Patagonia Swiftcurrent Traverse Waders Review

Steady rain pelts my tent, and the ominous sound of wind whipping through the trees outside sends a chill down my spine. It’s my first time in Alaska, and the third straight day of rain and 40-degree temps. While the tent exaggerates the severity of the rain, it is steadily raining, and there is no end in sight.

With a bleak forecast ahead, I tell myself there is no time like the present, and slip into my waders, boots, and rain jacket and head out to see if the fish will bite despite the conditions.

My fly fishing adventures are rarely consistent and include everything from standing in a freezing cold hole that holds Steelhead, to hiking back to a new stretch of river in the Driftless region in the Midwest. I enjoy exploring new water and staying on the move, so I have been keen to try the new Swiftcurrent Traverse waders.

These waders hit a sweet spot between the heavyweight Expeditions and super-packable Ultralite waders I have currently, and I’ve been itching to see how they stack up.

In short: Advancing its lineup of popular Swiftcurrent waders, Patagonia released the new Traverse waders for long approaches in challenging environments. Designed with the durability expected from Patagonia, these waders offer increased comfort and mobility over their predecessor. The Traverse waders have been the only pair I’ve used this season, and I don’t plan on changing things up anytime soon.

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Patagonia Swiftcurrent Traverse Waders Review

First Impressions

I’ve tested these waders in and around the streams of Hartney Bay in Cordova, Alaska, and back home in Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes and streams. These have been my primary waders for everything from 35 degrees and raining (hello, Alaska) to 75 degrees and sunny. I’ve hiked back into the Alaskan wilderness to find little eddies and explored new water in the Midwest on unseasonably warm, humid days.

I’ve been using the Swiftcurrent Expedition waders for the last few seasons, and I can confidently say that the Traverse waders are noticeably lighter, right out of the box. Top-to-bottom, these waders feel much closer to Patagonia’s Ultralite waders than the Expeditions — and I like that.

The Traverse waders nail nearly all of the details with gear storage, a new patterning and fit, and durability. Almost all of my fly fishing adventures include a long hike in and out, often through brush and briars. These waders feel far less limiting in mobility while hiking, climbing up and down steep banks, buckwacking to a new honey hole, and everything in between.

I’m a fan of the “rock river green” color scheme with the two-tone earthy look. Patagonia does a nice job adding color for a distinguished aesthetic without being overdone.

Patagonia Swiftcurrent Traverse Features

Building on the success of Patagonia’s Swiftcurrent Expedition waders, the brand introduced the lighter and more mobile-focused Swiftcurrent Traverse waders for 2025. Coming in at 44 ounces (nearly 10 ounces lighter than the Expeditions) and made with an updated patterning and fit, the Traverse waders are a welcome option for anglers who go the extra mile, literally, to get to the honey hole.

The waders have a gusseted crotch with an articulated seat and legs, making movement easier in and out of the water. The waders are repatterned to double down on the mobility without sacrificing durability, and have a focus on reducing seam stress to improve longevity of the waders, cutting down on the need for future repairs.

While the focus is on mobility, Patagonia didn’t skimp on durability. The legs are articulated and have a heavy-duty scuff guard at the ankles for abrasion resistance — something I’ve come to appreciate with my other Patagonia waders. That area takes a beating regardless of your fishing style, and it is nice to have peace of mind that you aren’t breaking down your waders.

Anatomical booties for a more sock-like fit improve comfort throughout a long day on the water, and you can trust the four-layer shell to keep you dry and protected from the elements.

The waders are covered under Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee, which guarantees everything they make and will make repairs, replace, or refund your purchase if it is not up to par.

Testing: Tackling Spring in Alaska and Minnesota

Growing up in Minnesota, I’ve learned to expect anything from snow and freezing rain to 80 degrees and humid in the spring. You quite literally never know what might happen on a day-by-day basis. And, I learned the hard way that spring in Alaska is consistent. Unfortunately, it is consistently rainy and relatively chilly. The good news is that this caters well to putting the Swiftcurrent Traverse waders through their paces in testing.

