Gear Review:
Patagonia Men’s Traverse Zippered Waders
by Chris King
I’ve been fortunate enough to be in fly fishing for the majority of my adult life. From being a sales rep, to guiding all over Northern California, to now being the newest member of the Travel Team at The Fly Shop®. With that, I’ve been able to fish just about every pair of waders that has come down the pike in the past 30 years. Every new wader is supposed to be the next greatest thing and make my wading that much more enjoyable. Some changes in waders have really made a difference. The introduction of breathable materials was the largest change we’ve seen. Since then it’s been more about comfort, accessibility and durability. The addition of a zipper to waders was a necessity and revolutionary, especially for those anglers pushing the half-century mark!
These new Patagonia Men’s Traverse Zippered Waders are a game changer for a lot of anglers, just in cost alone. Maybe they don’t have all of the bells and whistles that some of the more expensive zippered waders have, but that’s why they come in at under $600.
Traverse Key Features:
- Lightweight – easily packable, great for travel or bushwack fishing.
- 2 internal pockets (1 zip & 1 drop pocket) – easy access to your phone, keys, etc.
- 2 external pockets with zip closures – large enough to store a fly box, gloves, or can of snus.
- Plenty of room in feet – liner socks and thermo socks, plenty of space to wiggle your toes without bunching.
- Good mobility in the legs – enough material to easily bend down, kneel, or get in and out of a boat.
- Heavy duty zipper – The YKK zipper is the same you would find on other zippered waders that cost twice as much.
- Easy to get on and off – the zipper allows for quick entry and exit for runs to the bushes.
- Stretch shoulder straps – lessens force on the shoulders and moves with your body.
- No knee pads – not a essential and ads weight.
- No hand pockets – clean front – avoids fly or running line from snagging.
- Reinforced gravel guards – durable material on the inside of the gravel guards resists wear, and the internal grip-material and robust hook, keep them on your boots.
- Price – these are the least expensive zippered waders on the market and are Patagonia-quality.
Out of the box these waders have a few great features for their price point. Two external zippered pockets that will fit a small fly box and plenty of room for leaders, tippet etc… There are an additional 2 interior pockets. One that has a zippered closure to secure your phone, car keys and one that is drop-in for an extra fly box if needed. There are multiple belt loops to keep your belt secure and out of the way. The belt loops also keep any tools you might wear on your belt in place. The waders are lightweight, a pair of LRM (large | regular | medium foot waders), comes in at 2.9 pounds. Most waders with a zipper are expedition weight for extreme cold. These would be a joy to wear in the summer heat and didn’t feel too bulky. The legs on the waders are cut for exceptional mobility and do not bind up at all even when getting in and out of a raft. The stocking feet were sized well for my feet without being restrictive and still not being bulky in my wading boots. The shoulder straps had plenty of stretch and didn’t put pressure on my shoulders while in a seated position. The zippered entry makes them incredibly easy to get in and out of. And, if you need to access King Richard, you don’t need to take off your jacket to do so. You are going to miss a few features at this price point like integrated knee pads and external handwarmer pockets, but finding a pair of zippered entry level waders under $600 is a home run.
Give me a call (800) 669-3474 or send an email to chris@theflyshop.com if you want to hear more about these waders or to talk about fly fishing.