Another company from the Pacific Northwest that had a great display at ICAST was the manufacturer of some of my favorite fly fishing equipment, Redington whose factory is located on Bainbridge Island. They had all of their rods and reels, most of their specialized apparel and a new line of waders and boots.
While this may seem to be not much of a big deal, in case you hadn’t noticed as you drove back into Washington or Oregon lately towing a boat, inspections are pretty much mandatory as there is heightened awareness of the invasive species problem and it’s not just limited to boats. Invasive species can also come in via your waders and your boots especially if they have felt soles. Besides that is was just a great excuse to get some really comfortable waders and boots.
The new Sonic-Pro stocking foot wader is made from 100% nylon, 4- and 3-layer, waterproof/breathable wader fabric with 4-layer fabric on lower leg and seat for added durability. They feature high-tech Ultra Sonic Welded construction (no sew) and double taped seams throughout. As this is gear designed by and for fly fisherman there are all kinds of beautifully detailed additions including a custom flip out tool pocket with mesh pocket, forceps dock, hypalon retractor dock and additional zippered pocket ideal for keeping tippet. Especially useful in the Pacific Northwest is the ergonomic hand warmer pockets lined with brushed micro-fleece. Other custom designed features include a 2-inch stretch wading belt with Redington buckle, gravel guards with custom molded lace hook, Hemostat clamp d-ring, and laser cut exterior pockets with non-stick YKK water resistant zippers. The seams are articulated for increased mobility and the waders bottom out with high density, ergonomically shaped neoprene booties.
This is where the new Redington wading boots come into play with three new models for men, one for women, and one for kids. The men’s and women’s models are available in sticky rubber with crushed walnut shells or felt soles and both have the option to add studs. As with many of the Redington products it is clear they started with a clean sheet of paper and decided to design a boot from the sole up, a boot that has a higher level of support, traction and comfort, something a fisherman would feel compelled to wear all day in the river or on the shore. The heavy duty Men’s Elite Prowler combines all of these features but adds a series of molded rubber overlays with a reinforced toe box for durability and protection from rocks, a synthetic cork midsole with molded polyurethane adds comfort without any added weight, plus the double needle stitches mean years of reliable use.
For more information or to purchase these fine products just go www.redington.com
