Orvis Clearwater waders
This season i replaces a handful of guest waders, as i do each season. After going through the usual considerations of Simms, Patagonia and Orvis, I went for the latter in the Orvis Clearwater. We’ve had great value out of previous Orvis waders, surviving wear and tear better than any of the other brands (all of which i own). The 4-layer construction is handling Tasmania’s famed prickly bushed very well, along with abrasion from clambering over fallen logs on the small streams. The fit is about spot on for sizing, and allows for the right amount of movement as a result of good contouring. Importantly the seams are holding up with zero failures to date; you’d expect this, but on the otherhand the seams are what typically fail in the end, regardless of brand. In summary, the Orvis Clearwaters seem to be the pick of the entry-level waders currently.
Simms pant waders
As an interesting aside for those that perfer pant waders, my guest would know that the Patagonia Pant Waders have been favourites for some years. Super tough and comfy, they all lasted many seasons. For this season i added another pair of pant length waders to our guiding stock, and this time opted for the Simms Freestone Pant Waders. The quality has been excellent (as expected), but a big improvement on the Patagonia’s has been the the design around the waist. Simply put, the waist features a buttoned front which snaps on our off, expanding the waist length making it much easier to get on and off. A simple but effective design feature, which puts these amongst the leading wading pants currently available.
Orvis Clearwater Waders – Fly fishing Tasmania