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[Aki]

Just had my G4s with zipper sent back to Simms for repairs by Nick at Hatch Match'r in Maple Ridge...heavily used and they showed it with booties torn up (no leaks), one belt buckle broken and one pocket zipper not functioning...hopefully they come back fixed up! I have had the waders for 10 years and they have been excellent (the zipper has been invaluable and used heavily)...a little story...just over 10 years ago I had the front part of my earlier G4s eaten by rats (long story) and I sent them in for an evaluation with a funny story attached....Simms liked the story enough to send me a brand new pair of waders...class company!

[John Revolver]

@ John Revolver - it sounds like you repaired a similar area yourself.  Did you end up patching/using aquaseal on the seams?  I know this will work, but I was told that any such work on the seams will render them un-repairable by Simms.

Yes All of it.  Aqua seal and shoe goo on the outside seams, and gore-tex patches along the inside seams. All repairs done on the upper inseam/crotch areas. I've beat these damn things to a pulp over 5 years of steelheading ect and the lowersection and booties are still flawless with zero leaks - awesome .  Its super rare for me to wade above my thighs so I'm going to run these things as far as I can stretch them.  I'm waaaay past the point of sending them into simms. if I did, these things would probably be quarantined and burned.

Last year I seriously considered "upgrading" to the g4z but at this point I sort of like the character of my battle weary G3s and all of the epic memories and Steelhead I've landed with them.

[Aki]

Further to my note below, Simms evaluated my waders as ‘unrepairable’ and sent me a brand new pair of G4Z waders under warranty...amazing...

Just had my G4s with zipper sent back to Simms for repairs by Nick at Hatch Match'r in Maple Ridge...heavily used and they showed it with booties torn up (no leaks), one belt buckle broken and one pocket zipper not functioning...hopefully they come back fixed up! I have had the waders for 10 years and they have been excellent (the zipper has been invaluable and used heavily)...a little story...just over 10 years ago I had the front part of my earlier G4s eaten by rats (long story) and I sent them in for an evaluation with a funny story attached....Simms liked the story enough to send me a brand new pair of waders...class company!

[Wiseguy]

Simms G4 for the last 5 yrs of bushwhacking, climbing over log jams and falling down numerous times and still going strong. The neoprene stockings have never leaked and only a couple of aqua seal repairs on the legs. With my insulated Simms rain jacket I can be out there snug as a bug in the worst of winter weather. #Simmsforlife

[RalphH]

Been about 6 years since this post was active and things may have changed  so may be it should rise from the dead?

I am looking at buying new waders after 12 years of wearing Simms G3s. Any new opinions on Simms vs Patagonia? Always heard good things about Pati's product  support. Free shipping after drop off at the Vancouver store.

Hate to say it but I am also considering the need to avoid American made given the tariff threat. Even US consumers seem to be switching given my recent google search.

Anyone with recent experience?

[Fish Assassin]

e.

Hate to say it but I am also considering the need to avoid American made given the tariff threat. Even US consumers seem to be switching given my recent google search.

You're not the only one. Screw Trump

[canucksfan233]

I have patagonia and my buddy has simms g4, both of us bought ours roughly the same time.

I have always said the price is def better for patagonia and his waders are falling apart a bit around the boot, where mine have not.

He said if he did it again, he would go with patagonia.

One thing I feel like is underrated is that patagonia comes with the cell phone pouch for free where simms you need to pay for the attachment.

The swiftcurrents expeditions have the zipper if you want to buck up for those which is a nice plus.

I have also heard that the warranty on patagonia is way better than simms.

Another one of our buddies is looking to buy a new top tier waders, I recommended patagonia and he did as well.

Him and I have both roughly the same amount of fishing days in the waders.

[BMo86]

Not to throw a wrench into the convo, but has anyone tried out the grundens waders??

[psd1179]

I have patagonia and my buddy has simms g4, both of us bought ours roughly the same time.

I have always said the price is def better for patagonia and his waders are falling apart a bit around the boot, where mine have not.

He said if he did it again, he would go with patagonia.

One thing I feel like is underrated is that patagonia comes with the cell phone pouch for free where simms you need to pay for the attachment.

The swiftcurrents expeditions have the zipper if you want to buck up for those which is a nice plus.

I have also heard that the warranty on patagonia is way better than simms.

