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Professional guides seek out the best gear possible. The success of a trip weighs heavily on the quality of your equipment. There is no more important piece of gear that protects your body, and keeps you warm and dry than a pair of quality waders. Simms waders do everything a fly fisher could ask and more. When any fly fisher searches for the most reliable pair of waders to be found, the Simms G4Z is the ultimate pair.

Simms waders’ built-in durability withstands abuse above the normal wear. Professional fly fishers beat their gear hard. If the Simms G4Z waders can withstand daily professional abuse, then they will last forever in the hands of recreational fly anglers. Longevity is a necessity for gear to be placed in the quality category. The strength found in the Simms wader material offers a level of protection that is usually found in a pair of upland chaps. The leg material busts through brush and riverside vegetation with ease. Guides would comment repeatedly that the G4Z has the best zipper.

The inclusion of a functional and waterproof zipper enhances the performance of the G4Z. Seasonal wear and practical applications in the cold reinforce the appreciation of a front zipper. When activity increases your temperature, venting is easily achieved by unzipping the front. The zipper makes layering clothing underneath a breeze. Access to valuable items that are kept in pant pockets such as licenses, a fire starter or car keys is easily achieved when a practical zipper is introduced to an already bomber product.

When I asked numerous longtime professional guides for their opinions on the ultimate waders, I received an overwhelming response in favor of the G4Z. Anglers and hunters both revered the G4Z for its excellent performance.

In this day and age, an American-made product carries a higher degree of value — especially on a personal level. Simms offers continued attention for customers who have invested so heavily in a pair of waders. The company will recondition your waders. Patching bothersome leaks, replacing faulty tape and reattaching wading belt loops if the need develops. When accidents happen, factory repairs restore your confidence that the waders are still going to perform as needed.

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There are two waterproof interior pockets. Hand warmer pockets are fleece lined. The G4Z has broad, extended shoulder straps that spread out the weight for increased comfort during a long day — unlike narrow suspender straps that can wear into your shoulders. The neoprene booties pair well with any wading boots.

The only hold back on the Simms G4Z is the price point. They are expensive. All I can say is, quality costs. But when they last longer than two of any other pair, the cost seems justified.

Admirable second string honors fell upon the Patagonia ߣÏÈÉúcurrent Traverse Zip Front waders. It’s a much more economical price point for a reliable and very comfortable zipper wader alternative to the Simms G4Z. The lighter weight fabric flexes and moves easily for scrambling over boulders and climbing in and out of boats.

The same legendary guarantee that made Patagonia famous can be felt in every stitch of the ߣÏÈÉúcurrent Traverse Zip Front waders. This pair is not the top-shelf, zippered wader offering from Patagonia. But, they are revered by guides as the best zipper wader deal from Patagonia. Fit, feel and features place these waders in a favorites column for a number of professional fly-fishing guides. Maneuverability and flexibility are not impaired like in other poorly-fitted waders.

The YKK zipper on the ߣÏÈÉúcurrent Traverse is the same zipper found on the more expensive Expedition Zip Front wader. The shoulder straps release and lower to create a waist-high wader. Between the lightweight feel and the convertibility, these waders will function well in warmer temperatures.

One thing that rings clear from all of the guides I spoke to: zipper waders are quickly becoming a necessity rather than an amenity. The Simms G4Zs were the waders all the others were measured up against. Patagonia is producing some zipper waders to compete with the Simms models, which remain the product everyone talks about. One thing is clear, the Simms G4Z was the overwhelming favorite among the Vail Valley Anglers guides.

For professional guides who demand excellent performance or recreational anglers desiring the best, the Simms G4Z is the ultimate pair of waders.

Michael Salomone has lived in the Eagle River valley since 1992. He started his professional guiding career in 2002 and currently guides for Vail Valley Anglers. He lives on the bank of the Eagle River with his wife, Lori, his youngest daughter, Ella, and a yellow Labrador named Poppy. His published writing has appeared in Southwest Fly Fishing, Fly Rod & Reel, Eastern Fly Fishing, On the Fly, FlyLords, the Pointing Dog Journal, Upland Almanac, TROUT, American Fly Fishing, USA Today Hunt & Fish and Fly Fisherman magazines.