Not having a good wading jacket can really make or break your day out on the water.
Patagonia makes some of the best wading jackets on the market.
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Best BudgetPatagonia Ultralight Packable Jacket |
| Check Today's Price |
| Best OverallPatagonia River Salt Jacket |
| Check Today's Price |
| Best Mid RangePatagonia SST Jacket |
| Check Today's Price |
In my opinion, a fly fishing wading jacket needs to tick a few boxes, below I will go over Patagonia’s wading jackets in the hope to make your choice a little easier.
Patagonia Wading Jackets
Patagonia Ultralight Packable Jacket
Key Features:
- Waterproof, breathable, lightweight, 3-layer H2No® Performance Standard shell
- DWR (durable water repellent)
- Integrated brimmed hood has an easy-to-use cinch
- Large, water-resistant front-chest pocket
- Articulated arms for a range of motion
- YKK zippers
- Fitz Roy logo on chest
- 230 g (8.1 oz)
- $249
Pros
- Packs into a very small ball
- Can be used for other outdoor activities
- YKK zippers are waterproof
- Fair Trade Certified™ sewn
Cons
- Cuffs don’t prevent water from coming in
The Check AvidMax Price is a great lightweight wading jacket for fly fishing or any other outdoor activity really.
It comes in 2 colors, Joya blue, and a lovely salt grey.
The wading jacket itself could double as a casual rainjacket which makes it more of an attraction. The large front chest pocket could be seen as a little odd for an urban jacket but let’s not forget why you bought it originally, fishing!
The large front pocket is ideal for fly fishing and holds a large fly box with ease.
The adjustable hood is brimmed, fits very well, and doesn’t restrict movement or vision, as some of the other fly fishing wading jackets do.
All the zippers are corrosion-resistant and have the DWR (durable water repellent) finish.
The one thing worth mentioning is that the Patagonia Ultralight wading jacket is not really suited for deep wading as its length could be an issue but if you are ok with it getting a little wet then go for it.
This Patagonia Wading jacket has the Fair Trade Certified sewn certification which is a great step in the right direction, a step that more companies should look at supporting.
Overall the Ultralight is a very versatile jacket ideal for those days on the water where the weather may turn a little nasty later on.
Patagonia River Salt Jacket
Key Features:
- Burly waterproof shell to keep you dry on rainy days
- 4-layer H2No performance standard shell offers rugged waterproofing
- Adjustable hood stays in place at high speeds
- Drawcord hem with mesh casing drains quickly when you wade
- Watertight cuffs ensure that water doesn’t sneak up your sleeves
- Zippered chest pockets are sized to hold fly boxes
- Waterproof front zipper stops rain and sprays from getting in
- $349
Pros
- Waterproof breathable barrier
- Thick and durable
- Runs true to size
- Very comfy
- Cuffs work well
- Comfy adjustable hood
- Great versatility
Cons
- Minimal pockets
- Zippers corrode
- Zipper issues
- Snap buttons
- Not electronic friendly
The Check AvidMax Price is the ultimate combination of outdoor ruggedness with a slick casual-cool look. This obviously is emphasized with the Patagonia stamp of approval and ingenious design.
This fishing jacket is made from the same material that Patagonia makes their Rio Gallegos waders from. The River Salt jacket has a 4 layered polyester microfiber construction which is waterproof and breathable at the same time it also has the DWR (durable water repellent) finish — and it sheds water just as well as the waders do.
One of the key factors to this River Salt jacket is that it’s surprisingly good at wicking moisture from the inside out, which goes a very, very long way towards keeping you warm on the coldest of days. It has been mentioned that some of the pockets aren’t that great for electronics due to slight moisture build-up but then again this can happen to any pocket in any wading jacket.
The YKK Vislon Aquaguard zipper does a brilliant job at keeping all water out even when you are in the heaviest of storms, the River Salt still has the additional clip flap to cover the zipper which may not be necessary but is seen as a finishing touch to wading jackets.
Not getting ice-cold water all the way up to your arm when you have to reach into the water is a huge plus in my eyes and the lockdown cuffs on the river salt do this very well especially when you are retrieving a fly or untangling your fly line.
Another stand-out element of the River Salt is that it has a lovely slim-lined design without losing any pocket storage. Most other wading jackets that have large storage abilities are very bulky and don’t look very nice. Their pockets are most often a velcro base which snags fly line all the time but Patagonia has managed this very well on the River Salt, the River Salt’s pockets are slim-lined, and don’t snag your fly line which is great