Simms Flyweight Wader | GearJunkie Tested

I am not the person you want testing specialized, lightweight equipment. I destroy gear. A lot of people say that, but I mean it. I work hard in the outdoors and expect the same from my equipment. So a “lightweight” product like the Simms Flyweight wader isn’t exactly up my alley.

When I hear “lightweight” or some other variation of that in a wader name, I automatically assume it’s a thin pile of hot garbage that a marketing team is selling on the “benefit” of being lightweight.

But after learning that the Flyweights are built with the same four layers Simms uses on some of its standard waders, I was highly intrigued. I thought, “If they pack down small and maintain some level of durability, I could see a lot of situations where these would come in handy.” I got my hands on them and put them to the test.

In short: The Simms Flyweight wader offers a quality wader in a tiny package. These waders will fit in a boat box or carry-on luggage with room to spare. If you need waders but want to cut bulk without sacrificing durability, you’ll love the Flyweights. As a paradigm-shifting product, the Flyweights have a multitude of uses, and I believe there are numerous people who can benefit from them, but may not be aware of it. They aren’t your standard waders and have some odd quirks, but they’re a solid piece of gear for even the most discerning outdoorsmen.

See how the Simms Flyweight waders compare to the best waders for fishing.

What Makes the Simms Flyweight Wader Different

The concept behind these waders is simple: to provide users with a packable, lightweight wader that still keeps them dry. Many companies have attempted to do so in the past, but have failed miserably. You got either a product that wasn’t durable and leaked, or one that wasn’t any more packable than standard waders. Simms nailed it with these waders.

Packable Size

When I first held the Flyweights, I was shocked at how small they were. But I still had my doubts. I figured once I unrolled them, I would run into a situation similar to trying to stuff a tent back into its bag after the first use. I was wrong. They roll up small time and time again, even when wet. The packability of these waders is unmatched, providing benefits when packing for flying or anytime you need waders and are short on space.

The waders come with a dry bag for storage, a feature I found to be very handy. This ensures that you can keep the waders dry and clip them to a raft frame or store them in a boat’s storage compartment when not in use.

However, after you use them, be sure to remove them from the dry bag and unroll them to dry. If you don’t, you will experience a level of wader stank this world has never seen.

Thin Neoprene Bootie

I’m not going to name names, but I’ve seen other manufacturers put very strange booties on packable waders. They were basically a plastic bag that went over your feet. That’s not great for warmth or durability.

The Flyweight waders still sport a neoprene bootie, quite a feat considering how small they are when rolled up. Simms achieved this by crafting the bootie from a thin 1mm neoprene.

The thin booties are extremely comfortable. The Simms Flyweight waders make it feel like you’re in tennis shoes. When my buddy and I swapped waders so I could take photos, I was irked about the tight feeling in the booties of his standard waders, which are the same size as mine.

I love that they’re still made of neoprene, but again, they are thin. That means your feet will feel colder than they will in standard neoprene booties. I tested these waders in a tailwater that was sitting at 39 degrees. At that temperature, it was noticeable how much warmer thicker booties were, but I still never had truly frozen feet.

When putting on and taking off these waders, it is essential to keep the thin material in mind. I wouldn’t recommend walking around gravel parking lots in them. You may be able to get away with that in standard booties, but I doubt you could with these. I’ve had zero leaks in mine, but I’m admittedly babying them during the short periods when I don’t have boots over them.

Convertible Strap System

These waders have a great strap system that allows you to convert them to waist-highs in an instant. The straps run through little tabs on the interior of the wader. On the straps, there are two rubber-like strips running the entire length. Those little tabs grab the rubber and hold the wader upper in position.

This allows anglers to have the waders pulled up high like a standard chest wader or convert them to waist height simply by pushing the material down. Your straps stay on your shoulders, ensuring the lower doesn’t sag too low. It also makes going to the bathroom a breeze.

It made the waders very comfortable for all-day use. There are a few upgrades that need to be made to the strap system (more on that later), but if Simms is able to perfect it, I would want this strap system on every wader.

Thin Gravel Guards

The thin gravel guards on the Flyweights were another feature that gave me initial pause, but proved to be trustworthy. This was an area that was wisely selected to reduce bulk. The guards are a unique synthetic material with an elastic collar. Most shockingly, there is no lace hook. I figured there was no way that these gravel guards would stay down and would be quickly lifted up.

However, even in swift current, I found that these gravel guards never once flipped up. I could be wrong on this, but I think it’s because the thin material allows water to run through the guard, so it doesn’t catch and grab the material. Whatever the cause, they just work.

Small, But Retains Durability

The last thing to note on the uniqueness of these waders is their durability. Remember when I said that most lightweight waders are thin, hot garbage? Not these ones.

The lower two-thirds of the Flyweights are an exact replica of standard waders. They are not thin or flimsy and will withstand heavy use. I haven’t seen this done on lightweight waders before. With these waders, you’re getting an actual wader, not a thin waterproof layer. It’s the best execution I’ve seen on making a packable wader that maintains durability.

Although I haven’t tested them for an extended period, I do spend an excessive amount of time in waders. I can examine them and determine which ones will leak and which won’t. I have complete trust in the lower of this wader, although at some point I will make them leak. That’s a given with me.

What I Don’t Like About the Simms Flyweight Wader

The Simms Flyweight waders are built differently from other waders. Some of the things I dislike are, in fact, necessary to achieve the benefit of being highly packable. I’ll go over those things first, and then I’ll go over the things I think Simms outright got wrong.

The Unavoidable

Ultrathin Upper

When I first unpacked these waders, my uncle was sitting next to me. He said, “Dude, those things are made out of a tent.” The upper on the wader looks and feels like a rainfly, which does not instill confidence in terms of durability.

