Patagonia’s Women’s Fly Fishing Waders, Boots, and Socks – Reviewed & Tested

As a new fisher, Jess was keen to find appropriate clothing that didn’t look like it belonged in an army barracks but still made her time on the water comfy. Pairing function with fashion, the Patagonia Fly Fishing range exceeded all her expectations.

I had my first fly fishing lesson four months ago, and before that fishing was the last thing on my radar. But as it turned out, I took to this new hobby like a fish… well, you know how it goes. Immediately I jumped online scoping out the gear I’d need and what clothes would help make the hours out on the water most comfortable.

I was met by a sea of baggy military green, camo (eugh!), and brown PVC waders with almost no women’s-specific options in sight. Thankfully, I eventually stumbled across Patagonia’s Women’s Fly Fishing Range.

When the opportunity arose to test out their women’s waders, boots, and wading socks, I jumped at it. My visions of swimming around in enormous camo-patterned PVC balloon pants promptly vanished – phew!

Colour really shouldn’t play a factor, but if I’m honest with myself – it always does

Patagonia Women’s Swiftcurrent Waders

Design

Unlike the single-layer PVC sweat-inducing waders that are commonly available at large retailers, the Swiftcurrent Waders are made with a four-layer H2NO® Performance Standard shell. For those who haven’t done a deep dive into what on Earth that means, the H2NO is a performance standard developed by Patagonia to determine the durability, waterproofness, surface repellency, and breathability of their products.

Essentially, a lot of thought has been put into the fabric and design of these waders to ensure they last forever, and keep you dry and comfortable in any temperature. And I’m pleased to report that they deliver.

Water rolls right off

Despite wearing these in full sun, with long sleeves and full-length tights on underneath, I was cool and comfy. The only part of me that got sweaty was my face. The fabric isn’t stiff and moves both easily and quietly – a big plus when you’re trying to be incognito. As a bonus, the navy blue design with contrasting grey is gender neutral and really nice!

As for being waterproof? They’re unbelievable. Even the booties prevented any water from coming through so my feet stayed dry and warm. If for some reason you decide to fish in chest-deep water, the pocket at the front (which I mainly used for flies and extra tippet) does eventually get damp – but I can’t imagine what would necessitate being in water this deep for as long as I submerged myself to test it for. The TPU pocket tucked inside the top of the waders is 100% waterproof and the perfect place to stash your phone.

In hindsight I probably didn’t need to risk the river rapids to test the the effectiveness of the waterproofing – it works

Comfort

I was pretty excited to discover that I wasn’t a sweaty mess after a day in these fancy overalls, and the bonuses just kept on coming.

The Swiftcurrent Waders are very roomy to allow for freedom of movement and to layer up on cold days. I was able to pack on thermals, T-shirt, heavy-weight fleece, puffer, and a raincoat and still fit the waders comfortably on top. But, if you don’t plan on dressing to resemble the Michelin Man, they also include adjustable toggles so you can cinch in the sides to keep the wind out, an optional belt, and a suspender system to ensure your chest is well protected from wind.

When nature calls you can drop the back of the waders down to quickly relieve yourself without having to fully undress. I haven’t needed to test that feature but the convenience is handy to have, particularly on a cold day.

The attached booties with gravel guard at the bottom of each leg are thick and make it feel like you’re walking around in slippers. An odd feeling in the middle of a river but one that I certainly got used to!

Performance

Picture me rubbing my hands together, drawing in a breath, and not knowing where to start – because that’s exactly what I’m doing right now. These are feature-rich! There are little toggles at the EZ-Lock suspender buckles to help you open them with ease, and the glide of the strap is smoother than any seatbelt.

The positively divine fleece-lined reach-through hand warmer pocket behind the front zip chest pocket made my heart sing as a lifelong pocket aficionado. The zips slide easily and everything is really simple to adjust one-handed. There’s even a little hook on the inside back of the waders so they’re a breeze to hang up to dry.

Not that you’ll need to dry them for long – the water-repellency is strong with these ones. The moment I was out of the water these babies were working hard to get dry. There were some droplets beaded on the surface, but they weren’t anywhere near soaked, or cold, even after hours in the water.

Patagonia River Salt Wading Boots

Design

The Patagonia River Salt Wading Boots are made with leather and tough 1,000 denier nylon panelling accompanied by a chunky 8IR rubber, polyether polyurethane, and Vibram® Megagrip sole. The eyelets used for lacing up the boots are corrosion resistant and the full-grain leather is resistance to degradation in salt water. All these high quality materials are not light and the pair of boots weigh a considerable 1.6kg.

