Apparently I’m not normal. According to wader sizing charts, my chest, waist, inseam, and feet all belong to people with different proportions. As you can imagine, this can make buying new waders somewhat challenging. I spend about four hundred hours each year inside waders, which means I usually need a new pair every 18 to 24 months. With the exception of a license, hooks, and tippets, waders are probably my most frequent fly-fishing purchase.
When you spend a lot of time wearing waders, or any other form of clothing, you learn what works and what doesn’t. For me, foot size is the most important factor, but inseam length runs a very close second. If the stocking foot or boot is too small, you’ll likely experience pain with each step. As I found out the hard way, as little as an hour in tight wading boots can end up requiring a cortisone shot. Conversely, blisters are not uncommon if the stocking foot or boot is too large. Meanwhile, an inseam that’s too short will make you look like MC Hammer, and the waders will be as awkward to walk in as punk rock bondage pants. Conversely, if the inseam is too long, excess material will bunch up on each leg, causing the fabric to rub, which leads to leaks. Those folds of fabric will also make you resemble a giant molting cicada.
I found myself wondering if wader selection was as (or more) challenging for women. According to the most recent data (2018), the United States has 17 million female anglers, 2.1 million of whom are fly fishers. From a market perspective, that would seem large enough to warrant attention by wader manufacturers. Indeed, some companies are putting a significant effort into making waders specifically to meet women’s needs. However, if 32 million male anglers (4.69 million fly fishers) aren’t enough to address issues with men’s waders, I guessed that women must face as many issues with waders as men and quite possibly more.
My usual approach to gear assessments is to get some examples, try them out, and write about my findings. Unfortunately, my physique isn’t remotely female. Anything I learned from wearing women’s waders would likely be of little value to women.
Thankfully, having spent decades in the environmental business, I knew exactly who to talk to. For many women who are aquatic/wildlife scientists, waders are just another form of “office” attire. Unlike the typical fly fisher, they often spend hundreds of hours in waders. Conducting fish surveys and habitat restoration in rivers, creeks, and estuaries, installing and maintaining water samplers and flow meters during wild winter storm events, or slogging through ponds and wetlands to assess amphibian and plant populations puts waders to a real acid test. What follows is advice from women who have, collectively, spent thousands of hours in waders. They know what works and what doesn’t.
Kelli Camara
Kelli Camara is a program director at the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County. She has a remarkably broad range of environmental experience, covering everything from stream-restoration projects for steelhead and salmon and endangered amphibians to aquifer recharging and the byzantine world of permit coordination. Here is what she told me.
I’d actually like to make a pitch for neoprene waders, but only if you are going to be fishing in the winter with cold air and cold water. I had a pair that lasted for almost thirteen years. I originally bought them for conducting nighttime surveys for red-legged frogs. I’ll admit that wearing them makes me feel like I’m a frog being suffocated by an anaconda, but there’s no denying they do keep me warm.
I use a pair of midprice breathable stocking-foot waders for warmer-weather amphibian and fish relocation activities. They work quite well, but their fit leaves a lot to be desired. They are quite large and cumbersome around the middle and chest area. However, they are easy to clean.
Boots can be a bit of a headache. I have two pairs of boots with felt bottoms, which provide good grip — critical during mossy stream walks and relocation activities. Unfortunately, the felt came off both pairs during fish relocation work. They’re also hard to clean and are frowned upon from a disease transmission standpoint.
Kristine Lesyna
Kristine Lesyna is an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. She conducts fishery sampling and lab work throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Her analyses and reports are used to help conserve and maintain healthy fisheries and ecosystems. She’s also a keen surf angler. Here’s her perspective.
I’m pretty finicky about wearing waders, and quite frankly, I try my hardest to avoid wearing them. My fieldwork involves a lot of walking, often over soft ground. As such, I find breathable waders with a stocking foot to be the best setup, but they’re by no means perfect. The number one problem for me is getting waders that fit my feet. Most of the time, the stocking feet have way too much material, which forces me to wear boots that are too big for my feet. That is not a good recipe for long walks on difficult terrain. My solution is simply not to wear boots. Obviously this isn’t good for my waders, but I’ve got a job to do. It would also be a great help if someone would make wading boots that don’t get filled with sand.