Another one of our buddies is looking to buy a new top tier waders, I recommended patagonia and he did as well.

Him and I have both roughly the same amount of fishing days in the waders.

I send my 2021 Patagonia Gallegos for repair. the Neoprane socks leaked. Dropped off in Vancouver store in Dec 2024, arrived back home quietly a few days ago. Both socks were replaced new. Did not call me, did not charge.

[RalphH]

Not to throw a wrench into the convo, but has anyone tried out the grundens waders??

Positive reviews are on line, so do a google search. I see no reason why they should not be competitive though Norway is a ways to ship if they need service.

I have bought a pair of Patagonia's Swift Current Zip Expedition waders for reasons other than brand rep. They were on sale. I had a few GCs I had cached over the last year or so. I haven't used the waders yet but am happy I got the zip waders as trying them on in store just made it all so obviously easy. I have a Patagonia rain jacket  (River Salt model) and one zipper was problematic. The Vancouver store got it serviced locally - no charge. If I had a Simms jacket it would have be gone for a couple months and cost shipping plus repair. I don't want to see anything bad happen to Simms and I hope they get their product quality back to where it was just 5 or 6 years ago. My impressions related here were backed up in shop when I bought the Swift Current Zs.

[chief]

Have used Patagonia + Simms in the past but most recently have worn Vision Zipper front waders + now on 3rd pair and can highly recommend them  Designed in Finland + made in  S Korea I believe

[canucksfan233]

I send my 2021 Patagonia Gallegos for repair. the Neoprane socks leaked. Dropped off in Vancouver store in Dec 2024, arrived back home quietly a few days ago. Both socks were replaced new. Did not call me, did not charge.

From what I've heard is that Patagonia really took a step up on the quality of waders with the swiftcurrent version pushing them into the top tier wader tier.
There is a new version that should be coming out this month as well (hence the sales on the swiftcurrents), but I think it's going to be something very similar but a bit more pricey.

Also doubt Simms quality and service will every go back to what they were as they got bought out, but I have heard their wading boots are very solid. Just my 2 cents...

[canoeboy]

I bought a pair of the simms Freestones in October and had both boots develop holes in them by middle of November. I sent them in at the end of November for repair as they have 1 year warrenty on repairs. I just heard back from them last week. " your waders have reached end of life and we will not be repairing them" I'm on my 4th pair of simms waders in 4 and a half years. It's safe to say I will not be going with them going forward.

On another note simms boots are amazing. I just bought a new pair this year and my old pair still work perfectly fine just a little too much wear on the felt soles. But 5 years of use is amazing to me especially when I fish 4-7 days a week from September to March.

[RalphH]

so after 6 weeks of use they said your waders were at the end of their expected product life?

I have heard the neoprene booties on the Freestones couldn't be replaced but I would have thought they would at least patch the leaks with aquaseal or whatever the use for that purpose.

[ShaunO]

I bought a pair of the simms Freestones in October and had both boots develop holes in them by middle of November. I sent them in at the end of November for repair as they have 1 year warrenty on repairs. I just heard back from them last week. " your waders have reached end of life and we will not be repairing them" I'm on my 4th pair of simms waders in 4 and a half years. It's safe to say I will not be going with them going forward.

On another note simms boots are amazing. I just bought a new pair this year and my old pair still work perfectly fine just a little too much wear on the felt soles. But 5 years of use is amazing to me especially when I fish 4-7 days a week from September to March.

I can't speak about the end of life comments, but Simms and the local retailer you bought them from should provide a way to honour the warranty.  Assuming you bought them new, you shouldn't be out what you paid for them. 

That said, if your going through a pair of waders a year on average, you might want to get a higher end model that can endure whatever you're throwing at it.  To me, it's like using a 1/2 ton truck to do a one tons job.  It might get it done for a while, but it won't last very long.  Freestones are great value for the price point, but they are value.  Of all the models in the Simms lineup, they are the second least expensive model which means it has less material and less production costs than higher end models like the G3 Guide or the G4.  I personally have the G4 (non zip front) and have put 30 to 40 river days on a season and I don't experience any quality or workmanship issues.  Now, there's been a time or two on a mossy rock or ice where I've slipped and eaten cupcakes and damaged the waders, but that's my own doing.