20 Best Waist High Waders (2022 Updated)

Great waders. This is my 3rd pair of waterfowl hunting waders – the first 2 were neoprene waders. These are far superior to what I had used before. I like the loose fit and the zip in/zip out insulation (served me well last week in 20 degree weather).

These are very comfortable, the material stands up to brush better than neoprene and my feet/legs stay dry!.

I bought these waders and they lasted a little over half the duck season before they started to wear at the knees and leaked. Rogers wouldn’t warranty them though. Luckily frogg togg did and sent me a new pair.

Good company but I won’t buy the waders again unless they change the outer material. Very warm though.

This runs big. I wear a 9. 5/10 depending on the shoe. I ordered a 10 and it’s more like a 11. 5. I could wear 3 pairs of socks and still have room. Other than that they are awesome. I trout fish in a still cold river and i was quite comfortable.

The zip out lining is very cozy. The only other thing i would change are the suspender clips. They are not a traditional 2 prong clip into a receiver. They are a button clip that i could see breaking in the future.

2 uses and about 7 hrs on the river so far and no leaks.

Honest review. It’s a great set of waders. I’m clumsy and fall in the river, bang up my knees and shins 1 out of every 4 times I go out on the water (I wish I was kidding). I spend a ton of time hiking, sometimes bushwacking to discover new water.

Almost one full season of hiking, wading, falling, sliding, and fishing in them, they’ve held up great. No leaks and still warm. I don’t leave a ton of reviews, but I think this is worthy of my time.

Love these waders. The only reason why I give it 4/5 stars is because they’re a liiiiiiitle short for me. I have longer legs (5’10”, 175 lbs. ) and the Medium size is a tad short in the pants making it somewhat awkward to kneel or climb up a steep hill.

The Patagonia’s I tried fit much better for this. In spite of this I would def recommend and buy again.

For the money this is the best wader in the market. I am two years into my pair with about 100 days of ware. I have the xl– I am 6. 2, 225 with a foot size 11. The foot on this wader will allow up to two thin socks and one heavy wool.

I need that amount of room for winter steelhead fishing. I am using a Chota soft shell 13 boot or an Orvis hard shell boot (13) with this wader. I like a loose fitting wader so that mobility is not hampered.

I am thinking of buying another pair just for back up. This is a great wader. I do not use the belt as I have my own wader staff/belt system. Simms like all others have not yet figured out how to really set up a fitting belt system.

I am very satisfied with these waders. And am more thrilled with the service I received. I originally ordered a large size based off other waders that I have ordered, but these were just a bit too tight, so I contacted customer service to see about swapping them out and was helped in doing so by Danielle in handling the return and re-order.

I received the larger size in ample time for my next fishing trip and found them to be very comfortable and well fitting. i will be ordering these again. Very Happy!.

When my 16 year old daughter said she wanted to wade fish with me if she could have waders and ray-gard boots like I have I just had to find the stuff that fit. She is 5 feet tall and wears a size 2 women’s shoe.

I search every tackle shop in town and many on-line stores. While I found less expensive waders by other manufacturers they did not do a good job of helping me understand the size ranges. The Caddis website gave me a detailed size chart, including in-seam measurements.

That led me to the youth sizes where I found the proper size for my daughter. The quality of the waders seems quite good. The footies are strudy and thick, the reinforcements cover the right area (ie knees), the suspenders are well sized and easy to manipulate, and the torso is not overly large.

For the price I would not have bought them for a growing child but given that we should see many years of service I think the price is good.

The waders are cheaply made. The foot booties are way to large. I wear a size 12 shoe and the booties are about size 15. Completely out of proportion. I gave the waders to good will charity the day after they arrived.

The quality of the materials and workmanship feels top notch. I’m 5’10, 170, 30 inch inseam and 10. 5 shoe. The medium fits great with room for a light puffy underneath. The foot booty isn’t tight at all and even has a little extra room.

They are easy to move in and don’t feel draggy in moving water. The only ding is that the included belt is stretchy. I’m going to replace it with a non-stretch webbing belt for a more secure water barrier.

The 3 mm booty is OK warm but not overly so. In 55 degree water with a medium wool sock underneath I could feel a little chill creeping in. Will need to up the sock game going into Fall. Overall very pleased with these and would buy them again.

