Simms Wader Size Chart: How to Measure and Pick a Size

Short answer

Measure yourself, then use the chart for the exact Simms model, not a chart from a different maker and not a chart from a different Simms product. The measurements are chest, waist, hips and inseam. Simms says to start with your largest girth, then match inseam, then choose the boot size. The chart itself lives on the Simms size and fit guide, and I am not reproducing it here: numbers change with models, and a stale table is worse than none.

Brand background and the Simms products we track on Amazon US are on the Simms brand page. For the general version of this guide, covering all makers, see the wader size chart.

The four measurements

Use a soft tape and wear thin layers. Stand naturally and keep the tape level. These are the points Simms names:

• Chest: the widest part.
• Waist: the smallest part, usually just above the belly button.
• Hips: the fullest part, in a natural stance.
• Inseam: from the bottom of the crotch to the floor. If you have no fabric tape, Simms suggests using string or dental floss against a ruler.

The largest of the girth measurements is the one that sets your size on the chart. That surprises people, who expect the chest to rule. A person with a narrow chest and wide hips should start from the hips. (The Seam would like it known that it does not care which of your measurements was the largest, only that it was taken seriously.) Men's wading pants are the exception, because pants have no bib, so they use waist.

What the labels mean

• Short, Regular, Long (men's) set the inseam range. The page lists the inseam types but does not define them in prose.
• Short, Regular, Tall (women's) are tied by the page to height ranges.
• King (men's) and Full (women's) are not defined in text. In the charts, they appear at the same inseam as the standard size with a larger girth.

So King and Full are about build, not height. If the standard size is right for your legs and tight through the body, that is the signal to read the King or Full row. As with all makers, read the chart for the model rather than trusting the word. Our general guide notes that no two makers define these labels in the same way.

Between sizes

Simms gives clear rules for the in-between case:

• Bootfoot waders: there are no half sizes. If you are between sizes, size up.
• Wading boots: most people fall between their street shoe size and one size larger, so for half sizes, size up.

SITKA says the same about bootfoot waders from its own point of view: a little extra room fits thick socks, and a tight boot compresses socks and leaves feet cold. That is a different maker, but the logic is the same.

Boots and the stockingfoot

Stockingfoot waders end in a neoprene sock, and you buy wading boots separately. Simms says the boots need room for the stockingfoot, and the size guide has cross-reference columns to match your regular street shoe size to the boot size. Women's boots have their own cross-reference to the men's boot sizes. Kids' boots map to kids' street shoe sizes. Not every boot style comes in every size, so check the individual boot page.

Two Simms details that can save a mistake: bootfoot waders are made by attaching a boot size to a stockingfoot wader, and only select models can be converted, and some sizes are only available through the Simms Custom Wader Shop. If the standard sizes don't fit your build, ask about that route. See our stockingfoot waders and bootfoot waders pages for the difference between the two foot types, and the wading boots section for boots from other makers.

What to wear while you measure

Simms says not to wear jeans or sweatpants under waders, because they are abrasive and hold moisture. It recommends synthetic or wool layers. Measure and try on in the layers you will wear: a fit that works over a T-shirt will not work over a fleece. If you plan to wade in cold water, try the waders with the thick layers on.

Men's, women's and kids' charts

Simms splits its charts. Stockingfoot waders, wading boots, footwear, tops, bottoms, bibs and pants each have separate men's and women's charts, and kids have their own. The bootfoot wader chart lists only men's sizes. Socks share one table with men's and women's columns, and gloves and hats have a single chart. So if you are shopping for a woman's pair, check you are on the women's chart before you read a number. For a child, use the kids' chart, keep the child in shallow water with an adult close by, and see our youth wader size chart guide.

After you pick a size

A fit check is worth more than any chart. Try the waders on with your layers and do a deep knee bend, sit down and step up on a chair. You should not feel pulling or binding. SITKA says the same, and so does the general advice in our wader size chart guide.

If the size works, the waders page shows what the maker states for each pair, and the Simms waders warranty guide explains what happens if a pair leaks. If you are still choosing between types, read our types of waders guide.