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Tag Archives: gear

Wader Shootout: A WRG Guide to Waders

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Wild River Guides
wader review

Contemplating a new pair of waders?

As guides, there are not many things we are picky about. I mean, we sleep on the ground for about three months a year to experience the one of the most incredible wildernesses in the country. Point being, our standards for comfort aren’t very high. But when it comes to the waders we live in and work in during the summer season, we choose wisely. A good pair of waders can mean the difference between comfort and misery in southwest Alaska. There are few things that will put you in a bad mood faster than pulling on waders that are soaked through on a rainy morning. For this reason, we belive in shelling out some extra bills for the best of the best. So here’s a few thoughts on which route to go on waders from some folks who wear their waders almost every day from June to September…

Zippered vs. Non-Zippered

There’s a few things that we hear a lot at the end of a trip, and “next time I come, I’m getting waders with a zipper” is usually among them. They aren’t essential, especially for anglers that rarely wear waders outside of their Alaska trip, but they make life on the river a whole lot easier. They are easier to get on and off, and makes a midday pit stop less of production. Especially when it is raining hard.
Pete and Brian Walk Hard
As we are strutting our waders around the floatplane dock getting ready to take off, most guests will ask, “don’t you worry about the zipper leaking?” We can assure you that this has proved to be one of, if not the MOST waterproof part of the waders. Both YKK and Tizip have done an extraordinary job designing these zippers and the engineering inspires our confidence in the product.

The Downside?

Dollars: Most high-end zippered waders are going to hurt to buy. Simms G4Z waders clock in at 800 bucks and Patagonia zippered Rio Gallegos are $600. Not cheap, but again, if you wear them a lot and want to make life easier, it’s worth the extra money.

Sense: If you like to roll your waders down around your waist for a little air flow on hot days, the zippered waders may not be best for you. You will also sacrifice a pass-through hand warmer pocket but most waders still feature individual hand warmer pockets to keep your digits toasty.

Simms and Patagonia

In our minds, there are two main categories of waders. Simms and Patagonia versus everything else. There is a reason that almost every Alaska guide you see is wearing a pair of these. They are durable, have a lot of features, and they have good warranties if something goes wrong.

Ultimately, if you put any wader through the ringer of intense guide work and long days, they will all leak eventually. Our goal is to make it through a full season on just one pair of waders. Both Simms and Patagonia have accomplished this feat while working with Wild River Guides in the Alaskan Bush.

Simms

The Pros: Once you get past the price tag, there’s a lot of pros to Simms waders. Speaking about the “Guide” Series, specifically the G4Zs, the five layers of Gore-Tex really comes in handy. Jumping in and out of rafts, setting up camps on gravel bars, and bushwhacking through willows takes a big toll on waders. The multiple layers of Simms take a lot of abuse, and we have had several pairs last multiple Alaska seasons. The zipper is bomber, and there are a lot of pockets on the chest for stashing everything you will need throughout the day.

The Cons: The many layered design means more “stiffness” and less comfort and flexibility. There are fewer seams on the G4Z model, so less likely to fail, but it makes doing a cartwheel a little tougher. And jumping in and out of boats isn’t exactly a picnic, at least until the waders are worn in. Buying one size up in these bad boys goes a long way towards crouching over to grab that fly box you dropped. Again, the price on these things can be hard to swallow, but with good care they will last many seasons.

If you don’t think the zipper is your cup of tea, check out the G4 Pro Wader.

Patagonia
michael-release-coho-look-down
The Pros: For a few hundred less bones then the G4Z’s, you can get yourself into the Rio Gallegos Zip-Front Wader from Patagonia. This is a proven wader that has passed the full season field test several times. The 4-layer H2No breathable fabric stands up to hopping in and out of rafts, breaking up logjams, and short wind-sprints. The removable foam kneepads are a lifesaver when hammering on tent stakes or releasing fish. Both internal and external pockets provide enough room for gear with hand warmer pockets for chilly days. The flip out waterproof internal pocket is a nice feature for keeping licenses dry or shielding a cell phone from the elements (if you happen to have a reasonable sized phone).

