Wading pants can come in handy when you’re fishing in warm conditions and don’t need chest waders to wade deep. Here’s an overview of the best wader pants out there.
A quality pair of waders is an essential investment in fly fishing. They make sure you stay dry, warm and safe on the water. Most waders used in fly fishing are chest waders. However, wading pants (often also called hip waders or waist waders) have found more and more fans in recent years.
Quick Look: Some of our Favorites
In this review we want to give you an overview of the best wading pants out there on the market. You can get a solid pair of wader pants starting at around $100. If you want to get some of the best hip waders on the market like the Simms G3 Guide you have to invest a bit more but these hip waders will last a long time.
Best Wading Pants on the Market
We made sure to offer options for all sorts of budgets in this test so you can make a solid choice afterwards to have a great time on the water. Let’s go.
Best Entry Level: Frogg Toggs Hellbender Stockingfoot Guide Pant
At less than $100 the Frogg Toggs Hellbender Stockingfoot Guide Pant are a great entry level product. If you want to see if wader pants can replace your chest waders without spending a fortune these could be a good fit.
The Frogg Toggs Hellbender Stockingfoot Guide Pant is made from a 4 layer nylon fabric through the entire pants. They won’t give you as much abrasion resistance as the Simms G3 Guide for example but if you’re not approaching the water you’re fishing through wicked bushes you will be fine.
The adjustable belt of the Frogg Toggs Hellbender Stockingfoot Guide Pant allows for some fine tuning. The neoprene booties fit well and the integrated gravel guards prevent gravel and sand from entering your wading boots.
Best Intermediate Wader Pants: Redington Escape
The Redington Escape Wader Pant is our favorite choice when you have a little more money to spend. Redington is well-known for manufacturing quality products at affordable prices.
The Redington Escape Wader Pant is no exception to this rule. Made from a waterproof, highly breathable four-layer nylon fabric, it features two big pockets with drainage holes to store items such as fly boxes or tippet spools.
An adjustable waist belt makes sure the Redington Escape Wader Pant fits tightly so you don’t have to worry when wading. The integrated gravel guards with lace hooks make sure no gravel or sand hinders your wading experience.
Best Premium Wading Pants: Simms Freestone
The Simms Freestone Wading Pants are some of the best hip waders money can buy. Although they are Simms’ entry level pair of waist waders, they have many features that make for a great product.
The Simms Freestone are made from Simms’ 4-layer toray quadralam technology. Compared to its big brother – the Simms G3 Guide – the Freestone feels a little softer and provides great freedom of movement.
Simms’ gravel guards are second to none and provide great comfort all day long. The Simms Freestone Wading Pants also feature hip pockets to store essential items. They come with the great Simms warranty.
Best Premium Hip Waders: Patagonia Swiftcurrent Wading Pants
Patagonia’s Swiftcurrent Wading Pants are made from the company’s 100% recycled polyester membrane they call H2No®. It is highly waterproof on the one hand and highly breathable on the other which is great because fly fishing wading pants are often used in warmer conditions.
Just like the Simms Freestone, the Patagonia Swiftcurrent Wading Pants feature hip pockets and an adjustable wading belt for a tight fit. The pants’ single seam construction ensures a long lifetime and a high degree of abrasion resistance.
In terms of the wearing experience, the Patagonia Swiftcurrent also feel quite similar to the Simms Freestone. The gravel guards feature extra durable patches on the inside of the leg where a lot of the abrasion happens.
Best High-End Hip Waders: Simms G3 Guide Wading Pants
The Simms G3 Guide are probably the toughest and most durable hip waders on the market. Made from 4-layer-GORE-TEX® Pro Shell, they offer the utmost in abrasion resistance.
The Simms G3 Guide Wading Pants feel a bit like an elephant skin and give you confidence they won’t back down to the elements. Simms’ patented front and back seams contribute to this feeling as they relocate the seams to areas of less abrasion.
The Simms G3 Guide feature anatomical gravel guards that guarantee all-day comfort at the water. Made in the USA.
Conclusion on Hip Waders for Men
Fly fishing wading pants can be a great alternative to chest waders. They make sense when you know you won’t be wading deep. They are also a good choice for warmer climates and for travelling since they are often lighter than their chest wader counter parts.
As you can see from our review, there are hip waders for all budgets. It really depends on what you expect from your product. If you just want to see if wader pants are for you, you can’t go wrong with the Frogg Toggs Hellbender Stockingfoot Guide Pant or the Redington Escape Wader Pant. In case you want high quality products as a replacement for your chest waders, take a look at the Simms Freestone Wading Pants or the Patagonia Swiftcurrent Wading Pants.
If you want the best wading pants money can buy, the Simms G3 Guide Wading Pants are for you.
Notice: We take part in so-called associate programs and earn a small commission at no extra cost for you if you end up purchasing a product after clicking one of the links in this article. We only recommend products we are convinced of and use ourselves.
Frequently Asked Questions: Waist Waders
Wader pants, often also called hip waders, are waders that are only waist high. They are a great choice if you are not wading deep or when it’s hot outside. If you want to wade deep you should consider chest waders as they reach all the way up to your chest and allow you to wade into deeper water without getting wet.
Most modern day breathable waders are made from nylon fabrics such as Gore Tex. If breathability is not a decisive factor for you, you can also take a look at neoprene waders. These are ideal for cold conditions as they keep you warmer.
High end waders are more expensive because they use premium material and advanced technologies for their seams for example. Hence, they often last longer and are therefore not forcibly more expensive on the long run.
Read more of our Gear Guides here:
Ultimate Guide: Best Wading Jackets
Buyer’s Guide Best Wading Boots
A Guide to the Best Fly Fishing Starter Kits
