Last updated on November 6th, 2023.
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Women used to have to wear men’s waders. Not anymore as many brands now produce special waders for women. Here are the best money can buy.
More and more women are entering the beautiful sport of fly fishing. Hence it was only a question of time that the major manufacturers would produce waders specifically designed for women. Luckily the days when fly fisherwomen had to cope with wearing men’s waders are over.
In this guide we want to give you an overview of the best waders for women on the market. We’ll take a look at waders for every budget and tell you what we like about them.
Table of Contents:
Why is a Quality Pair of Waders a Good Investment?
– Simms W’s G3 Guide Stockingfoot: Best New
– Redington Women’s Sonic-Pro: Best Value
– Simms Freestone Z Women’s Stockingfoot: Best Overall
– Cabelas Breathable Waders for Women: Best Comfort
– Patagonia Women’s Swiftcurrent: Best Cut
– Orvis Women’s Pro: Best High-End
– Gator Womens Swamp: Best Bootfoot
– Caddis Women’s Attractive Teal: Best Entry-Level
Conclusion on Women’s Fishing Waders
Why is a Quality Pair of Waders a Good Investment?
A quality pair of waders is a good investment because it gives you less things to worry about when wading. You know you are going to stay dry, warm and safe and can focus on your fishing.
This is especially true when you are fishing in colder rivers. If you can’t rely on your waders it’s going to take away from the fun you’ll have fishing. All of the waders in this test are chest high ones. There is a reason for that. Chest high waders give you the utmost in flexibility. They make you reach places that hip waders wouldn’t. Plus they provide extra warmth around the upper body when needed.
They also give you the option of storing your most essential gear in a chest pocket. If you prefer fishing with little gear, such a chest pocket can be enough for the tools you need. You don’t need to bring along a backpack or sling pack.
Best Women’s Fly Fishing Waders of 2023
Now that you know why you should invest a bit of money in a quality pair, we’ll take a look at some of the best on the market.
You can’t go wrong with any of the waders in our test. Some are more entry-level products, some are mid-range and some are high-end for serious fly fisherwomen. They are made of different fabrics and come with different warranties.
Simms W’s G3 Guide Stockingfoot: Best New
Key features:
– Made from Gore-Tex Material
– Anatomic neoprene booties with gravel guards
– Wading belt with tight fit thanks to belt loops
– Adjustable suspender system
American manufacturer Simms has completely reworked its hugely popular G3 waders series for 2022. Part of the update is a dedicated Simms W’s G3 Guide Stockingfoot edition with a women’s specific fit. Just like the men’s version, the Simms W’s G3 Guide Stockingfoot features a three layer Gore-Tex fabric for the upper body and even a four-layer around the legs where most of the abrasion happens.
The suspender system has been upgraded using a mesh fabric that promises even more comfort for long days on the water. The wide diameter of the suspenders distributes the weight equally which results in you basically don’t realising you’re wearing them over your shoulders. The Simms W’s G3 Guide Stockingfoot comes with a large zippered front pocket for all your essentials and zippered reach-through hand-warmer pockets behind that chest pocket.
The Simms W’s G3 Guide Stockingfoot features a wading belt that is adjustable in terms of high for increased comfort. Anatomic neoprene stocking feet with integrated gravel guards protect your feet from the elements. An excellent pair of waders that will last for years and comes with the great Simms warranty in case something is not right.
Redington Women’s Sonic-Pro: Best Value
Key features:
– Zippered front pocket
– Integrated gravel guards
– Adjustable wading belt
– Suspenders with clip system
At this price the Redington Women’s Sonic-Pro Wader is fantastic bargain and our favorite when it comes to best value for the money.
With a nice, slim silhouette, the Redington Women’s Sonic-Pro Wader feature Redingon’s proven 4-layer waterproof fabric that is highly breathable. The fabric and feel is similar to the Simms Freestone waders. It provides excellent protection from the elements and great abrasion resistance.
The Redington Women’s Sonic-Pro Wader‘s chest pocket comes with a YKK water resistant zipper (not waterproof though!) to store your fly fishing essentials such as a fly box.
The Redington also features fleece-lined pockets to keep your hands warm when it’s cold outside. A mesh pocket on the inside and a removable water-resistant pocket with a clip for easy attachment give you extra storage opportunities.
Simms Freestone Z Women’s Stockingfoot: Best Overall
Key features:
– Reach through hand warmer pockets
– Anatomic neoprene booties with gravel guards
– Adjustable wading belt
The Simms Freestone Z Women’s Stockingfoot are an excellent choice if you are serious about fly fishing. Simms has been in the game for decades and their waders are second to none.
Made from highly breathable 4-layer Toray QuadraLam the Simms Freestone Z Women’s Stockingfoot combine great abrasion resistance with a low weight. The chest pocket gives you ample opportunities to store your essentials. The fleece-lined hand warmer pockets come in handy on cold days.
On the side the Simms Freestone Z Women’s Stockingfoot feature a zipper to easily enter and exit the waders. If you don’t need this extra feature you can also go for the Simms Women’s Freestone. If you are looking for a more entry level pair from Simms, check out the Simms Women’s Tributary.
As all Simms waders, the Simms Freestone Z Women’s Stockingfoot come with gravel guards attached to the stockingfoot booties, to keep gravel and sand out of your wading boots. Comes with the great Simms warranty.
