Gear Review: Patagonia Swiftcurrent Traverse Zip-Front Waders
The new Swiftcurrent Traverse Zip-Front Waders offer a lot of bang for the buck.
I’ll start this review with an admission: I really don’t enjoy waders. They often don’t fit me well (which is my fault, thanks to all the buffalo wings I eat), but beyond that, I’ve only used one or two pairs that I’d consider “comfortable.” I’ve certainly never had any that I was fine wearing all day, whether I was rowing the boat, fishing, or driving.
But the past few months I’ve spent with the Patagonia Swiftcurrent Traverse Zip-Front Waders have been incredible. These are the most comfortable waders I’ve ever worn, enough so to make me overlook one pretty glaring design flaw. (We’ll get into that in a minute).
Zip-front waders are hard to beat from a convenience standpoint, and the fact that Patagonia has these at the $549 price point is impressive. This wader also converts to a waist-high design, which is a wonderful feature.
I’d stack these against any other waders on the market, and I certainly think the Swiftcurrent Traverse Zip-Front Waders are the product to beat for the price.
Let’s take a deeper look at these waders.
The author was really impressed by the adaptability, comfort, and ease of movement.
What I Like
Fit and Comfort
Patagonia has a surprisingly robust sizing system for their waders, and I didn’t have a hard time finding the right size. These waders fit true-to-size, so keep that in mind when ordering your own.
The shoulder straps are easy to adjust, and I love the way Patagonia designed the convertible chest-to-waist functionality. Two clips on the front shoulder straps flip up, and there’s a Velcro attachment for the back strap. None of this gets in the way of the wearer, which just adds to how comfortable the Swiftcurrent Traverse is.
When bending over, hiking, rowing, or driving, these waders felt like a comfortable pair of jeans. They never got in the way of a movement on the water. Even though I’m packing a few extra pounds, these waders never felt tight across my belly, either.
Patagonia says they built the Swiftcurrent Traverse with new material patterns and designs, and so far, they prove to be working excellently.
Finally, the front zipper is smooth and secure. I’ve gone in water past my waist and never had to worry about a leak.
Pockets inside and out offer plenty of storage space.
Pocket Space
The Swiftcurrent Traverse waders have plenty of pocket space for all your tackle. You’ll find two zippered mesh pockets on the front, to go with an interior drop pocket, and a single zippered interior pocket.
The pockets are big enough for your phone, keys, wallet, a few fly boxes, and snacks. I do wish Patagonia had included two zippered pockets on the interior, because those are the only waterproof storage options for this wader. The drop-in pocket is fine, but I prefer a bit more security.
Quality and Durability
The biggest question folks have with waders is “how long will they last before they leak?”
I can’t answer that for the Swiftcurrent Traverse waders, at least, not yet. I’ve got close to a dozen trips on these waders, though, and they’re still in great shape. I don’t see any undue wear that’d make me worry these waders wouldn’t last a long time, so long as they’re well cared for.
Even though these are “cheaper” waders at $549, the quality feels right on par with many of the more expensive waders I’ve tested. Nothing feels cheap here, and if Patagonia cut any corners, I can’t tell what they are.
What I Don’t Like
Front Pocket Orientation
The only miss Patagonia made with these waders is a big one.
Take a look at how the front pockets are oriented here:
The author found the accessibility of the chest pockets problematic.
The access to the pockets is in the center, instead of on each outside edge. This is also the ONLY access to those pockets.
This doesn’t seem like a problem until you go to warm your hands up, and have to reach across your entire body to access a pocket. That there’s no access from the outside edge is baffling, and enough of a design flaw to sink any other pair of waders.
What’s interesting is that Patagonia apparently considers an easy-access chest pocket a premium feature, since you’ll get that on the Swiftcurrent Expedition waders.
That said, the Swiftcurrent Traverse waders are so good everywhere else that I’m happy to overlook this problem. It takes some getting used to, and I’m still not happy about it, but the waders are so comfortable they make up for it.
Final Word
For $549, I don’t think there’s a better value in the wader world. The fit and comfort on the Swiftcurrent Traverse waders is exceptional, and I’d love to see other wader makers follow Patagonia’s lead in sizing and design. These waders are a real joy to wear.
They feel plenty durable for long-term use, they’re backed by Patagonia’s legendary warranty, and the quality is on par with top-tier products. If I was shopping for new waders, these would be at the top of my list.
Click here to learn more about the
Patagonia Swiftcurrent Traverse Zip-Front Waders
Spencer Durrant is a fly fishing writer from Wyoming. He’s the host of the weekly podcast Untangled: Fly Fishing for Everyone, as well as a staff writer for Flylords. Connect with him on Instagram/X, @Spencer_Durrant.