I know this is a safety concern, but I don’t wear a wader belt. The thin, nonflexible strap is uncomfortable, and I doubt that it would actually do much to prevent my waders from filling with water, unless it was supertight. I think I might wear a wider belt (like four inches, maybe?) if it was situated at the low hips and made of stretchy neoprene with an adjustable Velcro close. If it was permanently attached to the waders I would probably be more likely to use it.
I’d like to point out that those little metal clasps on wader gaiters are annoyingly good at snagging fishing line.
I also own neoprene waders with built-in boots. I used to wear these waders while jumping off (and then scrambling back on) the bow of a boat in San Francisco Bay to do intertidal work. These were stretchy and comfortable, but not breathable, which was less of a concern, since this work would take place during the winter, when warmth was key. What I didn’t like was that the boots were pretty “floaty” and could cause a misstep. I loved that the waders had built-in knee pads.
Most of my actual fishing is in the surf, where I wear yoga pants and neoprene dive booties. I do get soaked and cold, but still prefer this setup to waders. I think a pair of wetsuit pants would work well in this situation, but haven’t been able to find anyone who sells them. I don’t feel the need to wear the upper part of the waders at all in the surf. By the way, if you’re getting wet on your chest while you’re fishing the surf, you’re probably not fishing in safe conditions.
The ideal waders for me would have more stretchiness and less bagginess (without losing breathability). If they could make waders like that, I’d be a real happy camper.
Jackie McCloud
Among her many other duties as an environmental engineer, Jackie McCloud is responsible for managing the City of Watsonville’s water-quality program. She has spent many hours conducting sampling in the tributaries of Pinto Lake, where excess nutrients have resulted in a chronic nuisance and sometimes toxic cyanobacteria blooms. She had this to say.
Breathable waders are a must-have for the kind of water-quality sampling I do, especially when it’s in overgrown tributaries, where just getting to the water can be a real obstacle course. I prefer stocking-foot waders, which I use with regular rain boots — not a conventional approach, but it works for me. I’ve had too much trouble with boot-foot waders leaking at the seam. It sucks to bushwhack all the way to a sampling location, only to have that icky feeling of water running up your legs.
My biggest issue with waders is fit, especially in the legs. For some reason, there’s no consistency among the brands. Excess material in the legs has a way of getting caught on branches, which is irritating at best and potentially dangerous. It also increases the chance you’ll damage the fabric and get a leak.
Emma Kluzniok
Emma Kluzniok currently works with the Washington Department of Ecology, where she uses creative visualization techniques to convert complex data sets into easy-to-understand graphics for the legislature and public. Before heading up to Washington, Emma worked with Jackie McCloud at the City of Watsonville. She was heavily involved in sampling and data analysis for a water-quality grant at Pinto Lake. These are her thoughts.
Breathable waders that fit properly are a must-have for sampling activities in creeks and lakes. Most of the sampling at Pinto Lake occurred in the winter, so I found it was important to match breathable waders with thermals. While I was able to find waders that fit my petite frame, they came with stocking feet that were too big, and the excess neoprene meant I had to use larger boots. It was a compromise that worked, but it wasn’t ideal. I’d also like to say that waders with zipped pockets come in really handy. It’s nice to know your car keys are easily accessible, but safe.
Emmy Anzalone, Hayley Barnes, and Lindsay Hansen
Emmy Anzalone and Hayley Barnes are members of the Watershed Stewards Program, serving with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in Monterey. Lindsay Hansen is with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in Santa Cruz. Two to five times per week, Emmy and Hayley conduct full-day anadromy hikes on streams and creeks of the Big Sur coast, while Lindsay works the creeks and lagoons north of Santa Cruz. Their work involves a lot of wading, climbing over boulders, and often navigating through thick brush in small tributary creeks. Not surprisingly, their waders get a really good workout. Here are their observations.
Emmy: Hiking to the limit of steelhead migration in the creeks on the Big Sur coast burns a lot of calories. Given the high activity level of this work, it’s not surprising that the Watershed Stewards use breathable stocking-foot waders. I have only ever worn one pair of waders. I would prefer medium-size waders with a slightly looser fit, but have found they come with stocking feet that are simply too large. Since I spend more time on my feet than climbing over boulders, stocking-foot size is the most important criterion.
Boots present a couple of problems. To begin with, there’s the issue of sizing. I had to try two pairs from different companies before I got something that felt comfortable. I really don’t like boots that leave a lot of room around my foot. And I’ve noticed that metal shoelace hooks are really hard on laces. I had a pair that chewed up and destroyed two pairs of laces within a few months. Shoelace loops made of fabric are easier on laces and also much less trouble to tighten.
