Waders & Boots

Chota's BW500 Steelhead Bootfoot Waders won a Best of the Best 2006 award from Field & Stream magazine this year, so we made sure to visit with the staff and check out the new waders in person. Depending on your fishing style, you might be more attracted by the roomy boots and their QuickLace system or the optional case-hardened steel cleats. In our case we were most surprised by the price: while many new waders at the show topped $500, Chota's new waders cost $329.

Steve Stracqualursi, head of fly fishing products for Patagonia, was pretty excited about a renewed interest within the company for fly fishing products this year. Not that they had forgotten about fishermen, mind you, but it sounds like fly fishing is about to have a much larger footprint within the general product line, with more new products that mirror Patagonia's preference for simple and well-considered design. Example: Patagonia's Watermaster II waders, which will move the inner seam of the pants leg forward a couple of inches for greater comfort and decreased chaffing. The Watermaster II uses the company's proprietary Hydrostorm HB+ fabric, which requires only 3 layers to maximize waterproofing and puncture-resistance. Patagonia is also talking up their brand new light Canyonwalker wading shoe, which comes with swappable soles (felt or studded) and a polyurethane-coated synthetic leather upper.

Cloudveil brought one of the classier booths to the FFR show and staffed it with incredibly helpful people. After leaving there I thought that I really ought to own more Cloudveil gear, as if their trendy styling wasn't enough. While other manufacturers are adding even more waterproofing layers this year (typically 5), Cloudveil is opting for more comfort and versatility with their new Crystal Creek Wading Pant ($395). Like many other high-end waders this year, Cloudveil's new offering includes a waterproof front zipper. But the really eye-catching aspect of the new Wading Pant is that they look, well, like pants. Who says that every fly fisher has to look like they are wearing bulletproof overalls every time they set foot in a rushing mountain stream? That's one reason we added the Cloudveil pants to our MidCurrent Best of Show list.

Simms annoyed the penny-pinchers and astounded anglers looking for waders that can do it all with their new G4 Guide Stockingfoots ($699). These waders represent the leading edge of feature-rich wader design, with zippered, microfleece-lined hand-warmer pockets, thermolaminated fabric chest pockets for fly boxes, built-in belt loops, 4mm neoprene in the booties, and more 5-layer fabric than anyone else has put into their product to date. Oh, and we almost forgot to mention the waterproof center front zipper. Simms is also bringing out a wading shoe — the G3 Guide Boot — that looks both indestructible and incredibly comfortable at the same time. The G3 has high-end hiking boot-style uppers attached to an extremely solid wading sole; look at they way the felt is glued inside ridges on the sole and you just know it is not going anywhere. Another MidCurrent Best of Show winner. Read more here.

Redington has a new wader line designed specifically for women this year. The Chena River Women's Wader ($179) is constructed of 4-layer "Red.Storm" breathable Taslan. Chena River boots are of synthetic leather and Cordura and have gravel guard attachment points, a stitched and bonded black felt sole, and an embroidered design on the outside ankle.

Sir Francis has a new Gore-Tex wader with a waterproof front zipper and triple reinforced panels on the knees from mid-thigh to boot-top level. The Evolution Wader is a 3-layer wader and comes with a four-year warranty on manufacturing defects.

Other notable waders and boots: Korkers Swift Sandal, Torrent River Runner, and Ultra-Light Boot, Dan Bailey Fly Shop's EZ-ZIP Guide Breathable Wader and Grub's Deep-Fly Integrated Boot Wader.

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