The Best Women's Fishing Waders

For women in particular, the leap forward in this category has been nothing short of revolutionary. And better-fitting waders can do a lot to encourage more women into the traditionally male-dominated sport of fly-fishing. “Most women don’t want to wear something that looks like a trash bag,” says Camille Egdorf, one of Simms’ sponsored pros. “Just 10 years ago women had to wear the exact same thing that men did,” Egdorf says. “But the industry is getting more friendly to women, and the development in women’s waders has been huge.”

Simms, Orvis, Redington have all recently designed women’s-specific waders tailored for feminine sizing. Booties are scaled for women’s feet (which tend to be slimmer and shorter than men’s). Thoughtfully-placed seams flatter ladies’ hips and thighs, and smart construction throughout the chest accommodates breasts.

Women's Fishing Waders Review Results

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Fishing waders have undergone some exciting changes over the past few years – and men aren’t the only ones to benefit. Companies are now investing significant time and money into designing women’s waders that fit female proportions and perform as well as the men’s gear.

Our testing concluded that the Patagonia Women’s Spring River Waders offer the best women’s fit. It’s genuinely flattering, and uses come complicated tailoring (involving multiple darts and seams) to achieve that feat: Each leg features four stitch lines in addition to the main seam up the back. Even the feet fit great, because the booties are anatomically shaped to match the curve of the right and left foot. These waders are offered in petite, regular, and full sizes, which caters to everyone but tall anglers. And at $399, they cost a full $100 more than the newest women’s models from Redington and Orvis, which performed as well as the Spring River, and almost equaled its figure-flattering fit.

The Redington Women’s Sonic-Pro is quite comparable to the Orvis Women’s Ultralight Convertible Wader. Both cost $300; both offer a flattering, low-bulk fit that accommodates women’s curves while allowing for full freedom of movement. Both represent an excellent value in all-around performance and appearance: They’re crowd-pleasers that meet the needs of dedicated recreational anglers.

But in our tests, the Redington edged out the Orvis in terms of fit. We like the elasticized panels on the bib, which accommodate breasts, make these waders easier to pull on over the hips, and create a trimmer top that doesn’t gape open. The Sonic-Pro’s booties also deliver a trimmer, more foot-hugging cut (the booties on the Orvis are excessively roomy). However, the Orvis Women’s Ultralight Wader offers some truly handy features that the Redington lacks. Clever buckles on the shoulder straps make it easy to lower the bib and wear these waders like pants—a real boon on hot summer afternoons. A tool patch on the chest pocket keeps essential gear at the ready and coordinates effectively with sling packs that store equipment behind the body. And the Women’s Ultralight Convertible Wader comes in more size options than any other wader we tested: 14 choices, ranging from XS through XL short and Small Tall.

The Simms Women’s G3 Guide Waders are offered in nearly as broad a size range—13 options, including short, tall, and full cuts—and it, too, provides female anglers with a flattering, functional fit: We found that the updated 2018 version delivers improved freedom of movement over previous models. Like the Patagonia, Orvis, and Redington waders we tested, the Simms trims away saggy fabric and looks great on a variety of women’s body shapes. Its key difference is durability. It uses thicker, heavier fabrics in its four-layer construction, and is the only women’s wader to use Gore-Tex instead of a generic waterproof/breathable membrane (The G3 uses Gore-Tex Pro Shell, the company’s most durable, longest-lasting product). Thus the G3 is more breathable than you’d expect, given the thick, abrasion-defying construction. Yet the heavyweight build and lofty price ($500, because not only are the materials top quality, but it’s also made in the USA) makes the Simms best-suited to guides and other pros who wear waders as their work uniform.

Occasional anglers or first-timers who’d like to dabble in the sport might consider the Cabela’s Women’s Premium Breathable Stockingfoot Waders with 4MOST DRY-PLUS. It’s approachably priced and perfectly functional: Although the fit is baggy and unflattering (especially compared to the more tailored cuts offered by Patagonia, Simms, Orvis and Redington), it proved to be waterproof and moderately breathable. It offers basic performance.

The LL. Bean Women’s Emerger Breathable Super Seam Waders offer better performance and more features than the Cabela’s. It comes with a true wading belt (the Cabela’s waders do not) as well as a zippered chest pocket and fleece-lined handwarmer pouch. The fit is also superior to the Cabela’s: Although the baggy-cut Emerger Waders aren’t as flattering as this test’s frontrunners, the legs do use articulated seaming around the knees to reduce bulk. The leg seams are also placed away from key abrasion areas, which promises improved durability over the Cabela’s. All told, the L.L. Bean is a great option for not only beginners, but all budget-minded anglers who want solid construction and performance for the lowest possible price.

Looking Ahead

Women are still fishing’s minority gender, but that gap is closing – and companies are increasingly catering to women by producing gear they’ll actually want to wear.

Trends

The trend in waders for both sexes is to move away from the excessively baggy fit of yesteryear. Partly, that’s because neither men nor women enjoy being saddled with bulky fabric (or the double-wide silhouette). But mostly, streamlining waders’ fit improves their durability: Leaks are most likely to occur in those creases and folds, which abrade the fabric over time.

For both sexes, most high-end waders now use a slimmer cut than they once did, and articulated seaming (rather than extra material) allows for full freedom of movement when hiking or stepping into a boat.