The Cons: If you have Patagonia waders then you have a convertible suspension system that allows you to drop your waders down to waist height.  On the (RG) zip fronts, the zipper is thick and keeps the waders from rolling down easily (and staying down) around your waist. We routinely carry pliers, a knife, and bear spray on our wading belts. The new Rio Zips only have one belt loop in back, which means you need to clip your wading belt together when unclipping your belt or your gear will end up scattered on the ground.

The In-between: The Rio Zips have a roomier fit then Simms, which can be a pro or a con depending on your body style or layering needs. But I will say, when the weather gets chilly, it’s nice to have some extra room.

If the zippered waders aren’t your speed you can check out the Rio Gallegos Wader.

Women’s Waders:

No longer do female anglers need to “deal” with hopping into a pair of waders that are designed for men. In the last few years, companies have started to listen to the needs of women by designing gender specific wader lines for comfort. But like Men’s waders, not all Women’s waders are created equal…
We have had several female guides over the years and their choices have fallen into two categories for wader choices, Simms or Patagonia.
portrait-of-aubrey-blueberry-lowres-copy
Patagonia

Many women, including WRG guide Kate Rutherford preach to the comfort and design of the Patagonia Women’s Spring Wader. The quick drop-seat function has proved a valuable asset when it comes to relieving yourself without removing clothes in the backcountry. They feature the same durable 4-layer H2No technology proven in their waders for years. A downside of going with Patagonia is they only make one women’s wader so you are locked into spending about $400 on the Women’s Spring Wader but their warranty is rock solid should you ever have any issues.

Simms:

Simms produces two different waders for women, the Freestone ($250) and Womens G3 GuiJosie & daughter Julliana smilesde ($500), which gives you some options based on your use level and budget. Our guides haven’t tested the Women’s Freestone Wader* in Alaska which only features a 2-layer breathable fabric. The wader reportedly does not breathe as well as Gore-Tex but this could benefit ladies that run cold. The Women’s G3 Guide Wader may come with a higher price tag, but it can handle Alaska fishing. WRG guide, Aubrey Romo has enjoyed the durability of the 4-layer Gore-Tex and reported the straps and pocketing as “user friendly.”

There are some choices to make when considering your next pair of waders. If you are a casual angler that prefers to wet wade on the home waters, it may be wise to save some beer money and find a less expensive pair of waterproof pants. Reddington, LL Bean, and Cabelas all make affordable models that will work fine for an occasional wade. But for your Alaska float, or if you plan on heavy use on your home river, it is worth it to invest in a pair of high quality waders that will last you for years to come.

See you on the river!

michael-diciano-hooked-up-middle-fork-lowres-copy

 

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Posted in Gear | Tagged alaska, Bristol Bay, fly fishing, G4Z, gear, Guided trips, patagonia, Rio Gallegos, salmon, simms, wader review, waders, wading, wilderness, womens waders

Wading Jackets are Critical Gear

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Mark Rutherford

Peter portrait in hood lo res

Rain or Wading Jackets are a critical piece of gear for wilderness rafting and fly fishing in western Alaska. Our climate is “maritime” and influenced by proximity to the cool waters of Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea. This climate provides all the cool water to our rivers to host the world’s largest salmon population.

Our daytime average high temperature is 62 degrees. Our average nighttime low is 45 degrees. It is generally cloudy or partly cloudy and about one half the days each week we experience rain showers. It tends to be breezy mid day with an average 8 mile per hour wind. But here’s a fun fact. You are going to experience long days of sunlight. In July you’ll have 20 hours of fishable daylight. In late August 16 hours of daylight.

DSCF2076In summary we experience cool and breezy conditions with regular rain showers. For most of us a Gore Tex or similar waterproof breathable jacket in good repair will keep us comfortable for a week of fly-fishing. With a good rain jacket we’ll enjoy our hours of raft travel even when our hoods are up in a rain shower. We’ll be warm and protected from the wind.

There are lots of rain jacket options and if you are making a purchase I’ve included suggestions to fit your budget. Note: If you are a husband or father bringing your spouse & or family it’s vital that the family has rain gear every bit as “bombproof” as yours.

What is in your closet now? Do you have a dedicated wading jacket? Do you have a Gore Tex shell for skiing or snow boarding. What do you currently wear when you are fishing or hiking or canoeing in rain showers? Does the jacket have a very good hood? Many of us have a serviceable jacket but the question you need to answer is: Is it up to the task of a week on an Alaskan river?

