I’ll be honest, I’m not much of a wader guy. If I don’t absolutely need them I don’t wear them. When I got a pair of Patagonia’s original Swiftcurrent waders a couple of years ago, however, I was intrigued. They have since become one of my top picks, especially for hot days on my dory or when I am traveling to the ends of the earth. They are so dang easy to pack and fit almost anywhere you want to shove them. Not to mention they are far more durable than they appear or feel. Initially I thought these would be my fair weather waders or for instances where space was a serious commodity, but since then I’ve realized these are waders for almost every situation, and condition. -Tim Romano, Managing Editor Angling Trade
Here’s what Patagonia has to say about them:
Every River. Any Time.
Our New Swiftcurrent Packable Waders are Ultralight, Incredibly Durable and Constructed from Our State-of-the-Art, 70% Recycled Face Fabric.
Weighing in at just 36 ounces and rolling up into a grande burrito-sized stuffsack, our go-everywhere, fish-everything Swiftcurrent Packable Waders are the lightest, most versatile breathable waders we’ve ever made. Built with globe-trotting, river-hopping, home water-protecting adventures in mind and perfect for hikers, backpackers, frequent flyers, explorers and hot-weather anglers, our technically advanced Packables offer serious, no-compromise wading performance in a dependable, river-tested package.
It’s taken years of painstaking engineering, meticulous research and constant, in-the-field testing to deliver our new line of Swiftcurrent Waders. The wait was worth it. Our Swiftcurrent Waders simply do every-thing better. They’re lighter, stronger and move better in and out of the water—from truly articulated legs and a gusseted crotch for freedom of movement, to beefier zippers, a more precise and intuitive suspender system, a new Secure Stretch wading belt and innovative bootie technology. We’ve even improved our heavy-duty scuff guards at the ankle. The result is a durable, athletic wader that isn’t baggy, doesn’t bunch up and looks just as good as it performs.
When it comes to advanced, innovative textiles, we believe reduced impact on the environment is a critical marker of progress, as a result, every wader in our Swiftcurrent line is transitioning to 100% recycled face fabrics—fabrics that surpasses our rigorous H2No® Performance Standard for waterproofness and durability. These materials allow us to craft waders with superior comfort and fit while sacrificing nothing in performance.