Cabelas Breathable Waders for Women: Best Budget
Key features:
– Padded suspender system
– Integrated wading belt
– Gravel guards
– No chest pocket
If you’re looking for the utmost in all-day comfort, look no further than the Cabelas Breathable. Their padded suspender system is second to none. They are made from micro-denier nylon with extra layers around the knees where most of the abrasion happens.
The Cabelas Breathable feature a nice, slim wading belt that provides extra security when wading deep. The 3mm neoprene booties have non-slip soles that ensure a solid grip inside your wading boots. Integrated gravel guards ensure that no sand or gravel gets inside your boots. They come with a bag for easy storing.
Patagonia Women’s Swiftcurrent: Best Cut
Key features:
– Large, zippered chest pocket
– Adjustable suspender system and wading belt
– Integrated gravel guards
– Reinforced section on the inside of the ankles
The Patagonia Women’s Swiftcurrent are the female version of Patagonia’s hugely popular Swiftcurrent. EZ-lock suspenders create great versatility and enable you to convert these waders into waist-high should the weather be warm.
The Patagonia Women’s Swiftcurrent feature reach-through hand-warmer pockets, a waterproof pocket on the inside and a big chest pocket to store your essentials.
The majority of the fabrics of the Patagonia Women’s Swiftcurrent is made from recycled material. The newly designed sock-like neoprene booties increase the comfort for all-day long wading. If you are looking for a quality pair that will last you a long time look no further than the Patagonia Women’s Swiftcurrent.
Orvis Women’s Pro: Best High-End
Key features:
– Zippered front and handwarmer pockets
– Extra wide wading belt
– Reinforced lower leg section
– Slim suspender system
The Orvis Women’s Pro are out top choice when it comes to high-end waders that will last a long time.
If you’re fishing hard and need the utmost in abrasion and puncture resistance, go for the Orvis Women’s Pro. They are made of a four-layer Cordura shell in the upper body and a five-layer Cordura shell in the lower legs for extra protection.
Anatomically formed neoprene booties give you a sock feel for long days of wading in the water. The Orvis Women’s Pro also features a large zippered chest pocket and hand warmer pockets behind the chest pocket.
The removable knee pads of the Orvis Women’s Pro provide extra flexibility depending on the conditions you’re fishing in. The adjustable elastic suspenders allow for a conversion into waist high waders when it’s warm outside.
Gator Womens Swamp: Best Bootfoot
Key features:
– Integrated wading boots
– Reinforced lower body section
– Adjustable wading belt and suspenders
– Reach-through handwarmer pockets
With the Gator Swamp we included a pair of bootfoot waders in our test. Bootfoot waders feature a different approach then stockingfoot waders. With stockingfoot waders you always need a pair of wading boots. In a bootfoot wader the boot is already integrated into the waders.
A bootfoot wader such as the Gator Swamp is an excellent choice if you are mainly fishing from a boat for example. They also give you great flexibility if you are into other outdoor sports such as hunting.
The Gator Womens Swamp are a great choice for colder conditions as they feature a quilted thermal cotton insulated lining. These waders also feature a chest pocket. However, the velcro closure does not provide the same degree of water protection as the previous waders. Hand warmer pockets come in handy in fall, winter and spring.
The boots of the Gator Waders Womens Swamp are insulated with 1000G Thinsulate material providing great protection from the cold. This is a great pair of waders if you want extra durability.
Caddis Women’s Attractive Teal: Best Entry-Level
Key features:
– Integrated gravel guards
– D-rings at the front of the suspenders
– Zippered chest pocket
At the end of this wader review we want to give you are our favorite entry-level product: the Caddis Women’s Attractive Teal. At only a little over $100 they are a great choice if you are not sure yet if you’ll stick to fly fishing.
The Caddis Women’s Attractive Teal have a number of quality features. They include an adjustable wading belt and shoulder straps. The chest pocket holds your essentials and the hand warmer pockets keep your fingers warm.
The Caddis Women’s Attractive Teal are made of a breathable polyester material with neoprene booties and gravel guards. The fabric however is not as thick and solid as the other waders in this test. A fact that does not surprise if you consider the price of these.
The Caddis Women’s Attractive Teal won’t be your last pair of waders if you decide to stick with fly fishing but they are a great entry level option for fly fisherwomen.
Conclusion on Women’s Waders
As you can see from our review there is now a good selection of waders for women available on the market. Almost every big manufacturer has products specifically designed for females in their line up.
Depending on your needs and budget you can get your first pair of waders at a little over $100 dollars. If you are looking for a product that should last a few seasons you should invest a little more. It will pay off on the long run.
A good way to increase the lifespan of any wader is to dry them properly after every use. Also, don’t keep them in your car for longer periods when it’s hot: the seams don’t like that. It’s also always a good idea to use a wader bag to store and transport your waders. You can also use it to stand on when getting into and out of your waders. This helps to prolong the lifespan of your neoprene booties.
Best Women’s Fly Fishing Waders: FAQ
Yes, there is a difference between mens and womens waders: the sizing and cut of the waders. While used to fish with mens waders, nowadays all major brands such as Simms, Patagonia, Orvis or Redingtion have waders specifically tailored for women.
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Read more of our Gear Guides here:
Ultimate Guide: Best Wading Jackets
Buyer’s Guide Best Wading Boots
A Guide to the Best Sling Pack
A Guide to the Best Fly Fishing Starter Kits
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Why You Should Trust Us
Leonard Schoenberger and his team spend countless days out on the water to test new gear. We always give our honest opinions and never get paid for reviews. Our goal is to tell you what’s great about a product and what’s not – so you can make a good purchase decision. Thanks for being a reader of The Wading List.
