MidCurrent Tested and Trusted: Simms Freestone Z Waders

Waders are essential for cold water fly fishing, but finding the right pair can be a complete pain in the ass. There are tons of wader brands out there with a ton of distinct features and faults. Some waders come in goofy sizes—they fit your body, but the stocking feet or boots make it look like you have giant Hobbit feet. Other waders fit great but spring leaks quicker than a hobo’s cardboard shack in a rainstorm. It’s just hard to find the right balance of durability and wearability.

As a fly fishing guide, I’ve gone through a hell of a lot of waders. Most have lasted a season or two but usually end up either being 90 percent Aqua Seal by the end of the summer or dust covered in the back of my truck because they’re so uncomfortable I never wear them. It had gotten to where I was only buying a couple pairs of cheap waders for emergency use I could just throw away at the end of the season. Then I got a pair of Simms Freestone Z waders.

Built For Abuse

The biggest and best thing about Freestone Zs is that they’re tougher than a woodpecker’s lips. The four-layer Toray fabric design extends to both the upper and lower half of the waders, making them extremely difficult to poke a hole in. As a rather adventurous angler/guide, I’m always doing dumb stuff in my waders like climbing over barbwire fences, butt-scooting down steep banks, and stomping through sheets of sharp shelf ice during winter fishing expeditions. It used to be a guarantee that I was going to end up freezing my feet, shins, or ass off by the end of the day as cold water was bound to find its way into my waders. But since the Simms Freestone Zs, I’ve stayed dry.

One of the other great things about the Freestone’s Z design is that they are breathable. This is a fantastic feature for when you spend days slogging through heavy currents and/or hiking across mountain ridges and long meadows to get to secret spots. Normally at the end of such ventures you’ve sweated enough to think your waders are leaking. And when you take them off, the smell could gag a buzzard. The Freestone Zs provide ventilation so you don’t soak through your underlayers or disgust your non-fishing friends. I’m not saying you won’t get a bit of a funk at the end of the season, but you won’t need to put your waders in the trunk and roll down all the windows for the ride home.

Great Fit and Great in… uh… Emergencies

Comfort is key. Even if you’re wearing them for only a couple of hours, waders that are too tight on your hips or that pinch your toes or feel like they’re going to fall off can cut into fishing time. With Simms’ standard wader sizes running from small to XXL combined with regular, long, and short options, you can find a pair of Freestone’s that fit your body type. Fully adjustable suspenders for quick adjustments make them feel just right.

The Freestone Z waders also feature an array of helpful features to keep you on the water no matter how brutal the weather or how much nonsense you  carry. The layering is great for wading in cold water, but the Freestone Z’s also come with a pair of fleece-lined pockets which are fantastic if you’re a masochist (as I am) and spend a lot of icy mornings on the water. There’s dual side-access woven pockets—great for carrying an extra fly box, tippet spool, and especially your phone as it makes it easier to call your partner and let them know the fish are biting and you won’t be home for dinner.

But perhaps the greatest thing about the Freestone Z’s wader design is the zipper. I don’t know who thought of it, but putting a zipper on a pair of waders is so crazy it’s almost genius. The waterproof TIZIP zipper design goes down the center of the waders from chest to crotch. This makes putting the waders on and taking them off a breeze. But the real brilliance of the zipper is that it makes those scary moments—like when the 10-plus coffees you drank on the pre-dawn drive to the river come back to haunt you—much easier to deal with. When nature is seriously calling, there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a pair of waders you can’t get out of quickly. That zipper makes all the difference in the world.

Going Deep

Though they are a bit pricey, retailing at around $480, Freestone Z waders come with a lifetime warranty—after the first year, any damage only costs you $60 for a factory repair. While finding good waders can be a real pain, the right pair can be your best friend. Whether you’re a weekend warrior looking for a pair of waders to last for the rest of your life or a hardcore angler looking for a pair that will hold up to the punishment of a long season, the Simms Freestone Z waders are everything you need with a zipper on top.