First off, fit was exactly what I hoped. I’m 6′ tall, 170lbs, and size 11 boots. I opted for the large with size 9-11. I was worried being size 11, my thermal wading socks would be to tight, but the fit was perfect.

So far being impressed with the fit, look, also front pocket size, I headed out into the icy river in chase of steelhead. I ended up hiking around 10 miles through thick mountainous terrain, rocky rivers, small whips and sapling, ect.

At the end of the day, completely dry and comfortable. These waders left me happy with my purchase, would recommend. They will be an asset all year long!.

This is actually my third pair of Redingtons, not because i wore them out. I keep a pair along with “matching” Korkers in each car and a pair out at my son’s house (on the Deschutes. ) They’re easy to get in and out of so you’re not wasting time on shore.

Their light weight along will their flexibility mean they remain comfortable for very long periods. The light weight does not seem to have compromised their resistance to wear and tear or punctures either.

I used these pants for a 4 day trip this fall and I have nothing negative to replay with. The sizing was great the flexibility and comfort was great. Not wearing chest waders all day everyday was spectacular.

A bit of a struggle to pull these on with the elastic waist, but they stay up much better than belt waders. Feet were a little big, so make sure your boots have some space. Too them out a day later, performed great.

Overall happy with the purchase.

I used these waders last week just a few days after I received them and they are great! Very comfortable and totally waterproof.

Amazing bang for the buck, there?s just nothing better for the price. BREATHABLE: up to 95 degree Colorado summer one day, without overheating, or too much sweating. DURABLE: with the sonic weld, and extra material on the legs, I don?t worry butt-sliding over rocks on a steep incline.

WATERPROOF: Fully waterproof after long days in the river. ORGANIZATION: Many pockets for stuffing topper, phone, keys, floating, fly box, etc. SIZING: You can trust the sizing guide. Know they are slightly bigger for what they show for sizes on the sizing guide, but waders are supposed to be slightly larger.

I?m 6?5?, 230lbs with an athletic build, and bigger chest, and I went with LT/LL. I have a 45? chest (which is technically upper limit, and I don?t feel like I?m lacking any room around the chest, can still layer Clothes).

Size 12 shoes, and they say the upper limit is 12, and you could honestly have a 13 shoe, and fit just fine. Wonderful wonderful waders in my opinion. You will not regret this purchase! One season so far, and hopefully many more to come!.

These waders simply get the job done. I’ve strapped them to my handlebars bikepacking, shoved them in my pack for alpine lake backpack trips, walked miles through nasty brush, scaled sharp basalt banks, and fished for steelhead in the brutal Idaho winters without complaint.

Layer up your legs when it’s cold, and let the Sonic Pros keep you dry. Durable and dependable, I am satisfied with my purchase and you will be, too. Wear a vest or backpack if you desire a few more pockets.

I am 5’10” @180lbs and the ML is a tad tall but not unmanageable.

Brother bought a pair and liked them. So I figured with the amount of fishing we do; I would give them a try. Fishing 3 to 4 days a week and so far very pleased with these waders. Had other more expensive waders and didn’t hold up half as good as these.

What I like about them (and you can check them for yourself) is the way the seams are sealed and bonded where the neoprene meets the nylon. Look under the gravel guards and compare the way the seams are sealed.

These are the only waders I have ever seen sealed this way and that is where the stress is put the most; especially when putting on or taking off. On other waders, you can actually tell where the material will separate.

It has happened to me several times but so far not with these waders. Plus the price is good compared with those top of the line waders. Time will tell but I think I would buy these again and recommend them because of the cost.

I think these could be fine waders for some, but not for me. I am 5 feet 7 inches tall but have size 9 1/2 feet. I had to buy the mediums for the booties to fit, but the product could have been chest waders because they were so big on me.

If I tightened the belt around my waist, there was so much bunched up material in the legs that walking was difficult. Again, that is not a problem if one was 5’ 10 or 5’ 11”, but I had to send them back.

Although one should not complain about the toughness of a product, I thought the material was rather heavy for waders I planned to use in the hot days of summer in New England when the water levels are low.

Have not been able to try them out yet but they look like I expected and think they will be just what I wanted. Only one thing I’m a little disappointed over and that is, I looked at serval different brands and chose Simms because I didn’t want to buy China made.

