I just had one of the most enjoyable sessions of flyfishing I can remember, and it’s the fly I have
to thank for it—not the wooly bugger I’ve been casting into these chilly March pools on Utah’s
Weber River, but the center front zipper on these Grundéns Boundary GORE-TEX Zip
Stockingfoot Waders.

I tend to enjoy having a cold one or two on the river, tucked into the can holster of my chest
pack. It’s darn pleasant sipping Mexican beer in between casts—until nature calls that is. And
then begins the whole process of undoing my net, unclipping and taking off the chest pack, then
undoing bibs and wading belt only to end up usually dripping pee down the front of the
waders—which I try to pretend is just water, or at worst some spilled Modelo. But the fly on
these waders is an absolute game changer. I can be into the woods for relief and back to casting
within a minute, as opposed to the 15-minute ordeal it used to be.

But enough pee stories. The fly isn’t the only thing I loved about these things. This is one of
those rare products where you put it on and think wow, have I really been missing out on this all
this time? Every detail stands out, from the comfortable suspender situation, to the rugged
quality feel of the pockets, to the way the zipper locks to keep it from riding down.

Video: Grundéns.

I tested these waders on a chilly March afternoon in Utah, with wind whipping to the point that it
made casting difficult. My hands were freezing, but everything else felt toasty warm. Staying
warm and dry should be an expectation from any top-of-the-line wader, but that doesn’t necessarily go without saying when you’re standing in running snow melt while people just up
the road are still enjoying ski season.

Accustomed to the standard S, M, L and XL size choices, it was interesting to be able to choose a
specific size that takes into account not only inseam length, but also girth and shoe size. As a
result, I chose L KING (9-11) instead of my normal XL. (I’m 6-foot, 220 pounds, and wear a
10.5 or 11 shoe). The result was an excellent fit—enough room to layer underneath with none of
the extra bulk that makes it harder to stand in a swift current. These waders fit me better than the
suit I wore to my wedding, and I looked damn good at my wedding—at least that’s what my wife
says.

The fishing was slow that cold March afternoon, but standing in the river in these Grundéns was
as comfortable as possible. Sitting back on the bank, I reached into my pack to pull out another
drink.

Hear more about the Grundéns Boundary GORE-TEX Zip
Stockingfoot Waders from the company’s category director, Curtis Grave. Video: Grundéns.

Grundéns Boundary GORE-TEX Zip Stockingfoot Waders retail for $899.99 and are available in a variety sizes. We recommend supporting your local shop and looking for them there first. Otherwise, you can order directly from Grundéns here.