Briver Max Comfort Waders
Quality Waders – Reasonable Price!
For many years now I’ve almost exclusively wet-waded while fishing. There’s actually a little bit of a joke when I say that, because sometimes it’s by choice and at other times it’s the last thing I want. In the heat of the summer I enjoy wearing quick dry pants and either my Salomon or Simms wet wading shoes. It feels wonderful to step into a cool, clear mountain creek when the sun is out and temperatures are in the 70s, 80’s and 90’s. During shoulder seasons when the weather is cooler and mountain storms are spitting rain or even snow, it’s nice to be dry. Unfortunately the waders I’ve been using the past decade leak. I’ve tried to fix them, but the leaks are on some of the seams and I just haven’t been able to keep the water out. Without fail, especially in deeper water, at the end of the day my legs would be soaked when I would take my waders off. I would have to literally pour water out of the foot section of my waders.
The obvious question that I’m sure you’re asking is why didn’t I just by a pair of new ones. The reason is because waders have gotten really expensive. Combine that with the fact that I spend most of the summer wet-wading anyway, it just never seemed worth it. A choice between other gear, or possibly even another trip somewhere, versus a new pair of waders was never much of a choice. After all, I was used to being a little wet, cringing as the cold water started leaking in. I didn’t like it, but I always would tough-it-out and then would later decided to purchase other gear instead.
Last December Briver Sports reached out to me and asked if I’d be willing to give their waders a try. I said I’d be happy to, so they sent me out a pair. I tried them on and was immediately impressed with their quality. They are very sturdy, comfortable, and obviously well made waders. Still, I did not want to write a review based upon how they felt when I put them on in my living room. In order to write an honest review with legitimate feedback, it was clear to me that I would first have to take them out fishing many times. Only then could I offer my real opinion of them.
I just returned from a week of fishing in Iceland where I wore my Skwala Carbon wading boots and Briver waders for six straight days. They were twelve hour fishing days with a lot of walking and wading. I spent a lot of time walking through the Iceland Highlands as well as through coastal pasturelands fishing for brown trout, arctic char, and Atlantic salmon. There was a lot of scrambling up and down banks to access rivers. Durability, mobility, and comfort were all critical requirements for both my boots and my waders. I’ve also used my Briver waders this summer fishing high-mountain creeks in Colorado, pushing through willows and getting poked by branches while fishing beaver ponds. After all this time on the water, I now feel qualified to write a review of the pros and cons of these waders.
The specific waders I have are the Briver Max Comfort Waders, size XL. They are stocking-foot waders made with 4-layer breathable, waterproof, fabric. They have a very large chest pocket for storage that closes with a quality YKK zipper. Briver waders have an ergonomic design that is reinforced in all of the high stress areas. The stocking feet are neoprene anatomical, with a distinguishable left and right fit. Some other minor, yet very nice features, include loops to hang the waders for drying them, solid buckles on the suspender straps, and gravel guards with lace hooks. The waders are currently priced on the Briver Sports site and on Amazon.com at $159.
Of course you can learn all of this just going to their website. What I’d like to share are my impressions after extensively using these waders. First of all, they are comfortable and fit well. They are sturdy, but not too heavy. I think they look good with the two-tone grey and black combination. Most importantly – they do not leak! That’s a pretty basic comment, but it’s what really matters. Especially when you consider what I wrote earlier, how I’ve been living with leaky waders for the past 10+ years. After much use they are still doing their job. My Briver waders are not baggy, they are comfortably close-fitting and are easy to move in. They don’t ever bind on me or restrict my movement. All of that is probably because of their ergonomic design. Lastly, and my favorite feature of these waders, is that they have a fleece-lined hand warmer pocket. My last pair of waders also had a fleece-lined pocket. I love them. In fact, I wouldn’t buy any pair of waders that doesn’t have one of these pockets. I’ve been fishing in cold weather too often not to want the nice warm feeling I get when I stick my hands into a fleece-lined pocket when they’re wet and cold.
Briver Max Comfort waders are an excellent value for the money. There is no question you can get a few additional features in other waders, such as a zipper front for ease of getting in-and-out. To get waders like that however, you’re most likely going to have to spend $500 or more. For me personally that’s a hard expense to justify. I would rather put my money into other things than a $500-$800 pair of waders, but of course that’s all a matter of personal preference. Briver waders are a great choice when considering both their quality and their price point. They are made with the same quality as more expensive waders, but are priced in a range that is more in line with what value-seeking anglers are looking for.
We all have different body types and shapes. My first caution, and really my only caution with buying these waders, is that if you’re over 6’2″, you may run into a little trouble finding a size that fits. I’m 6’2″ and have the suspenders on their longest setting. They fit me well, but just barely. If I was any taller, I’d need to go up a size from the XL’s I have. If I were to do that then the length would be right but the waist and foot size would likely be too large. If you’re taller than 6’2″, perhaps order what you believe is the best size and try them on, but just realize that you may be sending them back. Other than this one very specific scenario, I can not think of a negative thing to say about them.
Conclusion:
I highly recommend the Briver Max Comfort waders, especially for those who are looking for a quality wader in the price range of around $150. They are comfortable, well made, waders that you should be able to wear for many years. I have been completely satisfied with my pair and am thankful to know that I will stay dry and that they fit me well. They are proof that you don’t need to spend $500 or more to own a great pair of waders.
To purchase a pair of Briver Max Comfort waders from Amazon, click on the link below.