reviews

Cloudveil 8X Waders

Reviewed by Scott Richmond

Cloudveil 8X chest waders. $425 retail. Available in many specialty fly shops.

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ince breathable waders were first introduced, Simms has ruled the high-end of the market. And with justification: Simms' G3 Guide waders are the current gold-standard for premium breathable waders.

Now a new kid is challenging their turf: Cloudveil. How does the newcomer stack up?

Natural Evolution

An established and highly-regarded company, Cloudveil made its mark creating outdoor clothing for mountain climbers and other demanding outdoor users. Many of Cloudveil's managers are avid fly anglers, as well as climbers and hikers, so it was only natural that the company would eventually move into high-performance technical fly fishing gear. And the company's base in Boulder, Colorado, gives them as much opportunity to field test their gear as someone living in, say, Bozeman, Montana.

Cloudveil's approach has been evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. For the moment, they've gone for small improvements over their competition--which for most products is Simms.

So I was eager to try out a pair of Cloudveil's 8X waders and compare them to the Simms G3 Guide waders, which I've owned for a couple of years. I now have a few months experience with the Cloudveil product.

Frankly, I'm impressed.

Features

The first feature you'll notice is the price: $425 --same as the Simms G3s. If the price tag hasn't made you wet your waders from the inside out, you're ready to consider the other features:

1. Gore-Tex Immersion fabric is five-layers on the lower portion of the legs, and 3-layers on the upper legs. The number of layers is a trade-off between breathability and waterproofness, and this design makes sense.
2. Gore-Tex XCR fabric is used above the belt, which means the upper body is more breathable than the legs. And not as waterproof; that shouldn't be a problem unless you like standing all day in near-neck-deep water.
3. Loops for a wading belt.
4. There's a top-zippered front pocket for stashing a fly box or other gear. A side-accessible handwarmer pocket is behind it; it zips up both sides. The Simms waders, on the other hand, have a front pouch, a flip-out tippet pouch, and a handwarmer pocket. They're all handy, and Simms' waders store more stuff than Cloudveil's. However, Simms' handwarmer pocket pooches out when you're sitting or bending at the waist, thus creating a large opening for things to get caught in, such as branches when walking through the woods or oars when you're rowing a boat. The latter has caused many a guide to curse the Simms handwarmer pocket; some are reputed to have sealed it off with duct tape.
5. Gusseted crotch. The gussets give more room in the crotch. No, this is not for egotistical anglers who think their cojones are too big to fit into normal waders. Instead, it's a practical feature that makes for a more comfortable fit, less binding, and easier motion in the legs.
6. Booties that have a definite left and right--just like your feet! Again, it's a fit thing, and it seems to work.
7. Built-in gravel guards. Stretch Schoeller fabric keeps abrasion-inducing gravel out. The design keeps the back side of the guards from rising up.
8. Three-point suspension. The suspenders attach at two points in front and one point in back, so they don't pucker the waders in the back.
9. Drawstrings at the top. You can tighten the fit at the top; maybe so you won't look so fat and sloppy.
10. Seam tape. All inside seams are sealed with one-inch wide tape, and circle patches reinforce all seam junctions.

Time Will Tell

I've used both the Simms G3 Guide and the Cloudveil 8X. They're the same price, and both are well-made, practical products. Based on my experience, though, I prefer the Cloudveil waders. They seem to do the job as well, but the fit--for me--is better. They're more comfortable and fit better in the legs. I've done a lot of walking in both waders, and I give the edge to Cloudveil, probably due to the gusseted crotch and anatomical booties. My first experience with these waders was on a one-week self-guided float trip in Alaska. The creek was low, and I was in and out of the boat many times a day, dragging it over thin spots, portaging around sweepers and log jams, walking the bank, and occasionally catching large rainbow trout and dolly varden. It was hard work, but I never thought about my waders; that means fit, comfort, and function were excellent (sometimes what you notice most is that you didn't notice anything).

Remember, though, that fit and comfort are highly individual; you should always try on waders at a fly shop with a knowledgeable staff that can advise you on the fit.

I also prefer Cloudveil's pouch. It doesn't hold as much gear, but it doesn't get in the way, either.

Cloudveil makes 8X wader for women. I have no feedback on those.

The unknown factor is durability. I've had excellent experience with my Simms G3s. Will I get as much usage from Cloudveil's 8X waders? Time will tell; they're now my go-to waders, and I intend to do some hard fishing in them.

Bottom Line: Great waders from a new provider; too early to tell about durability. Reviewer Rating: 5

Scott Richmond is Westfly's creator and Executive Director. He is the author of eight books on Oregon fly fishing, including Fishing Oregon's Deschutes River (second edition).

Uploaded 01/01/2007.

User Reviews

5=tops  3=average  1=low

Rated as 5 by Uncle Fuzzy on 04/17/2008

Comments: After two seasons of use, these waders held up well except the seam tape loosened up on one of the feet. I've been told by dealers that this problem was fixed on later products.

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Cloudveil 8X Waders. $425