I thought Simms waders are made in the USA but guess what, not their wading pants. The price was more than all the others I looked at but that was ok with me because I know the quality of Simms waders and I didn’t want a made in China.

Oh well everyone knows how hard it is today to buy American.

I liked the fact that it is very lightweight and at same time seems like it will be durable. Only time will tell about durability. Only used three times thus far, but very satisfied

I bought these waders a while back and have put them through the ringer. Wading in the winter, climbing scree patches to exposed lakes and streams, crashing through bushes, trees, and sage, and in the boat rubbing up against sharp edges on our leg braces (terrible, I know) and they have come through valiantly.

I accidentally purchased them a size too large as well, meaning they have the crease folds, and deal with extra material exposed. While not bullet proof, a little UV repair and you’re back on the water when needed.

Are they the most breathable? No. Are they the toughest? No. Are they the lightest? No. Do they do their job at an 8/th of the cost of the most expensive waders? YES.

I was given a pair of these while waiting for my Rio Gallegos. I was honestly quite impressed with the overall quality for under a hundred bucks. I fished them hard for about two months and they held up great.

The even come with an interior pocket which was a nice bonus. Overall, there is nothing bad I could say about them. If you are looking for an inexpensive pair of waders, this is the pair.

After one trip they kept me dry. Good fit. I like the big pocket, and the smaller inside pocket for keys, cell phone, license etc. I used only once salmon fishing in Michigan.

Thank you iv looked all over the internet and could not find anything until a blog about yall I never thought I would find any I’m 6′ 4″ 350 lbs and the XXL Stout fit like a champ thank you so very much a great looking wader and they feel great.

I don’t know they were to small. I will order another one

I am a meticulous person when it comes to fly fishing. So, let me start with two data points that I collected regarding these waders: 1. The right neoprene bootie leaked after exactly 33 wades. 2. Leaking at the knee occurred at exactly 47 wades.

I fish daily. So, the wade counts mentioned above are also ‘days since purchase’. I do not fish hard to access back country streams. All my fishing is done within short walks to and from parking lots on clear footpaths.

These waders never came into contact with anything like briars that’d puncture them. Therefore they shouldn’t have leaked within 47 days / wades. I wear sweatpants under my waders so there’s nothing about my layering that cause the waders to degrade from inside.

Also, I’m not doing a significant amount of walking in the waders. The max distance I’ve ever walked in them in a single trip is just under 1/32nd of a mile from parking lot to river. I keep my toe nails trimmed such that the nails do not come close to exceeding the tips of my toes.

I wear cotton socks under the bootie. I use normal wading boots. There should be no reason that the neoprene boot developed a toe hole so soon other than quality. In summary, I babied these waders and carefully logged my usage of them.

In my opinion, they failed way too soon. I understand these are Orvis’ low end waders, but they were also a ‘test balloon’ for me. The idea was to try an Orvis product and buy more if the quality was there.

Like many other reviews on this product, my complaint is the extremely low durability of these waders. Initially, I purchased a pair and they worked great for about 58 days. Then, out of nowhere, the seams in both knees started leaking.

Luckily I was within the warranty period and was able to get them replaced quickly. The replacement pair worked well for the rest of that season, but as soon as I entered the water for the first time next spring, the same issue occurred.

I take good care of my gear and would expect even the low level waders from a brand like Orvis to last at least 2-3 years before experiencing a seam leak like this. The fact that it happened twice in two years, on separate pairs, is telling enough.

It’s sad because they are very comfortable and easy to stay in all day. Unfortunately that doesn’t do you much good once the seams fail. If you are looking for a pair of waders that will last for several years I would look elsewhere.

Also the gravel guards will very rarely stay secured to your wading boots for more than 10-15 minutes, but I never found that much a problem personally.

I bought these from a local fly shop in mid to late summer 2021 and by the following summer the waders were leaking profusely to the point that there was moisture below the knee on each leg and each neoprene bootie had an inch of water after every outing.

Also the gravel guards were somewhat useless and I consistently had pebbles in my boots when fishing. I was careful to take care of the waders. I could also not find any holes in the waders and determined they were leaking at the seams.

At the same time I purchased a pair of Clearwater boots on sale due to the model no longer being available. The boots both failed at the inside seam after one year of use. I guess you get what you pay for.

