Simms calls the Tributary the best value in wading, and it is the wader we hand people buying their first pair. Affordable, breathable, genuinely waterproof, and light — 32.7 oz (928 g) in Medium, the lightest wader Simms builds.
A detail most people miss: the Tributary is the only wader in the entire Simms line made without PFAS chemicals. Every other model, right up to the flagship G4Z, is made with them. If that matters to you — and for a lot of anglers standing in a trout river it does — the entry-level wader is the one that gets it right.
Construction: 3-layer waterproof breathable polyester upper over a 4-layer polyester lower. Simms does not name a fabric brand here the way they do elsewhere, and we would rather say so than dress it up.
Features
- Reach-through fleece handwarmer pocket with a zippered top stash pocket and fly patch
- Built-in gravel guards with a gathered elastic bottom hem
- Anatomically engineered neoprene stockingfeet with anti-microbial finish
- Single rear belt loop; 38mm belt included
Current pricing is on the selector above.
Being straight about the trade-offs: one belt loop instead of two, a non-stretch belt, and no front-and-back leg seams. If you fish thirty-plus days a year, the Freestone steps you up to 4-layer Toray QuadraLam top to bottom, and the G3 Guide takes you to GORE-TEX built in Bozeman. Both are on our site. But plenty of people fish a Tributary for years and never feel short-changed.
Sizing — how Simms does it
- The bootie size is part of the wader size — “M 9-11” is a medium with a 9–11 bootie
- King means about two extra inches of girth, not extra length
- Inseam is separate: Short, Regular, or Long
Size off your largest girth — chest, waist, or hips — then inseam, then bootie.
First pair of waders? Come in. Call 970-964-9991 or stop by and we will measure you, explain how the bootie should feel inside a wading boot, and show you how to care for them so they last. That conversation is free and it is the reason to buy from a shop instead of a box.
Warranty: 60 days no questions asked on leaks, free repairs through the first year, then a flat fee covering evaluation, repair, testing, and return shipping. About three weeks turnaround. Bring them here and we will handle the claim.
Ed's Fly Shop, 432 E Main St, downtown Montrose, Colorado.
