Waders

D

Deadhand

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2026
Messages
42
City
New London
I need waders and I want to buy a pair for my grandson who’s just getting into fly fishing. I’ve been reading reviews and opinions. May I have your thoughts?
 
not wading back into this debate 😀 , but for others.... Not a recommendation per se but Simms G3 waders are on clearance now, 525.00 at some places. I've used G3s for 20 years now and they are very good. I planned to give Skawala a try next time, but at that price (525) I'll go another round with G3s.
Simms sells kids-sized waders but how quickly they grow out of them I would be hard pressed to spend that much for something that would last a season.
 
nymphingmaniac said:
not wading back into this debate 😀 , but for others.... Not a recommendation per se but Simms G3 waders are on clearance now, 525.00 at some places. I've used G3s for 20 years now and they are very good. I planned to give Skawala a try next time, but at that price (525) I'll go another round with G3s.
Simms sells kids-sized waders but how quickly they grow out of them I would be hard pressed to spend that much for something that would last a season.
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He’s 19 no worries about growing out of them. I was considering Simms, but read some not so nice reviews. The G3’s were what I was looking at.
 
Deadhand said:
He’s 19 no worries about growing out of them. I was considering Simms, but read some not so nice reviews. The G3’s were what I was looking at.
Click to expand...
You can always read not nice reviews about any product. You will encounter more if a brand has a large share of the market. With that said, I sense a bit of a drop in quality of the G3s from my original pair 20 years ago. People have complained about service on repairs, but I had the booties replaced on each of my pairs over the years and I was very pleased with the service. Some expect new waders like the LL Bean policy. TBH the people who claim "they leak out of the box" or after 1 year- I am skeptical this is not user error.
I was considering a switch because I was between an XL and a L size. I go with the XL as they recommend, but this leads to extra fabric in the upper legs and crotch area, causing more rubbing and wear. Every pair failed in this area (but I did get the booties replaced for 60.00). I saw the size charts for Skwala and it led me to believe they had a pair that seemed to be a better fit (I did not have a chance to try them on though to confirm) and would give them a try. But, as I wrote, at 525 it's worth another round. The last pair I got on clearance too at 400.00. They are still in good shape. I'll use the new ones on a couple of trips to confirm they are good (all manufacturing has a failure rate) while the replacement warrantee is active. Then back to the box until my current pair wears out.
 
nymphingmaniac said:
You can always read not nice reviews about any product. You will encounter more if a brand has a large share of the market. With that said, I sense a bit of a drop in quality of the G3s from my original pair 20 years ago. People have complained about service on repairs, but I had the booties replaced on each of my pairs over the years and I was very pleased with the service. Some expect new waders like the LL Bean policy. TBH the people who claim "they leak out of the box" or after 1 year- I am skeptical this is not user error.
I was considering a switch because I was between an XL and a L size. I go with the XL as they recommend, but this leads to extra fabric in the upper legs and crotch area, causing more rubbing and wear. Every pair failed in this area (but I did get the booties replaced for 60.00). I saw the size charts for Skwala and it led me to believe they had a pair that seemed to be a better fit (I did not have a chance to try them on though to confirm) and would give them a try. But, as I wrote, at 525 it's worth another round. The last pair I got on clearance too at 400.00. They are still in good shape. I'll use the new ones on a couple of trips to confirm they are good (all manufacturing has a failure rate) while the replacement warrantee is active. Then back to the box until my current pair wears out.
Click to expand...
What did it cost to replace the booties?
 
Deadhand said:
He’s 19 no worries about growing out of them. I was considering Simms, but read some not so nice reviews. The G3’s were what I was looking at.
Click to expand...
I’ve got >5 years out of my g3s with some regular washing (tub with powder detergent) and a few repairs with neoprene tape & aquaseal. I’ve worn them for hundreds of hours and probably waded a thousand miles or more in them. I wade pretty hard and walk around a lot.

If kept clean, waders can live for a long, long while. I recently upgraded to g4s to abate soggy testicles (horrible, horrible thing. I’d take wet feet in winter over wet crotch). If you fret about his interest, consider frog toggs or a cabelas-branded pair on the cheap. I am a total subscriber to the idea of buying waders like tools—good enough for now, and once they bust, I buy better.

Second recommendation: paramount wading boots are cheap and rugged. I wasted money on Orvis Clearwater boots: amazing at first, then they totally delaminated after ~5 trips. I dry my boots out, too.

Despite big brand buyouts/changeovers, I’ve been pretty satisfied with simms waders. I haven’t ever sent them off or contacted customer service, however.
 
ntallen said:
I’ve got >5 years out of my g3s with some regular washing (tub with powder detergent) and a few repairs with neoprene tape & aquaseal. I’ve worn them for hundreds of hours and probably waded a thousand miles or more in them. I wade pretty hard and walk around a lot.

If kept clean, waders can live for a long, long while. I recently upgraded to g4s to abate soggy testicles (horrible, horrible thing. I’d take wet feet in winter over wet crotch). If you fret about his interest, consider frog toggs or a cabelas-branded pair on the cheap. I am a total subscriber to the idea of buying waders like tools—good enough for now, and once they bust, I buy better.

Second recommendation: paramount wading boots are cheap and rugged. I wasted money on Orvis Clearwater boots: amazing at first, then they totally delaminated after ~5 trips. I dry my boots out, too.

Despite big brand buyouts/changeovers, I’ve been pretty satisfied with simms waders. I haven’t ever sent them off or contacted customer service, however.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your review. Just the info I need, real world experience!
 
ntallen said:
I’ve got >5 years out of my g3s with some regular washing (tub with powder detergent) and a few repairs with neoprene tape & aquaseal. I’ve worn them for hundreds of hours and probably waded a thousand miles or more in them. I wade pretty hard and walk around a lot.

If kept clean, waders can live for a long, long while. I recently upgraded to g4s to abate soggy testicles (horrible, horrible thing. I’d take wet feet in winter over wet crotch). If you fret about his interest, consider frog toggs or a cabelas-branded pair on the cheap. I am a total subscriber to the idea of buying waders like tools—good enough for now, and once they bust, I buy better.

Second recommendation: paramount wading boots are cheap and rugged. I wasted money on Orvis Clearwater boots: amazing at first, then they totally delaminated after ~5 trips. I dry my boots out, too.

Despite big brand buyouts/changeovers, I’ve been pretty satisfied with simms waders. I haven’t ever sent them off or contacted customer service, however.
Click to expand...
Another thought. Do you buy Simms directly or from a dealer?
 
Deadhand said:
Another thought. Do you buy Simms directly or from a dealer?
Click to expand...
I usually buy them from a shop where I can try them on for fit. This time, no, I bought from an online shop because I knew my size and the local shop was not discounted as much. I would never buy online just to save sales tax.
 
I have had G3s and G4s, got years of good service out of both of them. Picked up some Paramounts this spring that I've used almost exclusively this year, got them because I wanted a lighter pair of waders than the G4s. So far I've been impressed and at $170 if I get a few seasons out of them I'll be happy.
 
All waders leak. What one spends for this privilege is a personal choice. I go cheap Cabelas brand and get 3 to 5 good years from them. I also have a boat where I do the majority of my fishing from so I’m not the most active wader wearer.
 
Going on 3 years with boot foot Clearwaters,no leaks yet I walk miles each trip in them ,
 
$500 vs $170 Paramount Deep Eddy waders Into year 5 and no problems.

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