All Your Fly Fishing Needs Can Be Found at Curated

If you’re looking to upgrade your fly fishing gear or gear up for the very first time, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Curated, we’ll match you with a Fly Fishing Expert who will get to know your needs and goals, make free, personalized product recommendations, and answer any questions you have on enhancing your fly fishing. Our team is filled with passionate and experienced Experts who are out on the water testing gear daily to assure that you’re getting not just the best gear, but the best gear for you. Whether you’re looking for a fast-action beefy saltwater rod or a slow swinging glass rod, we’ve got you covered with price matching to guarantee the best price. You’ll no longer need to step into a fly shop—we can provide everything you need right from your phone, computer, or tablet.

How to Buy Waders and Boots

Waders and wading boots are essential pieces of fly fishing equipment. Even if you fish from a boat or choose not to wade, being around water is a part of the sport. There will come a time when you need to wade or cross water. When it does, you’ll be glad to have waders and proper boots.

Why Waders?

The primary purpose of fishing waders is comfort. Humans don’t like to be cold, wet, and dirty for extended periods. Most river water is simply too frigid to stand in, even ankle-deep. When conditions are suitable for wet wading, who wants to soak their clothes? Especially when the weather can change quickly.

Fly fishing takes you to and through mud, muck, cobwebs, and pokies; a quality, rugged pair of waders protects you through it all. That’s why a good pair is a fly fishing staple.

Types of Fly Fishing Waders

While all waders aim to provide anglers with comfort and durability, each manufacturer approaches the task differently. Waders offer unique features for distinct conditions.

Stocking-Foot Waders

Stocking-foot waders are the most common. They have neoprene stocking feet to step into wading boots. This style of wader provides versatility and ease of storage. An angler may choose to have different boots with distinctive soles depending on the fishing conditions.

For instance, you pack your ultralight wading boots for a backpacking trip instead of your regular wading boots to save weight. Or perhaps you prefer felt-soled boots, but some fishing areas forbid it. In these cases, it’s nice to have a pair of waders for flexibility.

Boot-Foot Waders

Boot-foot waders are not common in fly fishing but still have their place. As their name reveals, the boot component is attached to the waders themselves. This style is common in areas where silt and sand envelop the boot.

You know that feeling if you’ve walked through heavy muck and had your boot yanked off by the suction—this wader style lets you avoid that! Most fly anglers prefer separate waders, but boot foot waders remain an option.

Wading Pants

Wading pants offer an alternative to chest waders. Both stocking and boot-foot waders come in a chest wader overall design, allowing for deep wading and the use of an inner tube-style kick boat. Some anglers prefer wading pants that attach around the waist instead of with straps over the shoulders. Many chest waders can be rolled down to around the waist.

What Materials Do You Want in Your Waders?

First used in other outdoor gear, Gore-Tex revolutionized fishing waders. Previous to this textile innovation, waders were made of neoprene. While neoprene has its advantages, they get extremely hot. Gore-Tex waders breathe and evacuate water vapor while remaining waterproof.

Simms was the first to use Gore-Tex for their waders and it remains the gold standard today. As the initial patent on Gore-Tex has expired, many brands offer waders made of a material with similar characteristics.

These days, all waders come with a breathable, Gore-Tex-like membrane layer. High-tech materials, reinforced seams, and modern design techniques have opened the options for fly fishers. Features are broken down into price points. Find the waders that work best for you and your budget.

Despite the focus on durability, waders fail at some point. Therefore, it’s important to consider the manufacturer’s warranty when choosing the right ones for you.

Boot Soles

Though comfort and durability are the primary considerations when choosing waders to fit your fly fishing needs, anglers shouldn’t discount safety. Wader boots have soles geared explicitly for the most secure grip when wading or hiking along the bank.

Rubber Soles

Not your ordinary hiking sole, wader manufacturers have developed proprietary rubbers that grip in water to use in their designs. These rubber soles provide secure footing in and out of the water, perfect for a day wading along the river.

Felt Soles

Many anglers swear by the secure grip of felt soles. The tiny fibers provide security and confidence on even the snottiest river rock. Felt’s porous composition elicits concerns over the transportation of invasive organisms.

In many areas, like Yellowstone National Park, felt boots are banned. Aquatic invaders catch rides on a lot of gear, and it’s important for anglers to be vigilant and take precautions when fishing in areas where infestations exist. Felt is an effective sole in the water but less so on land or mud.

Studded Soles

Fly fishers enhance the gripping properties of rubber and felt soles with the addition of metal studs or bars. Some soles are even specifically designed with studs that can be easily screwed in or removed later when no longer required.

Find Your Perfect Waders and Boots

To find your perfect waders and boots, think about where you fish. If you are fishing near the parking lot on well-worn trails, higher-priced waders and boots may not be required. However, if you fish a lot or hike in your waders, a tougher pair is needed.

Talk to an Expert

Waders provide comfort, durability, and safety when fly fishing. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, let a Curated Fly Fishing Expert give you a hand. Curated has Experts throughout the country that know the conditions and use the same gear they suggest. Choosing waders at the right price and application keeps you focused on what matters out on the water—the fish!