With temperatures cooling toward those crisp fall days, it’s time to get back on the river and fish. It was time to upgrade my waders, which had a slow leak, letting in just enough water to be miserable and soggy by the end of the day. The new Redington Sonic-Pro waders were designed specifically for women. The new design has a four-layer construction for ultimate waterproof durability. So I hooked on a pair and hit the water.
The overall fit of the Redington Sonic-Pro waders was impeccable. Let’s be honest, I usually feel like I am slipping into an oversized garbage bag cinched at the waist. I am going to use a word I am not sure has ever been associated with waders – flattering. While the waders still fit all my necessary base layers, they have restructured the seams to women’s body shapes. The material is smooth, and surprisingly quiet, with just enough flex to make moving around the bank a lot easier. The stretch side panels have just enough give to all the flexibility I need to net fish and retrieve my flies from trees. An added bonus of the reduction in volume is that the whole thing rolls down and fits into a compression stuff sack and makes it easy to travel with (pro tip: make sure its dry first).
The upgrade to 4mm booties is a dream come true. I didn’t realize what my feet were missing out on with 3mm, but the difference is undeniable. Nothing against Redington, but my undersized feet did not fit the booties well, with an excess of neoprene escaping the top of my boots. This forces some finagling before I can walk very far, but once in place stays there. My absolute favorite feature, on both warm and cold days, is the fleece kangaroo pouch pocket on the front for warming up your hands, like an old-school winter muff. And the real proof of just how indispensable the booties and the handwarmer pocket will come in January, on the Frying Pan when I am able to cast for a couple extra hours.
Other than the fleece pocket, there are two other chest pockets, a zippered outer pocket and an open-topped mesh inner pouch. The inner pouch has a detachable waterproof bag for your phone and a key clip. Though getting away from any “flattering” adjectives, I used this inner pocket for a box of flies, keeping them handy all day. Then put my phone in the zippered front, because even though I use fishing to disconnect, you still have to get the shot. The combo use of the pockets led to a bulky protrusion off the front of the waders, but didn’t hamper my maneuverability at all.
The Redington Sonic-Pro waders have a combination of waterproof yet breathable. This equalizes hot temperatures by the time the sun hit its zenith, up against chilly temps underfoot. But between the extra cozy booties and the breathable membrane of the fabric, I was able to balance my core temps and stay out on the river all day. These waders were made for women that fish all types of water, and have thought of all the features to make every day on the river comfortable so you can focus on nothing but the fish.
