My son Michael had been telling me how much he loved wearing his Compass360 Pant Waders fly fishing from his raft and along the shore in Montana. I could not fathom that this was a good idea and asked him what it was about them that he liked so much. He said that he loved how comfortable they were and how easy get in and out of, and how well they worked for his type of fishing. Based on how enthusiastic he was I decided to give them a try. I got a pair of Compass360 Deadfall Pant Waders and wore them on a recent Steelhead trip where I knew we would not be encountering deep water.
I was skeptical at first because my mind told me that all waders must be chest waders or hip boots - after all that is what waders are. Wading Pants just made no sense to me.
The first thing I noticed was how easy they were to get on. I am a huge fan of the Compass Deadfall Z zippered wader because of the ease of getting them on and off, however there is no comparison to pant waders. It’s like putting on a pair of sweat pants vs a tuxedo.
The second thing I noticed was that I could keep my keys and wallet in my jeans and access them with ease if I needed anything. I am always reaching into my pockets for something, and it is a hassle in chest waders. With the Pant Waders you can access your jean or shorts pockets with ease.
Third and most important was how well you can maneuver in them. As we went down a steep embankment to the river, it was so much easier to maneuver in these pants than if a full wader. And walking up and down the river was a breeze.
In addition to all those benefits, I found that one of the best parts of wading pants was the fact that I did not have to take them off to drive to the next hole. They are so comfortable and easy to wear that I just to jumped in the truck, and drove to the next spot. They are so comfortable that you don’t even notice that you are wearing waders. I did not even take them off to drive home!
In fact, we stopped and had lunch, visited with my uncle and never really noticed that I was still wearing them - something I would never do in chest waders.
I like them so much that My Compass360 Wading pants are now my choice for boat fishing in rainy weather. You are super dry, they fit so much better than bibs or rain pants and are amazingly comfortable. I would highly recommend that you give them a try.
Compass360 make their wading pants in both the Deadfall and Point Guide series and are available at many retailers.
The Deadfall is constructed of a tough. durable 3-ply layer hi-density polyester and are 100% waterproof. They come standard with gravel guards, foot fit 4MM neoprene booties and a fully adjustable belt.
The Point Guide is the absolute top of the line Stocking foot breathable pant waders. Made with a super tough 4-ply nylon body with a 6-ply leg and butt pad design. The Point Guide also offers two zippered waist high storage pockets - these will definitely be my next purchase!