ProView – Adamsbuilt Truckee River Wader & Smith River Wading Boot Review

If you’re looking for affordable and reliable gear to navigate cold-weather streams, the Adamsbuilt Truckee River Wader and Smith River Wading Boot are a great match. These are the waders I wish I had when I was introduced to wading as a university field technician. I have had the opportunity to test this wading system in the Roaring Fork Valley’s year-round fly-fishing conditions and found them to be an excellent combination for anglers, particularly those just starting out.

Fly fishing has taken an important role in my life as of late. The past few years have been focused on fast movement through a variety of landscapes. In the context of mountain biking, ski mountaineering, and ultrarunning, my daily adventures are defined by calorie-dense sports snacks and tracking human-powered vertical motion. Last spring, that daily routine came to a screeching halt as a ski accident forced me to slow down. Desperate to engage with the natural ecosystems I dusted off a neglected fly fishing rod and began spending long days immersed in the world-class streams of the Roaring Fork Valley and re-invigorating a love of making careful and detailed observations of the natural world around me.

There was a time in my life when I would spend long hours wading in a stream collecting macroinvertebrates and water samples for stream quality testing. Working as a university researcher, was paid to carefully assess the health of mountain streams in Colorado. Determining the health of a stream based on the careful balance of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and other markers of robust stream ecosystems. In that role, I was assigned an old pair of waders with a built-in pair of rubber wellys that were leaky and left my feet riddled with sores and blisters.

It was not until a few years later that I tried a pair of 2-part waders with a separate pair of wading boots that I fell in love with wading crystalline mountain streams. Since then, I  have maintained those professional skills by fly-fishing in my backyard streams. Owning waders and fly-fishing gear has allowed me to be immersed in the ecology of my local watershed, tracking the health of the ecosystem through careful observations of water temperatures, macroinvertebrate diversity, avian diversity, stream pH, and of course the health of our native trout populations. Fly fishing has been a gift to remain physically and mentally engaged in my surrounding ecosystem. 

Testing these products in the Roaring Fork Valley provided a rigorous trial of their functionality. I fly fish in this area year-round, encountering various conditions—from icy winter streams to warmer spring runoff. As someone who values gear that adapts to these diverse conditions, I was eager to see how this wading system performed across the board.

Fit/Comfort

The Truckee River Waders fit perfectly, offering a roomy yet secure design that allows full mobility without feeling bulky. Adamsbuilt recommends that you purchase the Smith River Boots one size larger than your street shoe to accommodate the bulk of a neoprene sock. I found with that recommendation, the boots fit true to size and provided exceptional support during long days on rocky terrain. I sized up from a US size 8.5 street shoe to a 9 for a perfect fit.

Look/Style

The sleek, minimalist design of the waders and boots offers a professional and understated appearance. Both pieces look like they belong in a premium lineup despite their accessible price point.

Features

The Truckee River Wader includes thoughtful features like reinforced knees, adjustable suspenders, and well-placed pockets for gear storage. I was a fan of the microfiber-lined hand-warming pocket for the colder temperatures. The Smith River Wading Boots boast a grippy outsole that excels on slick rocks and uneven riverbeds. One consideration about felt boots is that you have to sanitize them between rivers to protect against invasive species. Keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your car.

Weight/Packability

Both items are lightweight and easy to transport relative to other waders on the market, making them ideal for day trips or packing into remote fishing spots. I still would not take any wading system to remote backcountry locations and instead rely on wet wading. 

Function/Performance

This combo performed well in cold-water streams, keeping me dry and stable even in fast-moving currents. The traction from the felt-soled boots was particularly impressive, allowing confident movement over slippery surfaces.

Durability/Construction

While the materials feel robust and have held up well in initial testing, the true test will be how they endure repeated use over time. So far, the construction appears reliable and built to last.

Friendliness to the Earth

Adamsbuilt does not explicitly market these products as eco-friendly, and there is no clear information on sustainable practices. Incorporating recycled materials or highlighting eco-conscious manufacturing would be a welcome improvement.

The Final Word

The Truckee River Wader and Smith River Wading Boot deliver impressive performance for their price, making them an excellent choice for beginners and seasoned anglers alike.  

What I love about the products: 

• Affordable without compromising on quality.  
• Comfortable fit and excellent functionality in cold-water environments.  

Areas for improvement:

• The breathability of the waders in warmer weather.  
• More information or focus on eco-friendly initiatives.  

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