When I first saw the Swiftcurrent Packable Waders from Patagonia, I had two thoughts:
- It’s incredible how packable these waders actually are.
- There can’t be a whole lot of use for these waders.
Having now spent time with these waders, I can gladly report that I was right about #1 and wrong about #2.
When holding the large burrito-sized stuffsack (with the waders inside), it hard not to be impressed with how light the waders are. But this is why I thought there would be limited use. These waders pack down to 8×13 inches and weighs only 36 ounces. This is in part because Patagonia was able to cut weight with minimal material in the suspenders and thin rubber (rather than neoprene) booties.
However, it was the booties that raised concern about practical use of these waders. Mistakenly thinking that these booties meant that the waders would really only meet the needs of anglers when water is warmer, I assumed they could only really be used in the summer. This is not the case. Additionally, 4-layers of Patagonia’s H2No® Performance Standard shell removes my concern about durability and wearing these waders in cold weather and water.
For the traveling angler or anglers that enjoy hiking to trout, these waders are simply superb. Lightweight, durable, breathable while also fitting well with 13 size options, these waders are brilliantly designed and fit the need of anglers on the move.
To learn more about the Patagonia Swiftcurrent Packable Waders, please click here.
– Tim Harden
Disclosure: Patagonia is in a professional relationship with the The Venturing Angler. Though potentially benefiting from this relationship, we do not post what we do not believe to be true. To read more, click here.