I purchased the Pro waders and will most likely purchase the Pro boots. If the Pro equipment fails me it’s time to try another brand. I do have to say that after one use the Pro waders were very comfortable and the gravel guards are amazing.

It is obvious that the Pro waders are made of higher quality material, are much thicker (5 layers) and the craftsmanship is at a much higher level. I am anxious to see how the Pro equipment stands the test of time.

I really enjoy how mobile these are for wading and hiking long distances but the durability/manufacturing quality is just not good enough for a $400 price tag. I bought a pair of these when they first came out a in the spring in 2020 (I think?) and had heavy seam leaks and pin sized leaks (not from rips) in by that summer.

It was fine until the weather got cold so I warrantied them and Orvis was great with customer service and got me a new pair. This second pair was solid but I also didn’t fish in them too much over the winter.

Sure enough though same problem is happening again. Seam leaks all over them this time: U seam inside knees and outside knee stitches. Have seams completely covered in aquaseal but new leaks just keep popping up and I quite frankly am sick of dealing with waders that might spring a new leak next time I’m on the river.

Not sure if its material (which feels really high quality, albeit a bit fragile) or manufacturing, but I had better luck with the starter White River waders from Dicks’s when I was a little kid. Based on two very similar experiences of waders that didn’t even make it 6 months before leaking -100% not worth $400 no matter how light they are.

…I would’ve listened to my big brother and purchased G3’s. While Orvis has outstanding customer service & have been great with a few things when they didn’t have an obligation, I found these waders to be less than ‘hardy’.

If fish A LOT, probably between 150-175 days this year and even though I cared for them as directed they developed a series of leaks in the quad area of both legs; not really a normal spot as these leaks, approximately 7 or 8 tiny leaks spread out.

I’d have been a little more understanding if it was on a seam or some spot that contacted the bank/ground. Twice I went to the fly shop and got the repair kit recommended by the Orvis endorsed shop and the leaks reappeared within 2 or 3 uses, with a few new ones- very atypical.

Finally on a long expensive vacation to the upper Delaware river system (both east and west branches very cold tailwaters), with even more tiny leaks and increasing wetness in my base layers, my choices were 1- to get wet daily, in 50 degree water on cloudy days 2- buy new overpriced waders at the only game in town $$$$, 3- trying the same repair that hadn’t worked to an even larger area and not have waders for a day or 4- do what the fly shop recommended: buy a can of Flex Seal and go for it and salvage my trip.

I chose option 4 and they held for the rest of vacation. Honestly I was going to toss them after the trip when the Flex Seal wears out but in chatting with an Orvis Outlet guy I spoke with he SWORE it wouldn’t matter because he ‘knew Orvis will have your back’ and put me in touch with the repair folks.

Well I contacted them and my ‘field repair (which they allow) was excessive’ and it voided my warranty. To be fair, the rep did offer a 20% discount on any new waders I wanted to purchase but I am REALLY disappointed in the durability on these- mine didn’t even make it to 2.

5 years. If you’re a once a month gentleman dry fly fisherman and don’t fish all four seasons, the convertible part is great and the lightweight is great if you’re fishing some western state like NM below a dam in the hot sun but even if I didn’t have this product failure, I fish a lot of Penn and NY freestones in the fall and winter and those tailwaters mentioned above and these didn’t carry their weight.

so in that regard they are ‘lightweights’! This is my first ‘failure’ with Orvis and it is a big one & it most certainly will have an effect on future purchases. Tight lines all!.

Overall a good wader. I wear them almost every day 7 months per year during my work as a fisheries tech and am pretty darn familiar with them as a result, so I thought I’d leave an itemized review. Comfort: These waders are very comfortable if they fit you properly.

The first pair I got was large/long and it fit me (6’3, 180lbs, sz 13) perfectly, except for the stocking foot, which was a little too tight. The tight foot made it difficult to pull my foot out, which eventually led to the seams leaking.

I moved to an xll, which accommodates a larger shoe size, which alleviated the problem, but now my waders are pretty baggy in the torso. Durability: I’d say these waders are pretty tough for how lightweight they are.

Yes, they will tear if you snag something just right, but I put many miles through some of the nastiest cedar swamps and tag alder thickets last season and only earned a couple pinhole leaks which were easy to fix with a dab of aquaseal.