I much prefer suspender straps made from a non-stretch fabric. The stretchy ones loosen anytime you carry stuff in the front (chest) pocket, causing the front of the waders to sag. I also don’t care for the “convertible-top” straps; they are typically just in my way when I’m trying to gear up.
One thing I really appreciate, especially when working in the canyons on a crisp morning, is a handwarmer. Having numb hands is a miserable way to start the day and doesn’t help with dexterity.
Hayley: “My midprice breathables fit true to the sizing chart and have proven to be quite durable. I have not had a leak, tear, or puncture, and all the zippers, clips, and straps are holding up well. The neoprene stocking foot is a perfect fit for my shoe size.
When it comes to boots, I have a pair of entry-level wading boots with a rubber bottom. They fit well, but are a little bulky, which can be slightly cumbersome when wading among larger rocks.
I have to say that my favorite feature is the two-sided, fleece-lined handwarmer pocket on the chest. This is essential for working during the winter months or for cold mornings. If I could change anything, it would be to have waders with longer suspender straps. I don’t like waders that ride high.
Lindsay: I do a lot of the same work that Emmy and Hayley do, but I work in the creeks and lagoons north of Santa Cruz. I have spent every day of the past nine months in a pair of midpriced breathable waders. They take me hiking for miles along creek channels, climbing over logs, wrangling adult salmon, and tagging hundreds of young fish with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. I also do spawning ground surveys, which involves plenty of boulders and logs and bushwhacking through brambles.
My waders have held up remarkably well — I haven’t had any leaks or tears. They keep me warm in cold water and are form fitting to the point where I don’t feel like I am drowning in fabric, but I still have the mobility to clamber over logjams. They also feature easily accessible pockets and handwarmers.
Kristen Kittleson
Kristen Kittleson is the fishery resource planner for Santa Cruz County. She manages their stream habitat and juvenile steelhead monitoring program. Her work involves stream wood management, riparian corridor protection policy, and juvenile steelhead monitoring. Here is what she has to say.
My work involves a lot of time hiking up and down coastal steelhead streams, which can be hard on waders. One day I’ll be working on a fish ladder, the next I’ll be climbing over logjams and bushwhacking through brambles. For most fieldwork, I use reasonably priced breathable waders with wading boots. If the legs on the waders are too long, the seams rub more and tend to leak sooner. You can repair them, but at some point, they become too leaky.
When I need tough waders, I use nonbreathable nylon boot-foot waders. In general, they fit well and are easy to put on. I used to be able to walk miles in those waders, but as I’ve gotten older, I appreciate the better fit around the ankle provided by the stocking-foot and wading-boot combination.
When it comes to wading boots, I have found lightweight boots designed specifically for women are a really good investment. They may be pricey, but your feet will thank you at the end of a long day. I’ve used canvas wading boots, but they don’t hold up well to the rough and tough boulders and cobbles. For comfort and safety, the wading boots have to give you some flexibility in the ankle. I have an older pair of wading boots that are supertough, but hard to walk in — they’re my backup pair.
Last but certainly not least, buy women’s waders. While men’s waders will work in a pinch, you’ll find most women’s waders fit better in both the body and the foot.
The Bottom Line
Based on the above, it seems women have the same experiences with waders — good and bad — as men. No doubt a lot of this has to do with designing waders that will fit most people of a given height and weight. It would be tough to be profitable making waders that meet every conceivable body shape and size. However, looking at several online sizing charts, the range of sizes available for women does seem to be smaller than it is for men. Whether this is a function of a smaller range of body size in women or a function of the smaller overall market is unclear.
If you fall outside the sizing criteria, you’ll have to accept a certain level of compromise. Given the comments above, stocking foot and boot size and inseam length appear to be as critical for women as they are for men. Getting those two elements right, or as close as possible, is the key to comfort and durability. This is why it’s so important to buy waders and boots well in advance of any planned fishing trips. You may have to try two or more pairs before you get the right fit. You really don’t want to find out your new waders fit like a body bag or hobble your feet when you take your first steps on a multiday vacation.
All credit for this column goes, of course, to eight hardworking women. Their dedication helps ensure that future generations can experience nature in all its beauty.
