Gear we love right now: February 2026 | Hatch Magazine

Anglers are drowning in gear choices—rods, reels, boots, waders, lines, packs, bags, boxes, vests, apparel and more. It seems harder and harder to know what’s worth coveting and what’s worth ignoring. Gear reviews are a great way to explore in-depth what might be right for you, but not every piece of gear is suited to a full-length review and, even if it were, there’s simply too much of it to get to. With that in mind, we periodically showcase what’s working for us right now, to hopefully offer more helpful feedback on gear that’s worthy of your attention.

All gear is welcome here: new, old, cheap, pricey, and so on. The goal is to provide useful feedback on gear that works—not to help gin up marketing for new products. Sometimes, great gear has just hit the market, other times it’s been here doing good work all along.

Patagonia Swiftcurrent Zip-Front Expedition Waders

I’m always a little surprised when other anglers complain about high-end breathable waders. They’re hot, they say, or they’re uncomfortable, or they’re hot and uncomfortable. And who knows? Maybe they have a point.

That said, I’m guessing that the folks who find today’s breathable waders so terribly bothersome never had to wear plastic garbage bags under leaky hip boots in their youth. Nor did they have to spend day after 90 degree day on the oars in neoprene waders that smelled like an unholy mix of toxic chemicals, funky socks and human sweat. Nor did they experience the earliest versions of breathable waders that more often than not leaked right out of the box. Looking back on my younger days, perhaps I was just unluckier than most.

In any case, my views on waders are actually pretty simple. I want my waders to do the following: Keep me comfortable. Allow me to move freely in a wide variety of conditions. Keep cold water and icy winds at bay regardless of whether I’m fishing for an hour or all day long. Stay pleasant on hot days when the sun is shining and I’m stuck in the boat. Stand up to all the various and sundry forms of torture and abuse I can inflict over a year, or two, or three. Pull on, and off, without undue stress or duress. Show up with well-designed pockets, and a zipper that won’t leak but that will provide an easy avenue of relief when nature invariably calls. Oh, and keep me dry. More than anything else, I want my waders to keep me dry.

Which is where Patagonia’s Swiftcurrent® Expedition Zip-Front Waders (pictured at top) come in. I’ve been beating the hell out of them for a year now and not only do they remain my primary shield against hypothermia in the winter and sun-burned legs in the summer, but they check every single box I mentioned above. They are literally the finest waders I’ve ever worn and they are also made without added PFAS, which makes me feel a little bit better as well.

You’re welcome to formulate your own opinion, of course, but from where I sit these particular waders are truly stellar.

— Todd Tanner

BUY PATAGONIA SWIFTCURENT WADERS

The Redington Predator SALT fly rod (photo: Farbank Enterprises).

The Redington Predator SALT

With premium rod manufacturers seemingly on a mission to outprice the average dirtbag fly fisher when it comes to saltwater gear, finding a rod that’s both serviceable and affordable for the flats is becoming increasingly difficult. But it’s not impossible.

Thanks to perennial innovator and, dare I say, value-oriented Redington, a solid saltwater rod is available to everyday anglers who might hit the flats once or twice a year, a handful if they’re lucky. The Redington Predator SALT retails at $399, and it’s a solid offering in the increasingly competitive saltwater fly-fishing category. And, for infrequent or casual saltwater anglers — or for die-hards who might need a backup on a hardcore tropical trip — the Predator SALT is a do-it-all rod that will perform very well. I took the Predator SALT with me to the flats of Chetumal Bay last fall, and it repeatedly performed for Mexican bones and juvenile tarpon over the course of a weeklong trip and it has continued to perform in a variety of other situations since. Built on a handsome metallic-blue blank, the rod features all the corrosion-resistent hardware you could ask for, and it’s a joy to cast. No, it’s not a lightning fast rocket-launcher, but, with the weight-forward tapered fly line I used, it loaded well, showed appreciable backbone, and had no trouble with spirited bones, baby tarpon, barracuda and more.

The Predator SALT comes in weights 6 through 14, so there’s likely a version that will meet your needs. Looking for a “bargain” in the saltwater fly-fishing space? This is it.

— Chris Hunt

BUY THE REDINGTON PREDATOR SALT

The Rocky Talkie Expedition Radio (photo: Chad Shmukler).

Rocky Talkie Expedition Radios

In a world where most of us are as likely to leave the house without our cellphones as we are without clothing, radios — let alone ones whose name intentionally harkens back to the “walkie talkies” of my 1980s youth — seemed to me like the technology of yesteryear. Or, perhaps more accurately, the dustbin. As it turns out, I was spectacularly wrong. After toting along Rocky Talkie’s GMRS Expedition Radios on my last few fly fishing trips, they have quickly climbed the ranks from reluctant throw-ins to fixtures on the short list of gear that will accompany me on every future outing that takes me out of sight of a boat ramp or parking lot.

Even in the age of ever-expanding cell tower coverage, fly anglers tend to fish in remote destinations where service isn’t always a guarantee. Surely for those scenarios something fancier and more-high tech, something that bounces signals off of satellites in space would be the way to go. Right? Yes and no. For emergency rescue and SOS, yes (though this is a feature many modern cellphones now provide). But for a lot of other uses, even ones that are safety related — like access to NOAA Weather Radio and Weather Alerts — it turns out, not so much.

