Pic for visibility. I'm looking at getting some new waders. I definitely won't be buying some $600 simms or Patagonia waders but I might get the orvis Clearwater. My question is are the frog tog waders decent. It's tempting to pull the trigger since they're $150 but I also dont want to invest in pure garbage. How are the orvis Clearwater waders?
Posted by shmiddleedee
31 Comments
They’re ok.
Go on marketplace and get some, if not then just spend the money especially if u live somewhere cold
I went to sportsman’s warehouse planning to get a cheap pair for like $100 I ended up finding some boots and a pair of waders on sale from seasons past, all together I paid… $40. I’m in my second fall season with both… yea buy cheap waders… it’s okay if $600 is insane for you, it was for me.
Clearwater will be your entry level waders, the frog toggs I can’t attest to – might be something to consider regarding waterproofing of the frog toggs especially if you fish during the winter. I would imagine frog toggs being the budget choice. But for my beginner waders the Clearwater have served me very well.
How cold of water are you fishing? If it’s not freezing, check out backcountryskinz
You can get hip boots that aren’t as expensive
If you want waders, paramount seems to be OK from my own research and asking reddit.
Froggtogg is also a good entry level. Bass Pro’s white river aren’t too bad as well if you time up a sale too
Really the more expensive waders are mainly buying a warranty not necessarily better materials/build/etc
I’ve been happy with Redington waders. I don’t wear waders often enough to justify top of the line Simms or Patagonia but needed something fairly durable for hiking/scrambling between river spots.
*Looks around slowly and tries to hide my 10+ year old $100 Bass Pro specials that double as waterfowl waders…grabs nearest weaponizable object…*
Get back! GET BACK YOU MONSTERS!!!
I’d go with the Clearwaters. My first waders were frogg toggs, they lasted almost 2 seasons with a lot of aquaseal. They aren’t particularly comfortable or well fitting either, like wearing a rain tarp. They will work though for a little while
Get frog toggs I’ve had them for 3 years now and there are a couple tiny leaks but nothing noticeable. Unless you guide or you fish every single day there is no reason to spend $1000 on waders. If I have to buy a new pair for $100 every 3 years it’ll be 30 years before I spend $1000. Expensive gear is stupid and doesn’t catch you more fish.
Look up Paramount waders. They’re pretty great for the price. I got a pair of XL stockingfoot hip waders for $100. Then got a pair of Korkers boots for $150.
I just got the clearwater waders and boots as my first set this summer. Ive used them in both warm and cold water and feel like it’s as good an investment as i could have made. My only complaint is the strap that connects the cuff to the boot ripped off one leg after I had to heave myself out of some muck one trip. Now I tie some paracord around the ankle and that works a treat. The pocket on the chest is not waterproof, also. The hand warmer pocket is super handy. Colors are hard to match if you care about such things. This concludes my review.
Why not just wet wade? Is this for winter?
My first pair of $100 economy waders gave me better service than a pair of $450 Simms G3 waders. I suspect this isn’t typical and the features of more expensive waders are handy.
Cheap waders with built in boots will get the job done, but are often thin and easy to puncture, and not very comfortable on your feet. If you find you really enjoy the hobby, the step up to a nice pair of waders with socks and proper boots is a welcome quality of life upgrade on the water. My felt and stud boots feel way more secure in the water than cheap rubber boot waders and are way more comfortable and warmer. Some of the nicer Simm’s waders have additives that change color when punctured so you can find the holes and fix them, otherwise the cheap ones tend to get holes pretty quick and can be hard to patch, making them effectively useless. If you plan to spend a lot of time wade fishing in cooler weather, you’ll appreciate a nice pair of waders and will get your moneys worth over the years. If you mostly fish in the summer or don’t spend a lot of time on the water, a cheap pair will likely do you just fine until you decide you want something more comfortable. I love my Simm’s Freestones and G3’s. They were a lot cheaper when I bought them 7 years ago and a mixup at the local flyshop allowed me to get the waders at a discount. I spent way more time spey fishing for steelhead after buying them.
My frog togg hellbender waders keep me dry. Haven’t used them a whole bunch yet though maybe twice. No holes yet
But once cry once.
Yes they are fine. Just might not hold up to daily use though. And I used the Clearwater option for years too and they never seemed to leak any more than my more expensive options.
Had a pair of the basic frogg toggs for about 5 years. I paid $80 for them and had little to no issues with them. The only downside is they are not the most comfortable when wading through rocks or if you are hiking in a ways.
Whatever gets you on the water is fine.
Wow so i got a pair of Orvis guide series waders in 2007 and I still wear them. They were several hundred dollars back then. I bet I’ve been through over a dozen pair of boots though. I now just get the Walmart hiking boots and put studs in them. They last longer than anything else. I have a pair of the white river (basspro) wading pants, and have been using them since 2018. I’m fishing 30-40 days a year right now.
Paid $425 for my first pair (now back-ups) of Simms Guide boot foot waders. That was 20+ years ago. The first 5 years I put in 50 days on the water. Became my backups after 10 years….no leaks. I figure that makes it about $40 a year. Previously had 3 pairs of LLBean Wicked tough waders in 2 months: first pair the leg seam split wise open (after 20 days on the water), the second and third pairs leaked out of the box. Paid $300 for those.
Guess it depends how much you fish as to what you spend.
YMMV
I used some cheaper waders for a while with attached rubber boots, not the most comfortable but they definitely worked. Now I use Dryft waders, pretty expensive but i will say I do enjoy the chest zipper and I also fish year round for the most part and theh are a bit thicker so they keep me a bit warmer in the cold months. Get what you can afford honestly, you dont need crazy expensive stuff.
As for orvis, Ive always heard good stuff about their waders, however I do not have first hand experience.
The reality is that basically everything leaks eventually. Faster if you are on the water and scrambling a lot. Just get what fits your budget.
Both the options you listed won’t last that long, I’ve had both. Unfortunately all of them cracked in the legs after not long, and i store my stuff in a bag in a garage where it’s never too hot too cold or dry.. Believe it or not, my white river boot waders ($119) have lasted the longest even over my $400 waders. Mind you the boots suck. But they keep me dry!
Yes. I had a horrible experience with Orvis Iltralight Convertible waders and their warranty service. Bought a set of Compass 360 zip fronts that were super inexpensive (at least at that time) to have something to use while the Orvis waders were getting mailed back and forth. I’ve since gone with Patagonia and I’ll never go back. But those Compass 360s are still going strong. I use them as backup/loaners. And sometimes wear them in really nasty spots where tearing is likely.
Yes. Bought Patagonia when I was 48, had cheap until then. Frog toggs lasted a couple years with Korkers boots
I dont like breathers and the risk of them breaking so i got myself a pair of old fashioned rubber waders for around 40$. No issue with them so far (fishing mainly north Swedish rivers mind you)
Paramounts are high quality for the price.
I bought a cheap pair of Paramount chest waders and they have lasted me 3 years so far
All waders are doomed. I have had 6 pairs. The boot-foot Red Ball waders that hang neglected in my garage are 30 yo and still dry as the day I bought them. Two pairs of Cabelas waders eventually developed crotch leaks and had to go away after 15 years of fishing ~70 hours a year, climbing over logs, through brush, etc. I now use Patagonia Super duper guide waders. They are fantastic and Patagonia has a great repair policy. But I always bring a backup pair of light waders. My fishing partner goes cheaper than I do, and has about the same replacement rate. I would say if you are going to do much walking, go stocking foot.