NEW FOR 2026
Meet the New Simms G3 Pro & G3Z Pro Waders
For more than two decades, the Simms G3 has been one of the hardest-working waders in fly fishing. Originally built with full-time guides in mind, the G3 has earned its reputation through long seasons, hard use, and a lot of days on the water. For 2026, the next generation of the G3 Pro family takes a significant step forward.
The new Simms G3 Pro collection brings meaningful updates in durability, construction, comfort, and mobility, led by an all-new GORE-TEX fabric package and redesigned fit built for anglers who put serious time on their gear.
Anglers now also have two distinct choices: the traditional G3 Pro Stockingfoot Wader and, for the first time in G3 history, the zip-front G3Z Pro Stockingfoot Wader.
A New 4-Layer GORE-TEX Pro Lower
The biggest story is below the waist. The new G3 Pro family uses an all-new 4-layer GORE-TEX Pro fabric through the lower portion of the wader, where brush, rocks, kneeling, climbing banks, and everyday fishing abuse tend to take their toll.
According to Simms testing, the new fabric delivers 60% greater resistance to punctures that can cause pinhole leaks compared with the previous G3 construction.
That matters because pinhole punctures are one of the most common causes of wader leaks. More resistance means better protection through long seasons, fewer interruptions, and more confidence when your waders are getting used the way they were intended.
Above the waist, a lighter 3-layer GORE-TEX construction helps maintain breathability and comfort without adding unnecessary bulk.
The idea is straightforward: put the toughest material where anglers need it most while keeping the upper portion lighter and easier to wear throughout the day.
G3 Pro or G3Z Pro?
The difference is easy to remember: the Z is the zipper.
The G3 Pro keeps the traditional non-zippered chest-wader design, while the G3Z Pro adds a fully submersible center-front zipper.
This is the first time Simms has offered a zip-front model in the G3 family, giving anglers another option without moving away from the durability-focused G3 platform.
If you prefer a straightforward traditional chest wader, the G3 Pro will feel familiar. If you've grown accustomed to the convenience of a front zipper, or simply want easier access during long days on the water, the G3Z Pro is the one to look at.
Better Fit and More Freedom to Move
The update goes well beyond fabric. Simms introduced an entirely new construction and seam pattern along with a redesigned shoulder harness intended to improve comfort and freedom of movement.
A new self-gathering back yoke provides more flexibility through the upper body and makes it easier to accommodate additional layers in colder conditions.
The articulated legs use front-and-back seam construction designed to reduce bunching, fabric-on-fabric abrasion, and unnecessary stress on the seams while improving mobility.
For anglers spending full days in waders, those changes are less about looking different and more about making the wader easier to live in.
Built Around Long Days on the Water
Storage and on-water function remain a big part of the new G3 design. Stretch zippered pockets provide room for fly boxes, while micro-fleece-lined handwarmer pockets give cold or wet hands a place to recover during long days and cold-weather fishing.
Other details include abrasion-resistant integrated gravel guards, anatomically shaped neoprene stockingfeet, a low-profile rear belt loop, and an included neoprene wading belt.
The men's G3 Pro and G3Z Pro stockingfoot waders continue the G3 tradition of being built by Simms' wader-making team in Bozeman, Montana.
Built for People Tough on Waders
This probably isn't the wader for someone who fishes three afternoons a year, but it certainly could be.
The G3 Pro family is built around guides, dedicated anglers, and anyone who fishes enough that durability, fit, mobility, and all-day comfort really matter.
The goal is simple: make the G3 tougher where it needs to be, lighter where it should be, and more comfortable through the long days that eventually wear lesser waders out.
Earlier this year, the new G3Z Pro Stockingfoot Wader also earned the 2026 ICAST Best of Show Category Winner for Fly Fishing Technical Apparel, another indication that this update is more than a cosmetic refresh.
Simms G3 Pro & G3Z Pro Stockingfoot Waders
Men's G3 Pro Stockingfoot Wader
Traditional non-zippered design
Price: $800
Color: Dark Elkhorn
Men's G3Z Pro Stockingfoot Wader
Fully submersible center-front zipper
Price: $900
Color: Dark Elkhorn
Both models share the new durability-focused GORE-TEX construction, redesigned fit, updated suspension, articulated legs, and the hard-use approach that has defined G3 for more than 20 years.
If you've been waiting for the next generation of the G3, the biggest question may simply be whether you want the zipper.
Our take: The biggest story here isn’t just the zipper. The new lower-leg fabric is what should matter most to anglers who regularly push through brush, climb banks, kneel on rocks, or simply put a lot of days on their waders. The G3Z adds convenience, but both models benefit from the same durability-focused redesign.
The new Simms G3 Pro and G3Z Pro are available through Gorge Fly Shop and SteelheadBum.com.
Shop the Simms G3Z Pro Stockingfoot Wader
