Waders are super important for fly fishers. Every year a lot of new anglers get into fly fishing and struggles to find the perfect wader for them. In this guide, I will try to help beginner anglers find the best fly fishing wader.
Main Features of Wader:
Before you decide to purchase the wader, you need to keep some features in mind. Waders should be breathable. The wader should be made out of gore-tex, dri-plus, or other synthetic material. These materials are waterproof and good at keeping the warmth inside.
They will stop the water to get through and also stop the warmth inside to get out. The breathability of these materials is super good. Breathability is really important for waders. Or else you can't wear them for a long time.
For fly fishing, avoid getting bootfoot waders. Stocking foot waders are more versatile than bootfoot waders. Bootfoot waders are kind of toe heavy. While fly fishing needs maneuverability.
If you don't fish in cold weather and on ice waters. Then you don't need an insulated wader. Non-insulated waders provide better airflow. Fly fishing does take a lot of time under the hot sun. That's why non-insulated waders will serve you better than insulated.
Take lightweight waders. Try your best to avoid heavy waders. If they are not easy to move then don't bother purchasing them. That's why I said to ignore bootfoot wader for this purpose. You need to move quick and fast. Stockingfoot wader with a good pair of wading boots will do a better job at this.
Types of Waders:
1. Bootfoot Waders
As the name suggests, this type of wader comes with a pair of rubber sole wader boots attached to them. If you purchase a good quality of bootfoot waders then the included boots will be nice to wear too.If the wader is too cheap and comes with boots then something definitely fishy going on here. Pardon me for the pun.
If you are mainly taking wader for fly fishing, then you should avoid bootfoot waders. Don't get me wrong they are excellent for regular fishing and especially in a rocky area. But their maneuverability is bad compared to stockingfoot.
2. Stockingfoot Waders
Stockingfoot waders have booties attached to them instead of boots. Booties are better than socks and they are directly connected with the wader. That's why they are waterproof and easy to wear.
We recommend them over bootfoot is because you can add any wader boots with them. Wear lightweight boots with lightweight wader and you have a killer fishing gear combo.
3. Hip Waders and Wading Pants
Unlike regular wader which you wear like a dungaree. Hip waders are like pants. You wear them like pants and wear wading boots with pants.
They are super good for shallow water fly fishing. If you fish on a place where the water stays below your knee always, then you can get them instead of any other wader types.