Features: I really like the zippered chest pockets. Having a water tight pocket is a big win in my book. I absolutely hate the buckling system. Its a neat idea to be able to lower your waders to your waist, but thats about where that development should have stopped.

The buckle on the back does not stay buckled and is nearly impossible to reattach, being located between your shoulder blades. Then when you’re going through deep water, looking down at the waterline on your chest, you think you’re fine, until a stream of 35 degree water comes pouring in from your back which is unbuckled and 6 in lower.

I will most likely epoxy the back buckle in place on my new pair since even if the buckle worked, I never really used that feature since its kind of baggy and weird when you wear it at your waist anyways.

In summation, I think they’re good waders. They could be better if they went back to a normal buckling system and maybe gave a little more thought into stocking foot size in the long models (taller people have bigger feet regardless of waist size).

Let’s start with how they FIT for a BIG guy NO complaints at all in fact they still have wiggle room in the water!! The stockings are most peoples complaints after awhile these are NOT the case. There’s two pockets up-top 1 inside that is water resistant and 1 outside as you can see with 3 small sewn in mesh one’s.

The only downfall on these is The front outside pocket it has what appears like it has a waterproof zipper but bottom of pocket distinctly has a drain hole which allows water to drain from the pocket (Beware of this pocket).

I would buy again and will for my family!!.

I bought these waders in June 2020 and have used them twice. Got a damp R foot the first time out and the second time out got a wet one. Can’t see where the leak is but am going to assume it’s a seam.

I really like the waders, as they are light weight and have pockets where they need to be plus hand warmers. Can’t find the receipt from Sportsmans so don’t know what avenue to pursue to get them repaired or replaced.

They have a 1 year warranty so they are almost 6 months old. They are very comfortable to wear. I would give a 5 star rating if not for the leak.

Overall, really good waders. They seem to be very sturdy. They have held up to walking through the blackberries and devils cane on 4 outings so far. Reasonable price. My only complaint would be the sizing.

The larges are very long so there’s a lot of extra material bunching up in the legs. Otherwise comfortable. Sportsman’s did not have nearly enough size options available. Maybe a medium stout would have fit better.

Two year warranty is nice to have though. I would buy these again if I could find a better size.

It’s really nice to have a pair of waders that are rugged, fit so well and look so good. I like to hike and fish in remote areas so, based on the testimonials I’ve read and heard I can’t wait to put them to the test.

The Zipper is a must. Gravel guards, suspenders, waist belt and pockets are all well thought out. Lots of comfort and flexibility, dry so far. Based on past experience with “Simms” waders, these are going to last a long time! Yes, They are expensive.

Bought this pair of waders expecting a very reliable and functioning product, especially considering the price range for over $300. I managed six hunts in the first half of duck season with my first pair before they started leaking in the crotch.

Managed one ND hunting trip and one fishing trip to Green Bay before my second pair started to leak in the knee. This is not a reliable product. For a product in this price range, I was hoping to be able to get at least one good season out of them.

The fleece hand pocket in the front of the wader is nice but once marsh water and whatever else gets in there is in, its hard to get out and takes a considerable amount of time to dry (at least a day).

However, I will say that the waders are very comfortable and warm when they are working. They are also very good looking as well. Over all, don’t waist your money on this product unless you would enjoy spending a considerable amount of time with customer service trying to return or exchange this product.

This is my second pair of these and I really like them. The uninsulated version is perfect for warmer weather and they take the place of bibs for me. I’m not rough on my waders so they last me a long time.

Very comfortable too.

The boot is comfortable and so is everything else but when in sticky mud boot wants to slide off due to being loose in the ankle. So far so good have only used them a half dozen times this year. Hopefully they last more than one season.

$ That is what these waders are. Yes, they cost a pretty good chunk of change. Are they worth it? If you are the type that hunts a couple of times a season, maybe. If you are a grinder who is absolutely eaten up with the sport of waterfowl hunting, absolutely! As someone who has spend thousands of hours on the water as a fly fishing guide, I know quality waders (having worn Gore-Tex waders since their inception with one of the largest fly fishing wader makers in the world).

A quality wader is a must. The comfort, the ability to move around and be mobile, the light weight, etc. are all very important when you spend a ton of time in waders. When Sitka announced the updated version of these, I knew I was going to get them.

