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Wading Jacket?

7.7K views 36 replies 32 participants last post by  Bruiser  
#1 ·
I planning on doing some winter fishing this year and wanted some recommendations on some good wading jackets. I was just down at Seawolf and I was cold from getting my elbows wet and soaking both my long sleeve shirts. Looking for something affordable but effective. Thanks.
 
#3 ·
I have recently purchased a Simms Freestone jacket. It is made out of a different fabric than gore-tex so it doesn't carry the large price tag. It was $199 and IMO it does everything my old gore tex-jacket did and it is specifically built for wading with high pockets and a built in retractor.
Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
http://www.simmsfishing.com/site/freestone_jacket_09.html
 
#4 ·
Frogg Toggs Hellbender Wading Jacket!

Oh man, if you can find one in your size on clearance, go for it. Absolutely love my Hellbender, and I got it for maybe $60 last year. They're still out there, so do an internet search...

http://www.froggtoggs.com/?wading/wading_jackets/221205

You're going to see lots of responses about Simms and investing for the rest of your life, but this jacket is very well built and fits my needs for sure.
 
#6 ·
I just came through houston today and bought a sweet frogg toggs toadskinz wading/rain jacket. It feels great and if its as good as the rest of their apparel it should fit my needs well. Got some nice thermal underwear tops n bottoms from academy today as well for a base layer when it gets cccold in my breathable mag3 waders
 
#15 ·
x2 I have the older model one and it's a great jacket for the price. Plenty of pocket space, its incredibly durable and very affordable. I mean judging by his name "teenwader" I doubt he can afford a Simms or Orvis jacket. Maybe he can but I know when I was a teenager I couldn't. Also when I bought my Magellan jacket I also went to the camping section and bought a can of camp dry and some seam sealer that's made for tents. Don't know if the jacket needed it but the jacket is insanely waterproof now. Only complaint I have is some of the seam taping is coming off the inside of the jacket, but I've owned this jacket for a long time and have definitely put it through some hell
 
#16 ·
I have both of the Academy jackets and the gray one is a lot light wt than the old green one. For winter I was cold in the gray one the other night wading. Green one is heavier and nicer but tough on a day where it warms up after daylight and can get down right hot on a long wade from the boat on a spring day. Love my green one.
 
#18 ·
I have both of the Academy jackets and the gray one is a lot light wt than the old green one. For winter I was cold in the gray one the other night wading. Green one is heavier and nicer but tough on a day where it warms up after daylight and can get down right hot on a long wade from the boat on a spring day. Love my green one.
I have the older green one, which is bullet proof, and have been trying to get my son one for a couple of years. The grey one popped up this year and I jumped on it. As mentioned, it is much lighter than my green one. First trip out, the zipper tab snapped in half. Contacted Academy and they could do nothing but refund my money. We had another trip scheduled in a few days, so I had the zipper replaced. Hope it makes it through the season but will be in the market for a better jacket for next year.
 
#19 ·
I have an Magellan for warmer days and a Wright & McGill for colder days. There is no comparison between the two. The W&M is a fine piece of fishing gear. The Magellan is functional but traps water in the lining Still better than a rain jacket.

A wading jacket is also a piece of safety equipment. First time you step into a blow out hole, you will find out how important they are.
 
#28 ·
I bought a Simms wader jacket back in 2002 when FTU first began carrying the Simms brand. That was way before most other brands discussed here were even in business or at least in that end of the fishing outerwear business. About every fifth or sixth trip I wear it into the shower and scrub it down with mild detergent and a soft scouring pad to get rid of the fish slime and salt scum and let it drip dry. I don't know when I'll have the opportunity to test another wading jacket - danged old Simms just keeps on doing what I bought it to do. EJ