When I am judging a wader, I have two main criteria I look for: something that will withstand the elements and keep me dry, and something that moves with me, not work against me. Two seemingly easy things to find, right? Of course, the cost point factors in… But, I’m of the mind that if I find a quality piece of gear that will last me years, I’ll shell out the money for it.
Well, I have been fly fishing for over ten years, with the bulk of my time fishing in the rainforests of Southeast Alaska. When I first started fly fishing, I wore a pair of old hand me down neoprene waders, with some old cut off Xtratuf boots. Needless to say, that gear may have kept me dry, but it weighed about 50 lbs. Since then, I have worn my way through countless pairs of waders, from high end to low end, and just about everything in between. When you’re bushwhacking through Devil’s Club, and rolling in and out of aluminum boats, it takes a pretty sturdy wader to not immediately fill with pinholes and eventually fail.
Recently, the fly fishing industry as a whole has begun to design more and more women’s gear, but 10 years ago, there were not nearly as many options. And, as most women know, we are not created the same! Some of us are taller, some of us are shorter, and all of us have curves in different places. I’ve worn waders I had to slide into like a sausage, custom built waders that I can barely crouch down in, and waders with so much extra room around my body, that I could fit another person.
My most recent wader purchase, in 2020, was a pair of Women’s S14 Dryft Waders. The upper part of the waders is constructed of a high-grade, breathable, 3-layer nylon with DWR (durable water repellent) finish, and the waist, rear, and knees are constructed of a four-layer breathable material. The waders have neoprene booties and gravel guards to keep your toes warm while fishing, and also have three zippered pockets with a flip-out pouch, and a large mesh interior pocket.Dryft has about a dozen wader sizes to choose from, which makes finding the right fit so easy! From an XS to a 2XL and everything in between, ladies, rejoice! One of my favorite aspects of these waders is that they really move with me, not against me. The contouring and taper at the knee is amazing, because when I am bending, crouching, crawling over log jams and stumbling over slippery rocks, the taper gives me freedom and not restricted movement. Another great feature: all the pockets. There is a mesh pocket along the inside of the wader that I can easily shove my fly box, a bug net, and keys in. Then, there is a zip pocket on the front for my tippet and nippers, and a flip out pouch for my chapstick and cellphone. The pockets are a damn nice feature and allow me to hit the water for a half day and not have to worry about packing a bag or sling along. For under $400, I am happy with this purchase. The only con I have found so far with these waders is that I don’t get to wear them enough now that I am living in wet-wading country!
Dryft is a small, locally owned business based in Bellingham Washington. I’ve had the privilege of meeting the founders, Sam Thompson and Nick Satushek, and the passion for fly fishing really shines through. These guys founded Dryft because of that passion, and because they wanted to create a wader that performs, looks good, and doesn’t break the bank. They care about the places they fish, and with each sale of waders, they even donate money to One Tree Planted partnership.