Where the Rocky Talkies really shine, however, is for the simple convenience — and safety benefits — of communicating with those in you’re out on the river with. Here, not only do the radios offer more than satellite-based solutions which rarely offer point-to-point voice communication, they outpace your cellphone — even when service is available. No fumbling to stow gear, dig your phone out of a pocket, and operate it while standing over running water. Just reach for the radio strapped to your waders or pack, push the button and you’re in immediate contact with your trip mates.

Stupid easy to use and packed with features — like IP67 waterproofing, bombproof construction, dual channel monitoring, repeater capability, and multi-antenna compatibility — the Rocky Talkie Expedition Radios offer a compelling package you might not find in any other radios on the market.

— Chad Shmukler

BUY ROCKIE TALKY EXPEDITION RADIOS

Simms’ Flyweight Packable waders pack down into a diminutive sack (photo: Chris Hunt).

Simms Flyweight Stockingfoot Packable Waders

I’m not a huge gimmick guy. Silly gadgets — everything from handy-dandy knot tyers to streamside aquariums for safe fish handling photos — don’t do it for me (unless you’re a fisheries biologist, just keep the damn thing wet!). So, it was with a skeptical eye that I tested the Simms’ Flyweight stockingfoot waders that were so light that they rolled up and fit right into the front pocket of the garment. I mean, how good could they be if they’re so slight that they just squish down so much? Well, after taking them to Manitoba and the Yukon last summer, and then fishing with them on a blustery trip to Montana in October, they were the first thing I reached for as I started packing for three weeks in Patagonia, and the weather, unfortunately, looks like crap. In short, for weight-focused travelers, these great little waders are something special.

No, they’re not heavyweight, four-ply, bomb-proof waders built for guides who live in their waders 200 days a year. And that’s not what they’re made for. They’re made for guys like me to have to match or beat airline or charter flight weight limits, or for folks who backpack into the woods and don’t want to walk miles in a pair of waders. That they come with sliding suspenders and convert into cool wading pants is a plus. And, they really do roll up and tuck right into a zippable pocket. These waders are a gadget I can get behind. Better yet? They retail for a flat $400. Not too shabby.

— Chris Hunt

BUY SIMMS FLYWEIGHT PACKABLE WADERS

The Orvis Superfine Graphite fly rod (photo: Chris Hunt).

Orvis Superfine Graphite fly rod

Fly fishers who’ve been at it long enough to remember years that don’t start with “20” can probably remember the salad days of Orvis, when the company’s light-line glass rods earned nicknames like the “Tippet” or the “Seven/Eleven.” These were “creek rods” made for very specific situations — small water, spirited — but often quite small — trout or panfish, and tight casts under the willows or the dogwoods. Last summer, Orvis debuted the new graphite version of its iconic classic, the Superfine. And I love it.

It got my hands on the rod in time to take it to the southern Yukon. Fishing a new version of a classic rod from an equally classic fishing lodge — Dalton Trail Lodge — for spirited and, frankly, significant, Arctic grayling was pretty damned special. The graphite “upgrade” to the Superfine might, to some, be a questionable move, but I’m here to tell you that Orvis’ Helios-inspired “Seven/Eleven” (yes, I grabbed the 7-foot, 11-inch, 4-weight to try) is still a nice, supple creek rod that might have just a bit more backbone. I’m a fan of the new version (and, yes, I still love the old model), that comes in a throwback rod sock and is carefully protected in a canvas-covered rod case. I love fly fishing nostalgia. The only thing better? Taking today’s impressive rod tech, and giving new life to an old classic. Interested in a new creek rod that might have a bit more “oomph” than the glass throwbacks and the wiggly noodles you love to love? Don’t overlook the Superfine — the graphite isn’t a bad thing. I promise.

— Chris Hunt

BUY THE ORVIS SUPERFINE GRAPHITE

Patagonia’s Forra Wading Boots (photo: Earl Harper).

Patagonia Forra Wading Boots

Over three decades of fly fishing, I’ve lost count of the number of wading boots I’ve owned and worn. Cheap, expensive, “feature-packed,” minimalist, and probably a handful of other flavors, from a diverse list of bootmakers. The best wading boots, much like waders, I’ve discovered, are the ones you notice least. The last thing you want, especially if you’re an angler that prefers to walk, walk a lot, and do so on varying and sometimes difficult terrain, is a boot that reminds you that you’re wearing it.

It’s for that reason that Patagonia’s Forra Wading Boots have become my go-to pair over the past two or so seasons. Wonderfully simple and shockingly light, the Forras go on easily and are quickly forgotten. The reasons they’re so easily forgotten are important, however.

Weight is a big factor. I’ve worn the Forras on almost every kind of terrain imaginable, including 10+ mile slogs through the New Zealand backcountry over ankle-busting terrain, without ever once feeling like the boots were weighing me down. That’s a rare feat for wading boots to accomplish. Excellent drainage is another reason, a feature that complements the Forra’s lightweight nature. Lace retention is another. The Forra’s webbed lacing system seems to prevent the boots from constantly torquing on the lacing, resulting in me having to re-cinch my laces once at most during a typical day on the water. The boots’ flexible Cordura uppers provide comfort and adequate stability at the same time, while the reinforced, burly rand and toecap provide stiff protection for important things like toes. Last but certainly not least, they fit well. Really well. Far more like a quality pair of hiking boots than your typical boxy, sloppy wading boot.

Speaking of fitting well — it’s worth noting that the Forra’s are made by longtime Italian bootmaker Fitwell, which has been making boots for serious alpine pursuits for almost half a century.

— Chad Shmukler

BUY PATAGONIA FORRA BOOTS