Simms Fishing

Simms waders, boots and fishing apparel

John Simms, a guide in Jackson, Wyoming, started making waders in 1980. The company has been based in Bozeman, Montana for years now, and it still builds its G4Z and G3 Guide waders there, from imported GORE-TEX fabric.

We carry waders from the $299.95 Tributary up to the $1,099.95 G4Z, along with wading boots, rain jackets, SolarFlex sun hoodies and hats. Our team has tested this gear around the world, from redfish marsh in Louisiana to the bonefish flats of the Seychelles.

If you would rather try waders on than guess, book a private outfitting appointment at the shop in Dallas. Bring the socks and layers you fish in so the fit is honest.

Which Simms waders should you buy?

Six waders, from the most technical down. All of them are stockingfoot, so you’ll wear them with wading boots.

If you fish most weekends or guide, start with the G3 Guide, and step up to the G4Z only if you want the front zip. If you fish a handful of trips a year, the Freestone does the job for $300 less than a G3. Travelling light or hiking a long way in? Take the Flyweight, which packs into its own chest pocket. New to wading, the Tributary is the place to start.

Pro Tip: Breathable waders only breathe if what’s underneath does too. Wear synthetic or wool layers next to your skin, never cotton, or you’ll end the day damp on the inside and blame the waders.

How to size Simms waders

Size your boots first. Kristian Cole, who wrote our wader fitting guide, starts from your true shoe size and goes up a full size for the boot. That leaves room for the neoprene stockingfoot and a thicker wool sock on cold mornings.

Then take three measurements for the waders:

1. Your largest girth: chest, waist or hips, whichever is biggest.
2. Your inseam. Simms cuts Short, Regular, Long and Tall, so match this to the girth.
3. Your stockingfoot size, matched to your shoe size.

Once they’re on, check two things. You want at least a full hand, 3 to 5 inches, between your chest and the top of the waders, so a puffy jacket still fits underneath. Then squat down like you’re releasing a fish. If the knees or crotch pull, go up a size.

Each model fits a little differently, so confirm with Simms’s own size guide or read Kristian’s full Find the Fit guide. Stuck between two sizes? Call the shop and we’ll talk it through.

What the Simms warranty covers

If your new waders leak in the first 60 days, Simms replaces them, no questions asked. For the first year, defects in materials or workmanship are repaired free. After that, Simms repairs them for a $60 flat fee, which covers the evaluation, the repair, testing and shipping them back to you.

Wear and accidents are handled differently. Barbed wire, campfire embers and fabric that has simply aged are repaired for a reasonable fee rather than free.

To send a pair in, fill out Simms’s online repair form with photos of the problem. You pay to ship them to Simms, and Simms pays to send them back. Ship them clean and dry, with belts, cleats and anything in the pockets removed, and write your case number on the box. If you bought them from us, Simms lets you start through the dealer, so call the shop.

Pro Tip: Simms quotes three to six weeks for a repair. Send yours in during the off-season, when that wait costs you nothing.

What Simms gear to pack for a fishing trip

Bonefish flats: the Bahamas, Belize, Mexico

You’ll be wet wading, so leave the waders at home. Pack a flats boot like the FreeSalt or the Flats Sneaker, a SolarFlex hoody, sun gloves and a cap with a neck shield. A rain jacket is worth the space for the boat rides at Abaco Lodge, Turneffe Flats or The Palometa Club.

Patagonia trout: Argentina and Chile

Expect wind and cold water. Bring breathable waders (the Freestone Z or G4Z), a wading boot you can hike in, and a real shell like the Challenger or G3 Guide jacket. That covers trips like Estancia del Zorro and Jurassic Lake.

Alaska

Plan for long days in the rain. G3 Guide or G4Z waders, G3 Guide boots and the G4 Pro jacket, with wool or synthetic layers underneath. Our travel desk can tell you what Alaska Rainbow Lodge provides, so you only pack what you need.

Simms questions we get asked