Sitka Gear Unveils Delta Zip Waders at the 2018 SHOT Show

Over the many years of North American waterfowling, duck hunting chest waders have gone through several evolutions from plain-Jane all-rubber models a century ago to neoprene versions in the latter stages of the 20^th century to breathable versions as the 21^st century dawned.

Maybe, just maybe, the final step in waterfowl wader evolution has come this year as Bozeman, Mont. based Sitka Gear has unveiled the company's new Sitka Gear Delta Zip Waders at the 2018 SHOT Show.

When company waterfowl product manager Jim Saubier and Sitka Gear team member and photographer Ted Wells stopped by the OSG live stream booth during the 40^th anniversary of the SHOT Show, the game-changing innovation of a wader that took four years to develop was quickly evident.

First, Saubier pointed out that the Delta Zip Wader has just that, a YKK AQUASEAL Zipper, a heavy-duty waterproof zipper which allows for easy entry and exit from the waders, all without letting any cold lake or river water in. (Editor's Note: Sitka Gear also makes a zipper less version of the Delta Wader – see the company's website for details.)

That's followed by the lightweight, warm, and durable LaCrosse Aeroform boot, a completely serviceable foundation that features a special adhesive that took Sitka Gear some two-years to develop for attaching the boot and the wader body together.

According to Saubier, the wader's main chassis is the Gore-Tex Pro-Shell four-layer laminate, something that makes the wader waterproof, breathable, and durable from top to bottom. To protect that laminate, foam-padded reinforced knees and shins help keep waterfowl hunting's inevitable rips and holes from developing in those high-stress areas as hunter's wade through timber, climb into boats, and get into and out of blinds.

And that's not all since the Delta Zip Wader also features a no-buckle suspension harness system, a built-in waist belt, water-resistant zippered storage pockets, and high handwarmer pockets too.

Add in GORE Optifade camo in Timber and Marsh patterns and a fully serviceable pledge by Sitka Gear and this is a bombproof wader that is going to be tough to beat.

In fact, for the waterfowl hunter willing to invest in this game-changing piece of high-end, innovative gear and who knows, it could be the last pair of waders you'll ever need to buy.

Information: (877) 748-5247; www.sitkagear.com