Grab your jacket off the hanger and critically look at it for worn (fuzzy looking or shiny) fabric, missing zipper teeth, and give it a test in the shower. If it passes your inspection then before you leave home treat it with a renewal of the outer waterproofing with a product such as “ReviveX”. ReviveX will reapply the thin layer of Teflon like substance called DWR that causes water to bead and run off your jacket like “water off a ducks back”. When the water beads and runs off it doesn’t have much of a chance to seep though the fabric.

If your answer is: “I really don’t know if it’s going to keep me dry for 7 days on the river. I’ve worn it for years and it shows signs of wear & tear.” My recommendation is to purchase a new jacket for the trip that will definitely keep you dry and should serve for years to come under more temperate conditions. I heard from more than one guide that they’d rather have a great jacket in Alaska than a new fly rod.

If you are faced with purchasing a new jacket here are some Jackets that have proven themselves.

The Simms G3 and G4 and the Patagonia SST are proven all weather fly-fishing jackets. This is what most of the guides in AK wear and should give years of service. However they are not cheap. Still several guides told me they thought a good jacket was more critical than a good fly rod in AK. Something to think about!

Getting value at a reasonable price. In addition to shopping at your local fly shop and outdoors store. Consider checking Sierra Trading Post like long time Bristol Bay angler Bob Erickson. He’s going to be wearing a new Gore Tex jacket by Filson this year and he reports that he “never pays retail”. When he made his Sierra Trading post purchase there were Simms, Redington, and Frog Togs jackets available as well.

Another option is EBay where there are discontinued new and used Patagonia and Simms jackets for sale.

Other wading jackets that our guests are happy with include LL Bean, and Cabelas and Helly Hansen. Guide John Jinishian got 2 hardcore seasons out of his Cabelas “Guidewear” jacket while expeditionary angler Rob Crawford loves his LL Bean Gore Tex Jacket. Bristol Bay guide Peter Jaacks reports that he fished Steelhead in the Olympic Peninsula rain forest all winter with Helly Hanson commercial rain gear and it was quite serviceable and affordable.

If you are a mountain sports person with an OR, Patagonia, North Face, or Arc Teryx Gore Tex jacket, that might be perfect for the trip. As above assess the jackets wear & tear, perform the DWR maintenance, and test it out against leakage.

For information on restoring the DWR finish of a jacket checkout REI or ReviveX. http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/rainwear-dwr.html

https://www.mcnett.com/gearaid/durable-waterproofing#36230

I’ll see you on the river with your hood up and a smile!Chuck & Daughters

Posted in Gear | Tagged fly fishing, gear, wading jackets

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Testimonials

Our week was more than a pleasure.  It was a really great experience for both me and the boys.  Can't tell you how much we enjoyed it! Scott Slappey. Goodnews. July 17-25, 2014.
They acted like horses compared to my Montana spring creek Rainbows Craig Roberts
I released more fish in the first three days than I’ve caught in my entire life, combined! Will Tully. Goodnews. July 17-25, 2014.
Just then a large grizzly appeared through the willows at the far bank. It was a great Alaska scene. I will continue to explore Alaska with Mark as long as I hold up. John Merritt
Not a week goes by that I don't think about my fishing adventures with Mark Rutherford in the most remote, stunning, and productive fishery on the planet, Bristol Bay, Alaska. R.A. Beattie
You & Kate ... are outstanding people and role models Richard Voss
Thank you for the trip of of lifetime & for your fly fishing and casting tips, for your work, your kindnesses, and your good company! Chuck Harris. Kanektok River. August 22-31, 2014
A week filled with fish, great food, magnificent camp sites, spectacular vistas, wildlife sightings, fun and, most of all, good people Bob Erickson
I told people I was going on the trip of a lifetime and that is exactly what this has been. John Gormley. Togiak River. August 11-18, 2018
The coho fishing started strong and just continued to strengthen, peaking by the hour. There was a session with Jim Bean at "Porpoise Flats" that goes down as the BEST 90 minutes of fishing in my life bar none. Really large silvers on every cast, we spent most of the time doubled up. I'm fairly certain there were no two happier people on the planet at that moment. Bob Erickson

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