Technical Compression Pants Made for Wet Wading. Stay Warmer, Safer, and in Comfort All Day

Fly Fishing in Brutal, Cold Conditions

I wore them while fly fishing for striped bass on the Atlantic coast. The water was cold, and the conditions could sometimes be brutal. I was in the water for up to eight hours, and I did this five days in a row. The Backcountry Skinz were a major improvement over straight wet wading or wearing heavy dry waders that weighed you down. Unlike my previous trips chasing striped bass, I wasn't worn out by the end of the day, or chilled to the bone. These pants excelled at improving my wading experience. Here are some of the features and benefits that stood out. 

My Favorite Features

• They are a cross between low-profile compression pants and regular pants with two front pockets. 
•  I'm a big fan of the pockets. They are deep and snug, allowing me to store a few fly fishing tools that I wanted easy access to. I was hit and knocked around by some waves, and nothing fell out of the pockets.
• They are comfortable, not too tight, and low-profile enough to make getting around easy. These pants are built for movement.
• They have a lining that makes getting into and taking them off easy. They slide right on and off and don't stick like old-school neoprene.
• Easy maintenance. This is a big one.  A quick rinse with a hose, then I hang them to dry. That's it. I don't have to worry about punctures, repairs, or washing them with special soap. Just a quick rinse and hang.

• The thin neoprene was enough to keep me warm without overheating and acts as a layer of protection. In the past, when I've wet-waded in shorts, I've suffered from biting insects, leeches, poison ivy, ticks, sunburn, and jellyfish stings.
• Easy to pack: the pants fold down thin and take up very little space in my luggage.
• I feel safer. If I go down in a river or a wave gets me, I have better mobility to get up or to swim. Plus, these don't have the danger of filling up with water.
• The comfort and mobility make them great for kayaking and SUPs.

Technical Pants Designed for Wet Wading

I know that in some conditions, dry waders are the way to go. Extreme cold water rivers and streams or fly fishing during the fall and winter are times when a good pair of waders can't be beat. But any time I can get away with wet wading, I'll do it. I like the simplicity, mobility, and low maintenance of it. And now, with Backcountry Skinz making exceptional technical pants specifically built for the job, my seasonal window to wet wade has been extended. KB

“The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.” - Herbert Hoover

 ^{The gear reviewed in this article was provided to me at no cost for evaluation. The views and assessments presented are my own.}