Orvis's New Pro LT Waders and Boots Offer Premium Improvements

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Orvis  PRO LT Wader

According to Orvis, the durability of the 5- and 4-layer PRO Wader with their proprietary Cordura outer shell fabric turned their warranty repairs department into a ghost town. Now they’ve used that same Cordura fabric—developed exclusively for Orvis—in the new PRO LT waders that will be hitting shelves in the spring of 2024.

Cordura is a brand name for a collection of nylon-based, durable, highly abrasion-, tear-, and scuff-resistant fabrics used for luggage, military and law enforcement clothing, motorcycle wear, and a variety of other uses. Compared to ballistic nylon, Cordura has fuzzy individual fibers, has greater abrasion resistance, and feels softer. Orvis waders are the only waders on the U.S. market with a nylon-based face fabric. Most other waders have a polyester face fabric.

In the PRO LT, the 4-layer material throughout the top and bottom of the wader consists of the exterior face fabric, a waterproof/breathable membrane with a waterproof coating, and a tricot liner.

PRO LT waders have a stretchy, generous external handwarmer pocket, and inside, a flip-out accessory pocket. There is plenty of tool docking for hemostats on the rubberized pocket tabs or for floatant, hook sharpeners, and zingers on the MOLLE-type daisy chain on the chest.

The waders have removable, 3mm OrthoLite knee pads—this is the same company that makes insoles for companies like Nike, Adidas, and Reebok—so your knees will be protected  when you are releasing a trophy fish in shallow water, or when you are crawling and sneaking into position to make a cast.

The gravel guards are a little different here as well, with a stretchy, PU reinforced area at the heel/Achilles that snaps in place at the back, and a lace hook at the front.

The fit on these is more athletic than previous generations of Orvis waders, and the gusseted crotch and lighter fabric make it easier to move in the water, over downed logs and rocks, or jump over boat gunnels. The redesigned taped seams also removed bulk, giving you more of a sense of a wader that isn’t there. And if you want even less wader on hot summer days, these quickly adjust to waist-high pants using opposing suspender buckles.

$498 | orvis.com

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Orvis  PRO LT Wading Boot

There are a couple of important partnerships inside the new Pro LT Wading boot from Orvis, which is 10% lighter than the original PRO boot—and still loaded with features. The first collab is the industry-first Michelin Outdoor Extreme outsole, a traction compound and tread pattern that has proved to be extremely durable and abrasion resistant. The newer partnership is the Intuition-based foam footbed that actively molds around your foot for a cushioned, more custom fit. This brand of lightweight shapeable EVA closed-cell foam is in wide use in liners for premium downhill ski boots, but it’s the first time we’ve seen it in a wading boot. The foam has a high bond strength so it won’t tear out of the boot, it’s nontoxic, and does not absorb water.

The shock-absorbing, one-piece, 360-degree padded wrap forms to your feet better, giving you more secure footing and agility, and also helps prevent debris from working its way down into the boot. An abrasion-resistant PU-cast Kurim mudguard around the base of the boot protects it from rocks, rusty cars, concrete, and whatever else you might find at the bottom of a river. The shorter, low-profile speed lace system complements the foam footbed—it doesn’t need to be cranked up tight all the way to the toes, because the boot naturally fits your foot better.

$249 | orvis.com