Review Year
Best in Class
Overall Rating
Price
Name Overall Rating Ratings The Good The Bad Price
Patagonia Women’s Spring River Waders
89
Best in Class
2018
Fit 10
Breathability 7
Durability 6
Features 8
Versatility 8

Flattering women’s-specific fit

Offered in multiple lengths and widths

Booties are trim and extra-warm

Very good breathability

Drop-seat feature is futzy

Tough to get on and off

Not offered in tall lengths

MSRP
$400.00
BEST DEAL
Orvis Women’s Silver Sonic Convertible-Top Waders
87
Fit 9
Breathability 7
Durability 8
Features 8
Versatility 10
Value 5

Flatteringly trim fit

Excellent freedom of movement

Convenient conversion to waist-high waders

Waterproof pocket enables touchscreen use

Lightweight

Oversized booties ball up in wading boots

Breathability is merely adequate

MSRP
$279.00
BEST DEAL
Simms Women’s G3 Guide Stockingfoot Waders
87
Fit 8
Breathability 6
Durability 10
Features 7
Versatility 6

Durable Gore-Tex Pro Shell membrane

Trim, women’s specific fit

Available in multiple lengths and widths

Chest pouch holds tackle

Breathability is merely adequate

Handwarmer pocket lacks insulation

MSRP
$499.95
BEST DEAL
Redington Women’s Sonic-Pro Waders
87
Fit 9
Breathability 6
Durability 7
Features 8
Versatility 7

Superior women’s fit

Soft, quiet face fabric

Bib accommodates various breast sizes

Offered in various sizes

Fleece-lined chest pouch

Multiple pockets add bulk to the bib

Snug gravel guards require extra effort

MSRP
$299.99
BEST DEAL
Orvis Women’s Ultralight Convertible Wader
87
Fit 7
Breathability 7
Durability 7
Features 8
Versatility 8

Offered in multiple lengths

Trim, flattering fit

Fast, easy conversion to pants

Stellar value

No handwarmer pocket

Noisy fabric

Oversized booties

MSRP
$298.00
BEST DEAL
Redington Siren
86
Fit 7
Breathability 8
Durability 7
Features 6
Versatility 8

Priced affordably

Lightweight

Accent patterning looks cute

Available in “Kate” (regular) and “Marilyn” (full) silhouettes

Too insubstantial for diehards or harsh weather

Generous fit borders on sloppy

Not available in short lengths

MSRP
$220.00
BEST DEAL
L.L. Bean Women’s Kennebec Waders
81
Fit 5
Breathability 6
Durability 6
Features 7
Versatility 7

Sturdy, comfortable wading belt

Unrestricted range of motion

Limited number of seams reduces likelihood of leaks

Baggy, sacklike fit

Not available in various lengths

Breathability is adequate, not excellent

MSRP
$220.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
L.L.Bean Women’s Emerger Breathable Super Seam Waders, Stocking-Foot
80
Fit 5
Breathability 5
Durability 7
Features 6
Versatility 7

Affordable

Durability is promising

Trim-fitting bootie

Accommodates bulky midlayer insulation

Handwarmer pocket

Not offered in lengths

Baggy fit

Adequate breathability

MSRP
$179.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
Cabela’s Women’s Dry-Plus Premium Stockingfoot Waders
78
Fit 5
Breathability 5
Durability 6
Features 5
Versatility 7

Affordability

Extra cushioning on the knees

Adequate length for tall women

Lightweight

Knee pads compromise breathability

Limited size range

Inner-leg seams exposed to abrasion

MSRP
$160.00
BEST DEAL
N/A
Cabela’s Women’s Premium Breathable Stockingfoot Fishing Waders
73
Fit 4
Breathability 5
Durability 4
Features 4
Versatility 6

Accessibly priced

Ergonomic booties fit very well

Padded knees facilitate scrambling

Baggy fit

Not offered in lengths

Few features or pockets

Questionable durability

MSRP
$119.99
BEST DEAL
N/A
Patagonia Women’s Spring River Waders

The Patagonia Women’s Spring River Waders lead the pack with their low-bulk, female-flattering fit. They also offer a feature set that caters to hard-core anglers who fish year-round.

Read the Full Review Shop Now at Jans

Orvis Women’s Ultralight Convertible Wader

The appeal of the Orvis Women’s Ultralight Convertible Wader is the way it does everything well: From fit to breathability to durability, this is a crowd-pleasing piece of gear that satisfies diehards but isn’t overkill for entry-level anglers.

Read the Full Review Shop Now at Backcountry.com

Simms Women’s G3 Guide Stockingfoot Waders

Anglers who wear waders daily should consider the Simms Women’s G3 Guide Stockingfoot Waders, which cost more than anything else we tested—but offer ample return on the investment with best-in-class durability and features aimed at expert anglers who fish frequently. They even look great, thanks to a low-bulk fit that offers full freedom of movement.

Read the Full Review Shop Now at Backcountry.com

Cabela’s Women’s Premium Breathable Stockingfoot Fishing Waders

The most affordable waders in our test, the Cabela’s Women's Premium Breathable Stockingfoot Fishing Waders are surprisingly capable, and provide adequate comfort for occasional days on the water. The tradeoff is fit: The baggy cut was the least flattering of the models we tested, and suits tall women best.

Read the Full Review Shop Now at

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