Women’s Fly Fishing Clothing and Gear: Options, Who Makes It, & Why It’s Important.
Fly fishing is becoming more inclusive, with more and more women getting into the sport and becoming less of a boy’s club. Women are wading, rowing, casting, and catching, and the industry is noticing. And the days of wearing unflattering oversized men’s waders and boots are disappearing, and that’s a fantastic thing!
I remember when I started fly fishing. My husband, who’s a guide, would take me out on the Deschutes, and I would be stuck wearing a pair of his boots and waders. I remember trying to get his men’s medium waders over my women’s large butt thinking, “this is so unflattering, uncomfortable, and kind of embarrassing.”
Now, eight years later, I have the gear and clothing made for my body so I can get after it, have fun, be confident, and catch more fish than him!
So, let’s talk about women’s fly fishing clothing and gear. What the differences are, why it’s important, what our options are, who makes it, and where to buy it.
Women and men are shaped differently, and in the world of technical clothing and gear, we all need products that fit us well. In general, women have more curves around the hips and butt, narrower shoulders, shorter in height, and narrower feet. In the past, women were stuck with clothing and gear that was too long, narrow, difficult to move in, and downright unflattering. But that’s changing.
There are now waders, wading boots, shirts, jackets, packs, and other accessories that are made for women.
And why is women’s specific fly fishing gear important?
When fly fishing clothing and gear are comfortable, fit, and function well, women have so much more confidence, fun, and success on the water.
Imagine skiing in boots that are one size too big. Your feet will blister, you’ll get little control of your skis because your feet are slopping around, and your ski day will be pretty sucky. But if you’re boots fit, all that changes. You have control, your turns are faster, and your day is unbelievably good. And the same goes for fly fishing. The right gear makes for a great day.
So, what types of women’s specific fly fishing gear and clothing are there?
Waders: Women’s waders are generally more generous in areas where we are curvier, think butt, hips, thighs, etc. Some manufacturers make a standard sizing option and offer a full-size option for even more room in the hips, chest and, additional length in the inseam. As a size 12 woman with quite a curvy figure, this is a huge bonus!
And manufacturers are using the same technology, features, and quality that the guys get in women’s waders. Heavy duty materials like GORE-TEX Pro that holds up to tough conditions and is way more durable over time, not just the lightweight materials that are only for the most casual of anglers. So, say goodbye to the oversized crotch area, lack of room in the butt, and to shrink it and pink it!
Boots: Women’s wading boots are generally narrower, especially in the heel, giving us a better fitting boot for stable wading. There are also more sizing options, from 5 to 12, where most men’s wading boots only go down to a size men’s 7. Having the right size boot gives you a better fit, feel and gives you more stability for confident wading.
Pants & tights: Sure, you can wear your everyday jeans or tights under your waders, but there are options from top brands that offer a similar function and design as men’s under wader pants. Thicker fleece pants for cold weather wading from Orvis and Patagonia, or super fun tights from Fishe Wear.
Whatever bottoms you decide to wear, generally you want something fitted so they don’t bunch up under your waders. And you want something with stretch so you can easily get in and out of the boat or from the water to the bank with ease.
Shirts: From lightweight sun shirts to warm mid-layers, there are quite a few fly fishing tops out there for women. Sun protection is more critical than ever, so grab a lightweight hooded sun shirt from Patagonia or a lightweight button-up shirt from Simms. On colder days, throw on a warm and cozy mid-layer to keep you insulated so you can fish longer on those chili days.
Lightweight fly fishing specific tops will usually offer UPF, stretch, and breathability. Mid weight tops or layering pieces generally offer warmer materials, like down or synthetic insulation, or merino wool. They might also have a water-resistant coating like DWR and will also have some stretch for movement when launching big casts on cold rivers in the winter.
Jackets: There are a few jacket options for women that fit and have the same features as men’s jackets. Waterproof for those rainy days on the Deschutes in the winter. And multi-use pockets for fly boxes, tools, and hand warmers, giving us easier access to the tools we need on the water.
Packs: There aren’t as many women’s specific fly fishing packs, but most hip packs, sling packs, and backpacks come with all sorts of adjustments. All these adjustable straps mean women can make the torso length shorter or longer, chest straps that will fit around the girls, and waist straps that adjust to all widths. And all that means a better fitting, more comfortable pack that can hold all your flies, tools, and gear needs.
Accessories: Sunglasses, hats, buffs, gloves, and other accessories we take fishing are also being designed for women. Sometimes, the fit’s the same, and these items are considered unisex, but with more colors, designs, and sizes, there’s more choices and options no matter your style or shape.
So, we know that it’s important to have functional gear and clothing and what types of gear are being made for women, but who makes women’s specific fly fishing gear?
From longtime and recognized brands like Simms and Patagonia to newer brands that are only making gear for women like Miss Mayfly and Fishe Wear, more and more companies offer different fits, styles, and pieces for women.
Miss Mayfly is a women’s only wader company and offers five different fits! So, no matter your body type, slim to supreme, Miss Mayfly has a cut for you. You can also choose your wading sock size, so even if you’re a supreme, you can still get a size 7 wading sock.
And my favorite part about Miss Mayfly is you can buy custom waders. My mom just ordered a pair and was so impressed by the time that they spent with her making sure every measurement was correct. And when her waders came, they fit great and gave her the comfort and confidence she needs on the water.
Fishe Wear makes really fun, vibrant, and unique tights, bags, and accessories. And like Miss Mayfly, they only make women’s gear. This functional fishing fashion brand has it dialed when it comes to empowering women on the water and making it fun through what we wear!
Simms is an industry leader when it comes to fly fishing clothing and gear. And they have taken the reins on women’s products, from multiple wader options to tons of clothing options like shirts, jackets, and pants. Women can get almost everything they need for their fly fishing adventures from Simms.
Orvis also has a great selection of women’s fly fishing gear. From three wader and boot options, and tons of great clothing. They’re also doing something no one else seems to be doing, taking action and making it part of their brand by representing women on the water. In 2017 they started the 50/50 on the Water initiative designed to inspire more women to get out on the water and discover the love of fly fishing. Using social media, advertising, and even a film tour, Orvis believes and takes action to inspire, represent, and show that women are on the water!
Patagonia is a brand that takes a stand for our environment and makes incredibly high-quality gear. They offer waders, boots, clothing, and a few other accessories for women. As a longtime and trusted brand, they make gear that lasts and is well thought out, like a women’s wader with a rear-buckle system that provides a drop-seat function for when nature calls. I don’t know about you, but being able to pee easily in nature is a bonus!
Redington offers the smallest number of women’s specific products. But what I like about Redington is they have a great wader and boot option that’s super affordable. For a woman that’s just getting into the sport or is on a budget, the Willow series is an excellent option. Plus, they make some of my favorite rods and reels, and they're affordable but cast like they cost four times as much.
Shopping for women’s fly fishing gear can be as easy as going online. But, for a more personalized experience where you can try things on and ask questions, visit your local fly shop. Not all fly shops will carry much women’s gear, but the more we ask, demand, and open our wallets, the more shops will have to offer. And in turn, the more women’s gear fly shops carry, the more customers, business, fantastic, and respected they’ll be.
No matter what clothing and gear your wear because of fit, function, or preference, women fly fish, and that’s a fact. The industry is catching up, but there’s still a ways to go. So, let’s inspire, respect, welcome, and advocate for women on the water. And let’s do the same for clothing and gear that women need to have fun, be confident, comfortable, and deserve!