Let's face it, buying waders for duck hunting is a drag. We spend all of this money, we put them through every rough situation imaginable, and inevitably what ends up happening? They tear or get a leak. It's natural. Nobody puts as much wear on their gear as duck hunters, and I fall into this category. Now, I wish I could tell you that I found a list of waders that will never fail you. I want to claim these waders will keep you comfortable on every one of your hunts as you go through the harshest conditions Mother Nature can throw at you, year after year. But I can't.
What I can do is admit this: while it might be impossible to find anything that will hold up after the brutal wear dedicated duck hunters put on them, I have tested some of the best waders on the market. I narrowed down my top five waders—whichever you pick out of these five has a good chance of becoming your most trusted ally this coming duck season.
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Best Duck Hunting Waders of 2022
1. The Pricey But Worth It Pick
SITKA Delta Zip Wader - Sitka, $999
With a price tag of $1,000, the Delta Zip Waders from SITKA get a lot of attention (some good, some not-so-good). If any wader is worth a thousand big ones, it's this one. The GORE-TEX layer makes these extremely comfortable and warm even in the frigid late-season temperatures if layered properly. The collaboration with LaCrosse for the insulated boots is a nice touch, and they provide warmth to your feet that I haven't found with any other wader. The Delta Zips feature a waterproof YKK AQUASEAL zipper, durable knee and shin pads, storage pockets, and even a hand warmer pocket, which goes unused on my pair but I know some hunters really appreciate. Yes, they'll cost you more than most of their competitors, and a few of my friends cannot order them because they only go up to a size 13 boot. But trust me, they're about the best duck hunting chest waders you can get.
2. The Most Comfortable
Chêne Gear Waders - $1,100
Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, the Chêne Gear Wader has emerged on the scene as a serious asset to waterfowlers in every flyway. Our editor has owned these for the better part of a season, and can't stop raving about them. They're noticeably more durable, built from a premium 4-layer waterproof/breathable nylon fabric, plus they have a C6 DWR finish on the face fabric and an Agion antimicrobial treatment for odor control. The shoulder straps get a lot of the attention, as they're super comfortable and completely adjustable in a more form-fitting way than other waders. There's also an additional cover over the neoprene upper of the boot that helps decrease abrasion and punctures on that super-sensitive, leak-prone area where many waders begin their slow death. And if you snag a pair of these waders this season, Chêne will send along a Federal Duck Stamp for your patronage. If that isn't a cool, meaningful promo, we don't know what is.
3. The Newest Waders We're Excited About
Duck Camp Zip Waders - $749
The anticipation of Duck Camp's first drop of waders is at an all-time high. Fans (like myself) have been curious for years as to why these bird-hunting lovers haven't made a wader yet, and finally, our prayers are answered. These new Duck Camp Zip Waders had been available for preorder for about a month before officially beginning shipping at the beginning of September. Because of this, I haven't had a chance to test them yet, but believe me, I will.
The body consists of nylon and polyester blended fabrics, which makes it an extraordinarily breathable wader and yet still waterproof. The zipper runs from the right side of your chest down to your groin, allowing easy access to a full front zip pocket. The MOLLE attachment system and the hidden zipper pockets seem well thought out. The waders feature removable shin and knee pads which is great for easy cleaning. The integrated boot features 1000g Thinsulate, perfect for those January hunts.
4. Our Reliable & Affordable Pick
LaCrosse Alpha Agility Waders - $689.95 - $791.35
LaCrosse has been making some of the best rubber hunting boots for over a century, so designing a duck wader seemed like a no-brainer. And they did not disappoint with the Alpha Agility bootfoot waders. The company makes these waders from very breathable and waterproof nylon. However, the absence of polyester makes them relatively stiff and rigid to move in, which can be a pain getting in and out of boats.
The featured boots are the most comfortable wader boots I have had the pleasure of using, which goes a long way with duck hunters. The removable liner is a genius innovation that I take advantage of several times throughout the duck season, as the weather can be so unpredictable at that time of the year, especially here in the midwest. Their sizing on the waders is confusing, as the range ranges from Medium to Stout to King. That cannot be easy to navigate for hunters in between sizes, such as myself. I went with a Stout, thinking it was closest to a large, which slightly rode up on my groin. Overall these are a great pair of waders with an incredible, iconic boot. These start at $690, a solid price point for a durable pair of waders. Their warranty is two years from the date of purchase, which doesn't compare to that of SITKA or Duck Camp, but is still respectable.
5. The Best Value
Frogg Toggs Grand Refuge 3.0 - Academy, $549.99
From strictly a value-based point of view, it is hard to compete with the Grand Refuge 3.0 by Frogg Toggs. These waders, priced lower than the rest, come with features and quality that you would expect from a $700 pair of waders.
These waders are impressive with a 1200g Thinsulate Ridgebuster boot, 4-Ply polyester upper, fleece internal pocket, and a patented zip-out interior liner. The one downside of these waders is that they do not feature shin or knee pads, which can be overlooked due to the heavy-duty nylon fabrics in those areas and the price point. They kept me surprisingly warm on a few late-season hunts. They performed better in that category than some of the more expensive competitors. For someone who is just getting into duck hunting and is willing to swap out some of the more technical features for comfort, these are the waders to buy!
Waders are an important piece of hunting equipment, and they are typically subjected to a beating and put through some pretty extreme conditions. Some feel like it's almost an inevitability that your waders will fail you at some point, but choosing high-quality and finding a pair that feels best for you will limit that.
I always recommend that people do their research and ideally even try on their waders before they buy. What might fit me may not be the most comfortable for you. If you can compare, focus on basic feeling during movement as well as breathability and freedom of motion.
Ultimately, know that the best waders are the ones that keep you warm and dry, but that you don't have to think about much. If they're able to become a seamlessly-added part of your hunting apparel collection, then you've made the right choice.
