Had a chance to try out the new Redington Sonic-Pro Zip Front waders and I’m glad that I did. Initially I was curious about the effectiveness of the zippered front, but also found a few other features that I really like.
At first glance, they are slightly different than other waders that I own. For starters, the welded waterproof zipper runs the full length of the torso, and is easy to open and close. I’ve heard comments from others on how convenient this feature is for comfort breaks. While I didn’t specifically test for this, I did find them easy to put on and to take off.
Another nice surprise is the two external pockets found behind the zippered chest pockets. They are brushed with micro-fleece and double as storage or hand warmers. They were invaluable on the chilly spring day when I first tested the Sonic Pros. I was waiting on a friend to join me, so I placed my cell phone inside one of the outer pockets. For quick trips, you could load these with fly boxes, tippet, and a few other items, and skip the vest or chest pack.
The 4-layer fabric on the lower leg and seat is also nice. It adds to the durability, yet was not stiff or uncomfortable when walking or wading. I was in them for most of the day and traveled through brush and over boulders with no mishaps.
The zippered inside pocket also came in handy. For this trip, I used it for my keys, but it could easily hold a cell phone or wallet.
How They Fit
The pair that I wore were a size Large. To give you perspective, I am 6′, 180 lbs with a 34″ waist and 32″ inseam. I felt comfortable, but they were a trimmer fit than what I’m used to. I would encourage anyone to look at the size chart on the Redington site before ordering. There are 12 different sizes, which should cover most anglers.
Field Test
Like many, I was somewhat skeptical about the waterproof capability of the zippered front, based on comments I’ve heard about the failure of other brands. I tested these on the Farmington River in late March when the both the air and water temps were in the 40s. If they were going to leak, I would know quickly. The river was higher than usual, so for most of the day I was wading in water that was well above my waist.
Summary
While I was a bit skeptical at first about the zippered-front, the Sonic-Pros are comfortable, don’t leak and the extra pockets come in handy. Compared to other waders that I own, these were nicely constructed and had enough storage to carry keys, phone and waterproof camera, thereby freeing up more room in my vest or chest pack.
Here’s a brief video with my comments after I had used them for a couple of weeks.
If you’re evaluating the purchase of a zipper-front wader, I would recommend adding these to your list of options. They are competitively priced and performed solidly.
Here is also another review by Sara Golden of WadingLab.
https://www.wadinglab.com/redington-sonic-pro-review/
Note: I received no compensation or consideration for these reviews.
Enjoy!
[…] Redington also offer a zipper-front version, if you are interested in that one I recommend checking out FinFollowers review here. […]