What would be more worth the money? Skwala's Carbon stockingfoot waders at $550 or Simms' Freestone stockingfoot waders at $380 as someone who wet wades from May through to the end of September? I was looking for something that can last several years without major, or any real repairs, if I'm only using them to avoid the cold water in winter months… Never owned waders just Skwala Sol wet wading pants and Simms Flyweight wading boots. Thanks!
Posted by cdfalk
8 Comments
If you take care of them they will last. I have some simms G3 guides I’ve had for 6 years and they’ve held up great because I cleaned them and hung them up in the off season. I actually just wore a hole through the toe and patched it immediately and it hasn’t leaked in six months. I’m just saying buy what you like and take care of them
If you’re getting up near $500 or over, I’d much rather have orvis or Patagonia personally. I don’t love the new simms stuff in the last few years. Just my anecdotal testimony though! I think simms has gotten to be cheaper and less of a value than other brands that are a bit nicer
The carbon over the freestone. I’ve abused my carbons. Lots of log crawling and boulder scurrying. 2 years on they still look brand new and no leaks. Oddly though they smell like they have been soaked in bong water.
10/10 can’t wait to move to the rs for a zipper front because trying to use the bathroom is a nightmare. I put about 80 days a year into mine.
If you can go to a dealer to try them on. You may prefer one over the other. And that’s the important part. How do you feel in them.
I’ve been using Simms for well over a decade, and usually buy a new pair every other year for work, and I can tell you their quality has suffered greatly while their prices have risen dramatically. I’ve switched to Orvis for this reason. I can’t speak to the quality of Skwala, for me, the quality of Simms doesn’t match the price they ask for them.
I just started on my second pair of these since 2018 and I am an outfitter in Montana. That said, I likewise wet-wade whenever possible. When I do wade, there is a lot of rocks, brush, etc.
[https://farbank.com/products/redington-mens-sonic-pro-hd-wader](https://farbank.com/products/redington-mens-sonic-pro-hd-wader)
(Edit: bought the second pair end of last season and really started wearing them this year. I cut the feet off the old ones to turn into rain bibs, as they just had one leak in one leg I couldn’t find.)
Frogg Togg Hellbenders should be considered as well.
The budget simms waders are complete trash. Don’t do it!! Seriously! Their overly priced high end waders are very nice. Everything else is trash that looks nice and has a SIMMS label. They leak at the seams. Went through 3 pair of the old style and 2 of the new. Not one pair made it passed 20 trips without the thigh seams leaking. Thought the updated style would fix the issue and that pair leaked trip one. Exchanged them and the 2nd pair lasted 6 trips.
Bought budget $200 frog toggs and I’m on season 2.
75-100 days/year on the water.
between those two , skwala all day