Short answer: the Simms G4Z is the best zippered wader I've fished, and the waterproof zipper is worth far more than it sounds like on paper. It's also expensive. If you want the zipper without the Simms price tag, we stock zippered waders in our own shop that get you most of the way there — more on those below.

Why a zipper on a wader matters

You might be wondering why on earth you need a zipper. Well — have you ever found yourself doing the pee-pee dance on the bank of your favourite run? That's the answer. A front zipper lets you answer nature's call without stripping down to your waist in the wind, and on a cold day that's not a luxury, it's the difference between staying out and going home.

It also makes getting in and out of your waders dramatically faster, which matters more than you'd think when you're moving between three spots in a day. Simms uses a YKK waterproof zipper on the G4Z, and in my experience it doesn't leak.

What makes the Simms G4Z worth the money

In the realm of fishing gear, Simms is the Rolex of high-quality waders. The G4Z uses GORE-TEX Pro Shell fabric, which is about as good as breathable waterproof material gets — it keeps river water out while letting sweat escape, so you're not soaked from the inside after a hike in.

Storage is generous too, with seven pockets, so your fly boxes and phone all have a home. Browse our fly boxes and storage if you're filling those pockets out.

Yes, these come with a premium price tag. You're paying for durability, comfort, and frankly your dignity on the riverbank. If you've been buying clearance-rack waders that turn into patchwork quilts by the end of the season, the maths works out better than it looks.

Want the zipper for less? Here's what we stock

Here's the honest truth about premium waders: most of the price is in the shell fabric and the warranty, not the zipper itself. If you fish thirty days a year rather than a hundred and fifty, you can get the convenience without the top-tier price. These are in our shop:

MERIDIAN Z Zippered Chest Wader — the closest thing to the G4Z concept in our range. Front zipper, breathable, chest-height. Fewer pockets and a less exotic shell, but the core convenience is identical.
PINNACLE Zippered Breathable Camo Wader 1200g — zippered and insulated, so it doubles for late-season duck hunting if you do both.
OBSIDIAN Pro-Series Breathable Wader — skip the zipper entirely and put the money into the shell. This is the pick if breathability matters more to you than convenience.
Whetstone II Chest Wader — a straightforward, well-priced chest wader for anglers who fish a handful of times a season and don't want to spend four figures.
SUMMIT Insulated Breathable Camo Wader 1600g — for genuinely cold water, where insulation beats every other feature.
Slipstream PVC Bootfoot Chest Wader — bootfoot and budget. Not breathable, but it keeps you dry and it's the cheapest way into deep water.

See everything in waders and wading jackets.

Four more things to get with your zippered waders

1. Good socks

Socks make a real difference on a cold day. Counterintuitively, go light to medium rather than thick — you want space around your feet so blood can actually circulate. A crammed boot is a cold boot. The Minus33 Lightweight Over The Calf Wool Socks are exactly the right weight for inside waders, and the Heavyweight Mountaineer is what you change into afterward.

2. Baselayers

I spend more on base layers and buy fewer of them. It's against your skin all day, so it needs to feel right, and I want it to last years. Merino is the material that keeps working when it's damp, which is the whole problem with synthetics. Have a look at the Midweight Wool Long Sleeve Crew, the Midweight Wool Union Suit, or for women the Women's Heavyweight Wool 1/4 Zip Top. Full cold weather clothing.

3. A jacket setup

A setup is a combination of layers — I run an insulating layer for warmth under a solid waterproof shell. The thing I look for in an outer layer is a clean exterior: I prefer zippers over velcro patches and dangling add-ons, because every one of those is something my fly line will find and snag. If I'm spending more, it's on waders, jackets, and baselayers. That's my comfort gear.

In the shop: the Whetstone Waterproof Wading Jacket, the Deep Eddy Waterproof Wading Jacket, and the packable Frogg Toggs Cascades Sportsman's Pack Jacket. Keep the shell working with ReviveX Durable Water Repellent — when a jacket starts wetting out, it usually needs treating, not replacing.

4. A wader bag

Any bag that lets wet waders get airflow will do, but the feature that actually matters is being able to stand on it while you change. Keeping grit off your wader socks and away from pinholes will extend the life of your investment enormously — this is the single cheapest thing you can do to make expensive waders last. A DeckBoss Dry Bag Duffle handles the wet-gear side of the job, and a Neoprene Waterproof Seat Cover saves your truck seat on the drive home.

And don't forget boots

Stockingfoot waders need boots. We carry Slate Felt Sole Wading Boots and Women's/Youth Stonefly Felt Wading Boots. Check your state's regulations before buying felt — several states ban felt soles because they transport invasive species between waters.

The bottom line

The Simms G4Z is a superb wader and if you fish hard enough to justify it, buy it and don't look back. But if you've been telling yourself a front zipper is an unaffordable luxury, it isn't anymore — the MERIDIAN Z gets you the same daily convenience for a fraction of the outlay. Ready to zip up and wade in? The fish are waiting.