Over the past few years, Redington has boldly reinvented itself. What used to be a budget fly-fishing equipment manufacturer is now a quality-based company that produces good equipment for anglers of all stripes for prices that are sometimes significantly lower than their competitors.
But let’s be clear. Nobody is going to mistake Redington’s soft-good equipment for that belonging to the truly high-end manufacturers like Orvis, Simms and Patagonia. Instead, anglers who turn to Redington for gear like waders, wading boots and the like can now expect good stuff that’s backed by the company’s Far Bank Enterprises (Far Bank owns Redington, Sage, RIO and now Fly Water Travel Co.) pedigree.
Redington’s new Prowler Pro wading boots might be the company’s best offering yet, both in terms of comfort and durability. I’ve fished the Prowler Pros since I got them in late fall. They excel at a few things and, if I’m being honest, have some drawbacks (but that’s likely on me, given that I chose to test the “sticky rubber” soles as opposed to felt—I fish a lot in Yellowstone National Park, where felt isn’t allowed).
First, the boots are light and they shed water quickly. They’re perfect as a wet-wading boot, but also work just fine over waders. The rubber soles are ideal for streamside walking—if you’re a wandering creek-freak like me, these boots are great for longer treks and lots of walking.
I’m not a fan of the “sticky rubber” soles the company uses. I took these boots to Patagonia in December, and I had to switch them out for felt-soled boots borrowed from the outfitter—the rubber soles are not good choices for a lot of freestone rivers that sport large, slick boulders. If this is your fishing preference, and it’s allowed, I recommend going for the company’s felt-soled offering in the Prowler Pro model. Or, if you’re forced to go felt-free, consider drilling some sheet-metal screws into the soles for some big-water traction.
That said, I have no complaints about the boots’ comfort or fit—both are excellent, as advertised. They don’t absorb too much water, making it much easier to wander in comfort, and they provide excellent foot and ankle support.
And, at $190, they come in well below their higher-end competition.