Weight had to be cut somewhere, though. Upon further inspection, I realized the thin material is only found on the upper part of the wader, which is smaller than what you’ll find on other waders. Most uppers start from the waist up, but this one starts just below your sternum.

This portion of the wader is so high up that you’ll rarely ever wade deep enough to submerge it. Of course, I did in order to test its waterproofness (it held up fine).

The only time this portion was submerged was when I started to get that scary light-footed feeling that happens before a river takes control and sends you swimming. So even if it’s not durable, you’re probably not wading that deep anyway.

Lack of Handwarming Pocket and Front Pocket Size

These waders do not feature a kangaroo-style handwarming pocket. The number of times I have reached toward my chest to put my hands in a handwarming pocket, only to realize there isn’t one there, is staggering. It’s like when you forget your phone at the house and realize how often you reach into your pocket to check it.

The zip front pocket is ridiculously big. It’s very easy to lose things in it, and items will shift to the outer edges, forcing you to dig deep to get things out of it. Unfortunately, this is necessary because the entire wader has to fit into that pocket when folded up.

Where the Simms Flyweight Wader Outright Missed

The placement of the wading belt on these waders is awful. It’s super high and rides higher than my belly button, which is very uncomfortable. I have no idea why it was put there.

I also found the fit to be a little off. Overall, they fit fine, but they’re tight in the crotch. My buddies had a better, more accurate way to describe this problem, but in the spirit of professionalism, I’ll spare you the description. The point is that I maintained great maneuverability in the legs and everywhere else but was annoyed with that area.

While I liked the strap system of these waders, it could use an upgrade. There is no way to “lock” the straps in the up position, so the upper part of the wader has a tendency to slip down lower on your body. If you put a single thing in the front pocket, the weight pulls the upper down, and the waders are waist-high. That makes the pocket unusable. Its use is limited to wrapping the wader up for packing.

Who Should Buy the Simms Flyweight Wader

These waders will be a solid addition to most people’s arsenals. I would be willing to bet that 95% of anglers only own one set of waders. Aside from guys who have a special set of duck hunting waders, there hasn’t been a reason for someone to own multiple sets. The Flyweight changes that. Below are situations I see this wader excelling.

Backcountry Fishing

This is the easiest and least creative use for these, but nonetheless, a good use. When discussing packable waders, everyone brings up hiking into high alpine lakes. Being so packable and lightweight makes these very easy to throw in a backpack without taking up loads of room like a normal wader.

When flying into a remote place on a bush plane with weight restrictions, I would absolutely trust these waders to get the job done. In the past, most lightweight waders were so thin that I wouldn’t trust them in harsh environments like those in remote Alaska. But, with the thick four-layer lower, these would serve you well on a weeklong float trip and help with the packing side of things. Historically, waders take up a lot of room, but not these ones.

When You’re at the Truck Asking, ‘Should I Wet Wade, or Put On Waders?”

In the spring and early summer, this is a daily battle for most anglers. You arrive at the river, and it’s only 48 degrees, but in 3 hours, it’s going to be 90. It’s the existential suffer now or suffer later debate. There is no right answer. You’re going to be miserable at some point.

Not anymore. The Simms Flyweight waders pack down to the size of a set of wading socks. On cold mornings in Tennessee, I put on these waders and keep wading socks in my pack or boat bag. When things heat up, I take the Flyweights off, slap on the wading socks, and soak up the sun. The Flyweight waders pack so small that I don’t notice them. That isn’t possible with a normal wader.

Boat Ramp Users

I live in the South, where we typically fish from a boat. My friends and I don’t usually pack waders with us, and that has come back to bite us a time or two.

One time, my buddy and I went to fish the Caney Fork, a tailwater outside of Nashville. We were pulling his Hog Island Skiff, which is a heavy boat. Unfortunately for us, the powers that be decided to go off script from the generation schedule and cut off all water to the river. When we got to the ramp, we couldn’t back the trailer in far enough to start floating the boat.

It quickly became clear that one of us would have to get in the water to push the boat off the trailer. Of course, it was January, and neither of us had waders because we were fishing from a boat. Luckily, a kind-hearted fella who looked like he came straight out of a Duck Dynasty episode walked out in his old neoprenes and launched the boat for us. God bless Southern rednecks.

Now that I have the Simms Flyweight waders, I always keep a pair in a boat storage compartment for emergency use. They don’t take up much room and can really save the day.

Hunters

No, I’m not talking about duck hunting. These waders would be bad for that. I’m talking about big game hunters. My buddies and I often e-scout locations that require a river crossing of some sort because it keeps crowds away on busy public land. In the past, carrying waders for stream crossings was annoying because we were already packing treestands, bows, insulating layers, and all the equipment needed to process a deer.

The Simms Flyweight wader fits perfectly in my hunting backpack and doesn’t add unnecessary bulk. This fall, they’ll live in there.

Final Thoughts on the Simms Flyweight Wader

Overall, I love these waders and applaud Simms for putting so much time and effort into what most would consider a specialty wader. Usually, lightweight waders are treated as an afterthought, and as such, they are done poorly. These are a quality product that I can easily recommend to someone needing a packable option, or for someone who only wears waders on the occasional off-season trip.

With a price of $379, the Simms Flyweight waders are in the lower price range for premium waders and can serve as a great backup set of waders. If you purchase them, you may find yourself in a similar situation to mine.

I’ve found myself wearing them throughout the spring because they’re so much easier to deal with than my standard waders. And, if you’re still on the fence about whether this wader is for you, check out our best fishing waders buyer’s guide.