You may have noticed that Patagonia is putting some media and marketing muscle behind its new line of Swiftcurrent waders.
Well it should. Because they’re pretty damn special.
I just got a pair of the Swiftcurrent Expedition Zip Fronts ($799 US) and took them for a morning trout fishing session to garner some first impressions, which are…
Extremely comfortable and pliable, feels like wearing a pair of jeans more than waders.
Especially like the shoulder suspenders—very easy to adjust and set with preformed loops.
Intriguing and functional array of pockets, including one internal one, and layered chest pockets. I will definitely figure out a system.
Booties are true sized and fit well with different wading boots.
Seams designed in the right spots to avoid abrasion.
Padding in knee an extra bonus
They seem very durable.
These waders were obviously designed and refined by people who know a lot about fishing.
I’m deeply impressed at first blush, and am planning to do a deeper dive review at Flylab.fish. Give me a week or so to put them through some more paces, and you can read what I really think (as is the case with the many other product reviews we’ve run) at Flylab soon thereafter. We will be running a link to the deep review in an upcoming Angling Trade newsletter.
Swiftcurrents will be paradigm shifting in the wader market, which is already seeing some pretty seismic activity these days.
-KD
1 Comment
Perhaps the biggest improvement is that Patagonia is now making a wader line without the toxic “forever” chemicals that have been a part of breathables since the very beginning.