The unpredictability of spring weather makes reliability, mobility, and comfort on the water important. Between glacial melt and icy river crossings in Alaska and the unpredictability of Midwest weather in April and May, it’s critical to have a performance-focused pair of waders that keep up with whatever you put them through.

Durable & ‘Breathable’

On the Traverse waders, Patagonia uses a H2No Performance Standard Fabric, a four-layer fabric that strikes a balance between durability and comfort. So far, the waders have stood firm against brush, rocks, submerged debris, and everything else I’ve thrown at them.

I’ve remained dry despite fishing in some less-than-ideal weather conditions. I’ve also found that these waders breathe well during higher-output hikes into spots that are off the beaten path. This is a big upgrade for me when compared with the Expedition Waders.

The adjustable suspender system is a feature that continues to impress me. My first foray with this system was in the Expedition waders, and now I don’t know what I would do without it. With a pull of the tab on the straps, you release the mechanism holding the waders up and can slide them down to waist height.

This allowed for easy transition from full chest waders to waist height in seconds, a lifesaver when temps rise or the terrain demands more energy output.

It’s also not a bad option when nature calls. When it wasn’t raining, I would fish with the waders at half height, staying cool and comfortable even in the late afternoon sun. When rain blew in or chilly winds kicked up, I could quickly pull the waders back up to chest height and stay warm. With the fluctuating temps of spring, this has been invaluable.

Form, Fit, and Function

The thing I love most about these waders is their mobility. The Traverse waders move better than other waders I have used, especially when scrambling over slick rocks on up and down steep banks.

The gusseted crotch is combined with an articulated seat and legs, adding a level of flexibility that isn’t common for waders. Adding to this, the booties on these waders have a lower volume and are made more anatomical for comfort on long days on the water.

They feel closer to pulling on a sock than your typical waders. There is no bunching or pressure points inside my wading boots, either. Pulling these waders on feels more connected than other experiences. It’s like the difference between putting on cheap rain gear that is stiff and crunchy compared to slipping into a well-fitting midlayer that moves with your body.

Pockets

Finally, inside the waders is one large, quick-access drop-in stretch pocket and one large, zippered security stretch pocket. The waders also have a center-back hanger loop for easy drying and storage. These pockets are complemented by two zippered stash pockets on the exterior chest area of the waders, with a fishing tool dock and a net loop on the back.

There is ample storage for fly fishing essentials, along with necessary waterproof storage for your phone and wallet. This is all topped off with a waterproof YKK zipper that operates smoothly and a secure stretch wading belt to help keep water out if you get a little carried away.

Aside from the lack of external hand pockets, more on that below, I love the simplicity of the pockets on these waders. They seem to have everything I need for storage, and don’t add too much extra bulk to their design.

I would keep my wallet, keys, and phone in the internal waterproof storage for peace of mind, and would keep a small fly box, tippet, and a few tools in the external pocket for easy access. The tool dock is a nice touch, too.

Room for Improvement: What Do I Do With My Hands?

There’s a lot to love about these waders, but that doesn’t make them perfect. My biggest gripe is that there aren’t any exterior pockets for your hands. The waders have two well-placed chest pockets for stashing small essentials, but that’s it.

During early spring runs and less-than-ideal weather conditions, I often find myself searching for a place to get my hands out of the wind and warm them up for a few minutes. This is one of those tradeoffs where the weight saved by excluding pockets doesn’t outweigh the perk of having a spot to warm your hands.

The waders’ sizing runs a little large. I noticed more room around the ankle and lower-leg area, and a bit more “baggy” feel up near the chest. It wasn’t enough of a change for me to feel the need to downsize, but if you are between sizes in earlier iterations of Patagonia waders, it may be worth checking out the next size down.

Final Thoughts: Who Are These For?

The Swiftcurrent Traverse waders are the Goldilocks between going full-on expedition mode and rolling ultralite. Tough enough to withstand gnarly situations while remaining light and mobile for prolonged approaches, these waders have the things you need and nothing you don’t.

After wearing these for several days in Alaska for early-season fishing and in Minnesota as spring temps leap into the 80s, I have yet to find a situation where these waders don’t fit the bill.

If you’re looking for a comfortable pair of “everything” waders at a competitive price point, the Swiftcurrent Traverse should have your attention.