Note that while this is heavy for me as a hiker, this is actually considered more on the lightweight end of the scale when it comes to wading boots, which are designed to keep you anchored in the water.

Can’t say I’m a fan of the boxy shape

They’ve been designed and made in partnership with Danner – an American brand renowned for their expertise in crafting shoes fit for adventure. As their website proudly claims ‘You don’t put on a pair of Danner boots to sit around the house’. The explains the tiny American flag sewn into one of the seams, although perhaps that’s also been included because they were made in the USA too.

Comfort

As a hiker, I value comfort about just about all else and the first thing I noticed was that these boots are super comfy when you’re wearing wading socks, but pretty odd to wear with standard hiking socks.

Let’s start with the wading socks. This is how you’ll use the boots most of the time. The boots unlace easily, allowing plenty of room to get your bulky sock inside. Walking around on the bank is more than comfy – and that’s exactly what you want when you’ll be out there for hours on end.

In the water they’re heavy enough to keep you anchored without feeling like you’re lifting weights each time you need to take a step. Despite seeking out the slimiest rocks I could, I never slipped, and felt secure (and blister-free) the whole time.

They really do keep you weighed down and secure against strong currents

Wear these boots without wading socks though, and they’re not so comfortable. My eventual goal is to hike into more remote locations to fish so I wanted to test out how suited to hiking the River Salt Boots would be. I took them on a one-hour, rocky loop to Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls… and I regretted every step.

These boots may be grippy but they don’t bend

Hiking with heavy boots is hard. Hiking with heavy boots that are tight around the ankle and extremely loose around the rest of the foot (to accommodate bulky wading socks) is next level unpleasant. Every downward step resulted in my foot sliding forward to slam into the front of the boot. By the end of the short hike I was hobbling. For bank fishing in standard socks, they’d be fine.

Hiking is a secondary function of these wading boots so I can’t really hold this against them, but I am disappointed.

Performance

The River Salt Boots are fitted with perforated drain holes on both sides of the uppers. These are designed to let water pass through the boots to enhance your stability in the water, and allow for quicker drainage and drying when you’re done for the day. I got endless amusement watching the water shoot out of these holes whenever I came out of the water – it reminded me of using Play-Doh to make hair as a kid. I did need to squelch my feet around a fair bit to get it out, but if you’re moving about this does happen on its own eventually.

The soles are insanely grippy but if you do need more traction the boots are supplied with steel studs. These have a six-head bit tip with locking teeth to give you even more superior grip.

The toe box is super roomy to accommodate the large wading socks. But, if you’re buying these online without going into a store, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of getting your sizing right or you’re going to feel the pinch (if you can get the boots on!). Sizing charts are available but if you’re unsure, give your local store a call to ask for advice before purchasing.

Even when wet the laces are very easy to undo and the length supplied is very generous

Patagonia Yulex Wading Socks

Design

These super comfy Yulex Wading Socks designed specifically to keep you warm while wading, are Neoprene-free and made from Yulex instead. What the heck is Yulex? And hang on, is Neoprene bad? We went over this in detail a while back in this article about wetsuits. But, the crux of it is that both materials are excellent performers but the way they’re made is vastly different. Neoprene is manufactured from petroleum producing harmful carcinogens in the process, while Yulex is made from renewable natural rubber.

In the true Patagonia-style we’ve come to rely on, the renewable natural rubber has been sourced from suppliers that are Forest Stewardship Council certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

Comfort

The Yulex Wading Socks are well-cushioned, snug, and a lot more flexible than I was anticipating. They’re thick without being bulky and allow for free movement.

My feet were relatively warm in these despite them taking on water with the efficiency of a sponge the second I dipped a foot in the water. Unlike the booties sewn onto the Swiftcurrent Waders, these socks aren’t waterproof and my feet did get wet, but not cold.

The reinforced footbed ensures all-day comfort

They’re extremely comfortable paired with the River Salt Wading Boots and surprisingly quite good when worn in the river without boots too – though I wouldn’t recommend this to reduce the likelihood of slipping. Importantly, they don’t rub and despite being blister-prone, I didn’t have a single sore spot after wearing these for hours at a time.

Performance

The wading socks are available both with and without a gravel guard. I tested out the pair that includes the guard, which basically means they’re longer and can be folded down over the top of your boot to attach to the laces of your wading boots with a small clip.

