Shaun Martin
Testing out the Patagonia Middle Fork Packable waders and River Salt Boots, head to toe in slate gray, or what I like to call trout camo.
- Patagonia's Middle Fork Packable Waders ($349) aren't cheap, but they weigh all of 26 ounces and roll up into an 8-inch (more like 4-inch in my experience) by 13-inch pouch the size of an inflatable camping pillow.
- Patagonia x Danner's River Salt Wading Boots ($449) come with another steep price tag, but they're resole-able, and they're the lightweight and grippy brainchild of one of the most reputable boot brands in history.
- I've been wearing both for about six months between fresh and saltwater, but recently brought them along on a recent fly-fishing excursion to Wyoming. Here's why I'm enamored.
There's nothing like those heavy, oversized neoprene waders of yore, with their cheaply sealed boot gaskets. They do the trick to keep you dry and warm, and they last years with a bit of care (a patch job or a boot seal) here and there. I still keep a pair of them on hand for mid-winter shenanigans near home. But flying around the country - or the world - with them? Out of the question.
Until recently, I'd made a habit of buying a cheap pair of waders wherever I went to fish and doing my best to sell them on my way out, without much success. That, or I was borrowing a hole-ridden, ill-fitting pair from a friend or family member. Not only was that unsafe (think wet feet and legs in frigid waters at best, and drowning at worst), it was downright uncomfortable, especially considering what microbial activity might have been at play (no, I don't recommend borrowing wetsuits, for that matter, either). I'm too old for all of that nonsense these days.
Now, "breathable" waders made from nylon and polyester are nothing new, but keep in mind that "breathable" is relative here, and their job, after all, is to be anything but breathable. They've been around for years, and they've also been prohibitively expensive. There are affordable ones, which I've also traveled with, and highly recommend (for a budget pair of breathable waders, check out Hodgman), but they're still not all that easy to get into a suitcase.
And, for reference, the sky is the limit, but I watched a friend go through the initial agony of shelling out for a pair from a well-known brand a few years ago only to witness him experiencing an ensuing pain when, miles into the woods on their maiden voyage, he caught a tree snag and tore them wide open. Yeah, I thought, I'll stick with my 20-pound neoprene waders, thank you.
Along came Patagonia's Middle Fork Packable Waders, which, paired with the River Salt Wading Boots, a Patagonia and Danner collaboration, have opened up a whole new world of possibilities based on the simple fact that together, they both fit into my tiny carry-on suitcase and weigh just a hair over five pounds. They're a pretty penny or two (you're looking at an $800 price tag for the set), but let's face it: Fly fishing was never going to be an inexpensive habit.
If you happen to be in the habit of making rounds to the old haunts of Zane Gray, Ted Williams, Lefty Kreh, and that lot, you're going to need something you can pack, and chances are good that if you're flying left, right, and center to get to such hallowed grounds, you can afford it. And even speaking as someone who can't: It's worth it.
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