ProView – Adamsbuilt Women’s Truckee River Wader

The Adamsbuilt Truckee River Wader is a great option for any recreationists looking to stay dry while enjoying a day on the water. With a variety of well thought out features, these waders are suitable for numerous pursuits.

Over the years, I have owned many pairs of waders… and destroyed almost as many. I work hard and play hard, and my gear bears the brunt of it. I’ve owned a variety of waders ranging from budget friendly to top tier.  My waders get used for waterfowl hunting, fishing, studying habitat, and many other outdoor endeavors in wet environments. Living in Alaska, most water bodies only climb a few degrees above freezing, even in the summer, making a good pair of waders a vital piece of safety gear. I find that they all have pros and cons, but do all ultimately break down. Being unfamiliar with the Adamsbuilt products, I was excited to give these a test.

Springtime in Alaska is an important time for fish. Salmon smolts are out-migrating from their natal streams to the ocean, while trout and other freshwater species are spawning. If you enjoy catching fish, this can be a long shoulder season. The ice is often too thin for hard water fishing, but it seems melt out occurs in perfect sync with streams closing to protect the spawning trout. So how does one stay active on the water while waiting for the summer salmon runs to start?

One of my favorite springtime activities is birding. Living near the coast of Alaska with easy access to many lakes and estuaries, it’s easy to see over 100 species during spring migration alone. In addition, watching the behavior of birds can give you clues about the fish habitat. Birding can be as simple as watching a feeder in your yard or as exciting as tromping around remote wetlands hoping to catch a glimpse of a rare species. I prefer the latter form and rely on waders to keep me warm and dry during river crossings and while slogging through half-thawed water bodies.

Features

These waders come standard with several features that set them apart from other waders on the market. Some features I enjoyed, but a couple I felt missed the mark. To start, there are three separate pockets. Who doesn’t love pockets? There is a “hidden” pocket on the inside of the bib, which is always nice to have, and an outer pocket on the front of the bib that I appreciated the water-resistant qualities of when I took a spill into the river. The third pocket is behind the outer bib pocket and, while not enclosed, is fleece lined to help with warming cold hands.

Unfortunately, I found the openings to this pocket to be a bit too high on the chest, making it awkward to use. Also unique to these waders is a grippy surface on the bottom of the stocking feet. Unfortunately, I dislike this feature as it makes it challenging to position the socks comfortably into wading boots. Also included are an adjustable belt and an ankle cuff with a hook to attach to boots. The belt as well as suspenders are easy to clip as well as adjust.

Fit/Comfort

Knowing that I would be using these waders during cold weather, I decided to size up a bit. It’s nearly impossible to find waders that fit perfectly without custom ordering a pair. Trying to get your shoe size to line up with hip, waist, and chest measurements is a challenge, especially for women.

I appreciate that Adamsbuilt has both slim and plus sized options, but these options were pretty close to the “regular” measurements. For example, “plus size” only offers an additional inch to the waist, hips, and chest of the small and medium. That being said, I found that these waders a bit roomier than other brands.

The advantages of looser fitting waders are that they are comfortable and easily accommodate bulky layers underneath. The disadvantages are that they easily snag on brush and can develop holes where the fabric overlaps due to friction. The sides of the waders are cut a bit higher than normal with some elastic allowing the waders to fit higher and a bit more snug in the top. This fit provided a bit extra warmth and prevented brush from falling in the top while bushwhacking.

Look/Style

While waders are far from a fashion piece, I do appreciate the small bit of color on the front of the bib. I also appreciate that these come in a solid, neutral color making them useful for both fishing and hunting.

Durability/Construction

These waders are well put together with reinforced seams. I appreciate that the seams for the legs are on the front rather than the inside of the legs and may add to the longevity of the waders. I find my waders often fail first along the seam inside the legs due friction as I often have to hike long distances while wearing them. The four-layer micro fiber material used to construct these is light enough to be comfortable, but rugged enough to handle the demands of an average user. Of course, defects can happen with any garment, so it’s nice to see Adamsbuilt offers no hassle replacement if they fail right out of the box as well as a 30 day warranty for manufacturing defects. 

Function/Performance

I am happy to report these waders kept me warm and dry during some cold outings, which is not surprising given that they coat the waders in a Teflon DWR (durable water repellant) finish. I had no problems with seams leaking or holes developing. Though these waders do not have heavy duty material along the legs found in some of the higher end models, they held up perfectly to light bushwhacking for a couple of miles. I did take a fall on a river bank my first time out wearing these and no damage was done. The Pore-Tech Mill-Spec breathable membrane also helped prevent overheating and sweating while hiking around.

Eco-Friendliness

Unfortunately, not much information was available about any eco-friendly practices of Adamsbuilt. I do give them credit for building a durable product that will last the average user for multiple seasons. Also, all waders eventually develop holes whether it be from a fall, fishhook, or getting pierced by a thorn. I appreciate that they include some patching material with the waders and also offer to repair your waders for the cost of shipping. Repairing gear is a great way to keep our landfills lower. I would love more information on other ecofriendly efforts and some information on the specific DWR treatments they use.

The Final Word

The Adamsbuilt Women’s Truckee waders should surely be considered by anyone shopping for new gear. With room for lots of layers underneath, you will hardly notice the cold water around you. Being comfortable to move around in and breathable, they will be handy to have for many different activities. It would be best to try these on before purchasing like many articles of clothing, but the durability these provide will give you years of use once you find that perfect fit. Stay safe and stay dry with a good pair of waders so you can get those tight lines!

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