Patagonia Women’s Swiftcurrent Waders 2020

Reviews

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   I just purchased the Patagonia Swiftcurrent Expedition waders in LRM. I’m 5’10, 205lbs, shoe size 11, 45″ upper torso (i wear a 46 suit coat), 32″ inseam and 34″ waist if I measure before Friday’s at 6PM. I was originally going for the Gallegos which would have been a huge upgrade from my cheap lightweight packable waders I have now. They would also let me get in the winter waters I want to be in here during the Colorado winter. I have never put on waders that were this comfortable, and did not hang on me like a clown suit. The construction is like nothing I have seen before in waders and I’ve been eyeballing all the good goretex stuff from some of the other top tier brands for a good bit. These are a little different to get in to as in they are much closer fitting. The fly shop owner where I tried them on at was next to me while I was getting them on and he was like, “you know what I think I have the next size up” and I was like “no – bro, this is gonna work” not really thinking it would. Once I had them fully on and pulled up the chest to the correct height and locked in the suspenders and the belt (way better belt than the Gallegos), there was plenty of room for both layers in the bottoms and the torso area. They really felt like they were tailored for me. I took a knee and made all the wonky movements that I would be likely to do and it almost felt like I wasn’t wearing waders. They do have a mass to them but the fit is so different than other waders, well older waders anyhow, that these seem very slim or close to you without any bunching up at all.
   Patagonia got rid of the buckle in the back suspender on these, with the intent that the back goes up and down like the front ones that have the buckle lock but I had to kind of jockey it around to get the back up again after the front. Still doable though and I immediately thought that I would not like the back buckle lock on the Gallegos.
   My ultimate decision to purchase from Patagonia was from the many stories on record of their stellar customer service. Got it they had some wader issues a few years ago and I tracked the evolution in Q/A that got them to today.
   Even though I will be the $5 fly-fisherman in the $650 waders, I figure they will last a long time, especially with the added guarantee that Patagonia provides with wading products. Hopefully I wont have a polka-dot pattern of sealer all over my back end and knees by the end of the year like I do on my cheap ones.
   I’m going to higher elevation tomorrow (8,000’+) in temps pushing less than 10F and putting these to the test, but I have a feeling I will be the one put to the test in the end. They are obviously very durable but I will follow up.
   One more thing, when I wore them around the house this eve I stuck one foot in a bootie without my liner and wool sock and it was crazy comfortable with whatever comfortableness they have down in that thing. I have never had a bootie like that (haha). I will always wear a thin liner but you can totally tell you don’t need one provided you have the right insulated boot for the water/ambient conditions. Pretty cool.
   In hindsight I’m thinking I maybe should have went with the front zip (I drink a lot of coffee)?
   I should punch myself right in the mouth for paying the price-tag for these, but will wait to judge after a few wades before I hold myself accountable. They really are the quality that is described, but truly time will tell.

   Ted Schwinn