This is a great feature and allows you to adapt based on the environment. In many circumstances in clear water when I was on rock, rather than than loose gravel, I opted to extend the gravel guard up my leg to benefit from increased warmth instead.

Price

Patagonia’s Women’s Fishing range is expensive. A new pair of Women’s Swiftcurrent Ultralight Waders will set you back $799.95. The River Salt Wading Boots can be yours for a not-so-cool $629.95 and the Yulex Wading Socks with Gravel Guards are $89.95.

But will you ever need to buy another set of these again? The waders – definitely not. The boots – most likely not unless you’re planning to be using them daily. Given most of us are hobbyists and these will get occasional weekend use, I’d say you’re unlikely to wear them out. If you think of them as a lifetime investment, the price suddenly doesn’t seem so intimidating.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to buying gear for a new hobby. Do you buy cheap, entry-level kit to use until you’re sure you like it? Or do you buy quality products that will last, even if you risk not using them much? I take the approach that I’d rather buy the gear once, reduce waste, and have a great experience straightaway than deal with crappy products that I’ll be gunning to replace from the moment I get them.

If you invest in these, you won’t be disappointed

Final Thoughts

The Patagonia Women’s Fly Fishing range is pricey, but the gear is exceptionally high quality, durable, and will last you a lifetime of use as a hobby fisher. It’s comfy enough to lounge in all day – even when it’s wet, which frankly, is going to be most of the time.

Aside from the range being manufactured overseas, these have otherwise been produced very sustainably so you can feel good about your purchase.

If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend grabbing the boots and the socks first. This combo is my favourite and the one I reckon I’ll be rocking most often as I continue to learn. If you find yourself routinely entering water above calf-height, then I’d look into investing in the waders.

Ultimately, when I’m fishing I want all my attention to be on my cast and what’s happening in the water. I don’t want to be sweating inside a PVC suit or shifting uncomfortably thanks to a niggling blister. None of those problems will be hampering me thanks to the Patagonia Women’s Fishing range and I highly recommend every item.

Now I better go find some fish!

FAQs Patagonia Fly Fishing Waders

What makes the Patagonia Fly Fishing Waders a good choice?

The Patagonia Fly Fishing Waders are designed with a four-layer H2NO® Performance Standard shell for excellent waterproofing, breathability, and durability. The roomy fit allows for layering in colder weather, and the water-resistant TPU pocket provides a secure place for your phone. Whether you’re fly fishing in shallow or deep waters, these waders are built for comfort and performance.

Are Patagonia River Salt Wading Boots suitable for long days on the water?

Yes! The River Salt Wading Boots are designed with comfort and stability in mind. Their grippy soles provide excellent traction, even on slippery rocks, while the leather and nylon construction ensures durability in saltwater environments.

How comfortable are Patagonia Yulex Wading Socks?

Patagonia’s Yulex Wading Socks offer great flexibility and cushioning, making them a comfortable choice for long hours on the water. They’re warm without being bulky.

Can I wear Patagonia River Salt Boots for hiking as well as fishing?

While Patagonia River Salt Boots are designed for fly fishing, they can be used for short hikes on the riverbank. For comfort on longer hikes, it’s best to choose a dedicated hiking boot.

How do the Patagonia Fly Fishing Waders compare to other brands?

The Patagonia Fly Fishing Waders stand out due to their thoughtful design, durable materials, and comfort. Unlike many other waders, these feature adjustable toggles, a high-performance waterproof shell, and a more stylish design.

Are the Patagonia Fly Fishing Waders suitable for beginners?

Absolutely! As a beginner fly fisher, you’ll appreciate the comfort of quality gear. There’s no need to be uncomfortable just because you’re a beginner. The Patagonia Fly Fishing Waders might be a premium pair, but you’ll never need to buy another pair.

How do Patagonia’s Fly Fishing Boots handle different water conditions?

The River Salt Wading Boots are designed to perform well in various water conditions. Their grippy soles ensure stability on both rocky and slippery surfaces, while the boots’ drainage holes help quickly expel water to keep your feet dry and anchored during your fishing adventures.

Are Patagonia Fly Fishing Waders and Boots worth the investment?

While Patagonia’s Fly Fishing gear is on the pricier side, it’s built to last. With proper care, these products will serve you for many years, making them a smart investment for hobbyists who enjoy fly fishing regularly. Think of it as buying gear that will last a lifetime rather than frequent replacements.

Great Fishing Spot To Put Your Waders To Use

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