It was simply a matter of when. With roughly 2/3 of my waterfowl season over, I can say these waders are absolutely $. Hunting the Midwest this season, with a week long trip to the prairie pothole region, these waders have been rock solid.

This also accounts for walk-in hunts, climbing in and out of boats and a couple of slips/trips and falls on my butt. I do not regret this purchase at all! If you love this sport and you make the most of your waterfowl season, you owe yourself.

You won’t be disappointed!.

Ok, this review may a bit lengthy. I am an avid duck hunter, since I was 7 years old. I have bought several other top line brands (Lacrosse, Drake, Cabelas, etc) and never got more than 2/3 seasons per wader.

Im very meticulous about taking care of my gear and was very frustrated with the longevity of other waders. Being an avid sitka enthusiast, I bought the the first gen sitka wader, before they changed the design of the lower boot.

I upsized my wader order by one, measuring a 10 but ordered an 11. I like to layer and I knew sitka is a modern fit so I wanted to make sure I had enough room from the boot to the upper torso. Im 5’11” and weigh 200lbs.

After 3 seasons, i had a slight leak on the seam of the neoprene boot. I called sitka asked If i could aqua seal the affected area, since the season was still under way, and then send back the waders for repair after the season.

They told me that would not be a problem. I sent the waders back after the season and they put the new boot on in less than 3 weeks at no charge. Great customer service! The wader is like wearing a pair of your favorite jeans, they are extremely comfortable and offer ease of movement while hunting flooded timber or flooded rice fields.

I highly recommend the wader. Ive had ACL problems with one of my knees and struggled with walking great distances in the timber with other waders. Not with these waders, as they are streamlined for ease of movement, with little to no drag in the water.

The boots have the best platform for walking, not like other manufacturers that use cheap boots that not only are not warm but are clunky when walking long distances. The only potential drawback would be that the upper torso is not lined, which I did not know if I would like.

For early teal season, it’s great and as it gets colder, I wear either the gradient fleece lined pant or the sitka wader liner, if needed. They are truly worth the investment and like most things, you get what you pay for!.

I am 5’5” and never order anything “long” or “tall”, but I did on these waders. I often kneel on the bank while fishing, and need lots of length in the leg to do that. Otherwise, the regular length would be fine for all other typical fishing/hiking movement.

The athletic fit round the ankle/calf means the extra fabric bunches higher up the leg/thigh but I’d rather have that then not have full range of motion to kneel. I imagine that will get more comfortable with wear.

I love the workstation pouch that comes with, the waterproof zippered chest pocket and the warming hand pockets. The knee pads are a great addition, and hopefully soften up a bit with wear because they actually rub against my knees while walking and irritate them a bit.

But since they are removable, I can take them out when I know lots of walking will be involved. Thanks Orvis for making a womens version that is just as technical as your mens version. I tried on all the major brands prior to deciding which waders to get – and Orvis had the best fit and functionality for me.

I’m a convert!.

Purchased for a 2 week fishing trip and they didn’t disappoint. I do wish I may have gotten a long, even though i’m only 5’6”, the material on my legs made it harder to bend down than i’d like but had plenty of material on the upper portion.

Plenty of pocket room for all my things I needed to take. Definitely would recommend, just make sure to look at size chart!.

Orvis waders are the only waders that fit me functionally and for comfort. I have had the convertible waders for years and upgraded to the Pro wader this year. I am 5 feet tall but the average height wader fit me better than the petite.

For the convertible wader, the petite was perfect. I feel the higher quality materials and different cut resulted in a size difference but Orvis was great about letting me try on different sizes until the perfect fit was found!.

These Waders are simply amazing. I had some old off brand ones that I had to repair constantly and just got sick of it. So I got these and I am not disappointed. I’ve used them a hand full of times now, but I know they will last for a very long time.

You can feel the high quality and craftsmanship. Plus they look great and have a pocket for your hands! I own other Simms products too and they are all excellent quality. I will be a customer for life no doubt.

The money is well worth it.

My original G3 guide Simms waders are still going strong over 18 years. I fish average of 15 to 20 times per year. I never had any issues with them. Not even a single leak. Only thing I can notice that the Gortex fabric changed color and the water don’t beat off the fabric.

Overall its still dependable. The new G3 is amazing even better than the original G3. Simms outdone themselves in the new design and comfort. Another 18+ years on this new waders.