ensure pants stay in place in waders

Cons: 

• Integrated belt is a pain with frozen hands

When it came down to it, the Gradient Pant from Sitka was a close second to Orivs for the best overall. It ultimately came down to a few more features in the Orvis pants, but what the Gradient Pant lacked in features, it more than made up for in warmth. From a tech spec standpoint, they are lighter than the Orvis HD pants. The Gradient Pant gets its warmth from the high loft fleece Sitka chose but does this without sacrificing mobility and flexibility. Compared to other pants in our test, they feature a more tapered or tighter fit. This results in a pant that comfortably fits under waders with minimal friction. Sitka also minimized the amount of seams in the pants, further contributing to their sleek fit and feel while minimizing heat loss. Rounding out the package are two pockets, foot stirrups, and a double-access front zipper.

Key Features:

• Materials: Outer shell 100% Nylon Primeflex™ and a puffy full-stretch synthetic insulation inner shell 
• Foot Stirrup: No
• Sizes: Medium to 2XL

Pros: 

• Integrated belt system 
• Puffy interior pant technology with a protective outer shell
• Minimized seams for full-leg movement 

Cons: 

• Most Expensive

When you think of puffy pants, the typical puffy jacket probably comes to mind. Skwala set out to build a version that is truly one of a kind with the Fusion 90 Pant. These pants blend the benefits of a puffy style—warmth and lightweight feel—with a protective outer shell similar to other pants we tested. The result is one of the lightest pants we tested, which are also incredibly warm and comfortable. The smooth finish outer shell adds a level of durability and aids in the zero friction point we made earlier. These pants feel like nothing in the best way possible, which translates to long days on the river in comfort. The package rounds out with four pockets, a built-in belt system, and zippered ankles for a good fit.

Key Features:

• Materials: Blend of nylon, polyester, and spandex with a fleece liner
• Foot Stirrup: Yes
• Sizes: XS to 2XL

Pros: 

• Abrasion-resistant outer-facing liner means no friction 
• Moisture-wicking fleece liner 
• Belt loops and a modern fit that you can wear out 

Cons: 

• The least warm option out of the pant lineup 

We measure value as the trade-off between what you pay and what you get. With that said the Orvis Pro LT Under Wader Pant quickly rose to the top. At just $119, they are the most affordable pants in our test. So what do you get? Consumers can expect premium features from the Orvis HD Pant, like the frictionless outer shells, strategic pockets, and an overall comfortable fit. There are some sacrifices, however. These are not the warmest pants by any means. Ideally, they are great for spring and fall fishing. They excel on those 60-degree days, where the water is till cold but the air temp is not. The LT Pants have the feel of wet-wading pants with durability and warmth added in. And once again, you get the frictionless feeling in waders with these pants, resulting in increased movement and flexibility.

Key Features:

• Materials: Stretchy recycled fabric with DWR coating and no PFAs
• Foot Stirrup: No
• Sizes: XS to 2XL

Pros: 

• Patagonia Grid fleece interior keeps you warm and lightweight 
• Water-resistant DWR finish 
• Regular fit with Tapered legs 
• Made without PFAS 

Cons: 

• 2 pockets 
• No Stirrups 

Anyone who has fished in the cold has layered up only to feel like the Michelin Man when it comes time to leave the truck. Lightweight pants are key to adding mobility in the cold, and the Patagonia R2 Techface Pants do just that. These pants are built for the fisherman who doesn’t want all the extras. The grid-fleece pattern does an exceptional job of trapping heat while wicking away moisture. While these pants don’t feature foot stirrups, they do have elastic ankle cuffs. It’s not as effective at keeping your pants from riding up, but for the most part, it does the job. The outer coating is also DWR-treated to repel water and keep you dry. If lightweight is your priority consider the R2 Techface Pants.

 Key Features:

• Materials: 95%, 20.5 Micron Merino wool and 5% spandex 
• Foot Stirrup: No 
• Sizes: M to 2XL

Pros: 

• Incredibly comfortable and warm
• Tapered fit with ankle seams
• Versatile use-cases

Cons: 

• No Stirrups 

If you’re used to wearing sweatpants under waders, look no further than the Skwala Thermo 350 Pants. Skwala set out to make under wader pants that resemble sweatpants, and they did, but that is where the similarities end. These pants are made from 95% premium New Zealand micro-merino wool. Translation: these pants are warm. In addition, unlike other pants we tested, you get the benefits of wool, like staying warm even when wet. On the water, the Thermo 350 Pant proved to be incredibly warm and comfortable. But what really sold me was off the water. In fact, they were so comfortable that it was hard to take them off. So if you catch me off the river, there’s a good chance I’ll be wearing the Thermo 350 Pants.

Final Thoughts:

Long gone are the days of old sweatpants for under waders. With new technology and countless offerings, dedicated under wader pants should be on every angler’s winter fishing list. Depending on how and where you fish, your needs may change. An angler hiking miles to remote rivers may prioritize ventilation, whereas a tailwater angler standing in the river all day may opt for warmth. In our testing, we set out to find the best under wader pants for any scenario anglers may come across. Whatever your needs are, there is a pair of pants out there to do the job.