Skwala Fishing: Carbon Wading Boots, RS Waders and RS Wading Boots Reviewed
Posted by Nick Teynor & Logan Griffith on Jun 9th 2026
Founded in 2020, and selling fly-fishing apparel and gear since 2022, Skwala Fishing is one of the “new kids” on the block in the world of fly-fishing outerwear, waders, wading boots, etc. Skwala was started by a handful of fly-fishing industry folks who wanted to make fly-fishing gear that was meant to be fished, and fished hard. This philosophy has resonated well throughout the fly-fishing community, and the brand has quickly made a name for itself for making high quality, fishing specific clothing, breathable waders, and wading boots.
We at WRF started carrying Skwala officially in 2025, and have been adding more and more of their products to the shop based on feedback from our customers, and our personal experiences in the field while using their gear. As of late we’ve been getting more people asking about our thoughts on Skwala gear, so I figured it’s time to do a little post about the fishing experiences I’ve had while on the water. I’ve never been a fan of regurgitating company specs in any of my reviews, so if you’d like all the technical specs on these three items, I’d recommend you visit the their product page here.
I’ve been fishing in the Carbon Wading Boots since the summer of 2025, and the RS Waders & RS Wading Boots since March of this year. Overall, I’d say my experiences in every piece of Skwala gear I’ve taken out has been positive. Since I’ve spent the most time in my Carbon wading boots, I’ll start this review focused on them.
Built to be a light but durable boot, the Carbon wading boots are a great choice for those willing to walk to get away from other anglers, but also need and want a boot with good ankle support and a comfortable fit.
Fit: All Skwala wading boots are sized to match your street shoe size. Exmple: If you have a size 12 street shoe, Skwala recommends you get a size 12 wading boot. Normally, we recommend most folks get wading boots that are one size larger than your street shoe to accommodate for the neoprene bootie on your waders, and socks you wear underneath. Despite Skwala’s sizing chart, I’d highly recommend anyone interested in these boots to try them on before you buy them. I was unable to try them on before I got them, and picked my boot size based on the Skwala sizing chart. I’m a size 11.5 street shoe, so I ordered size 12 boots. The size 12 Carbon boots ended up being too small for me to wear with most waders, but are great for wet wading in.
Once I got past the fit learning curve, I really appreciated the ankle support of the “burrito wrap” these boots give me when walking over uneven surfaces and in fast pocket water stretches. I have wider feet in the toe box area, and the Carbon is wide enough to accommodate my feet and neoprene wet wading sock with no issues. Compared to other brands' lightweight boot options, the Carbons definitely feel a little heavier in hand, and stiffer in both the ankle and toe box. However, being a larger guy, I really appreciate the support these boots give me, and they are light enough that I can walk all day in them and not feel fatigued.
Wear / Durability: Despite being described as a lighter weight boot, I’ve been really impressed with how well the Carbons have held up. It’s been nine months since I first got these boots out on the water. I fish at least 2-3 times a week, walk at least a mile or more on an average fishing day, and I have not noticed any appreciable torn stitching, sole wear, or delamination anywhere on the Carbon boots yet. The soles of the boots have worn well, with no significant signs or wear and tear.
Comfort: As I mentioned above, I’ve put some miles on these boots, and they have been very comfortable. The insert in these boots, and the midsole, make taking long walks enjoyable, and I’ve spent many 8 hour days in these boots with little to no issues.
Things I’d Change: The only thing that has bothered me at times with these boots has been the lace grommets on the upper sections of the Carbon boot. They are smaller than the grommets on the RS boots, and require you to position the boot laces a particular way to get the most secure fit. So as long as you take your time, and make sure the laces are secured in the grommets, you shouldn’t have any issues, but it would have been nice if Skwala had just used the same grommets on the RS boot for the Carbon.
If you take minimal care of your gear, you fish a lot, and/or you’re bush wacking your way to the water day in and out-the RS Waders from Skwala are meant for you. These are Skwala’s most durable waders, and very comfortable to wear for a full day on the water. The RS waders are easy to get in and out of thanks to the YKK waterproof chest zipper, and have good shoulder strap supports-once you get them dialed in to your preferences.
Fit: Like many zip front waders, the RS waders have more room in the chest and gut area, which makes for a looser fit. I’ve never been a fan of tight fitting waders, especially since I have more “natural” insulation than I used to, and the RS waders have room for me and the baselayers I wear under my waders. I’m currently fishing in an XL RS wader, and despite me being a big guy, there’s still room in the chest and gut areas-especially if I’m not wearing any cold weather base layers under my waders. To help take up extra slack, the RS comes with an adjustable chest cinch for both the right and left sides, which provides a slimmer fit in the upper torso area.
Wear / Durability: I received my RS waders in March of 2026, and I’ve been out on the water in them 2-3 times a week since. I’ve had no issues with them at all, and I shouldn’t have, seeing as how these are Skwala’s most durable waders. Only an extended amount of use / ”abuse” can really give you a more accurate assessment of a wader's durability. That being said, I haven’t been taking it easy on my pair of RS waders, and they’ve taken everything I’ve fished in stride thus far.
Comfort: I’ve been very comfortable in my RS waders. I like waders that don’t fit me like a sausage wrapper, allow me to move freely, and adjust to the baselayers I’m wearing. The RS achieves all of these, and despite the extra layers of more durable material, they maintain their “breatheability” pretty well. When I say breatheability, I’m referring to how the waders membrane (i.e. material layers) allows air to circulate. Breathable waders that are more durable sacrifice breatheability for durability most of the time. I run warm, and when air temperatures are 70 degrees or higher, more often than not you’ll see me wet-wading.
That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by the RS waders when I took them out to fish on an 80+ degree day. They were definitely and noticeably warmer to wear when compared to my Patagonia Packable waders, which I expected, but I was not as warm and uncomfortable in them as I thought I would be. In short, they allowed for more air circulation than I expected, and as a result, I fished them through an unseasonably warm Spring afternoon with little to no issues. One other huge benefit of the chest zipper: If you need to relieve yourself, or need a little more air circulation, you can always unzip the zipper to accommodate your needs.
Things I’d Change: The only thing that I haven’t liked on the RS wader has been the adjustment on the shoulder straps. I’ve alway liked the more stretchy, neoprene shoulder straps because of how easy it is to adjust them, and get them on and off. The RS wader straps provide comfortable support, but the buckless G hooks took me a little time to understand and use. What I found worked the best for me, was to make strap adjustments when I wasn’t wearing the waders. Other than that, there’s nothing else as of right now that I would change on the RS waders.
Like the RS waders, the RS Wading Boots are perfect for anglers who fish long, hard, and often. Reinforced in all of the vulnerable areas (boot sides, toe box, etc.) the RS boots are built to last, and be designed to be comfortable to wear while walking and / or fishing for long periods of time.
Fit: If you have wider feet, especially up towards the front of your feet, then you should seriously consider trying on a pair of RS boots. My feet have signigifcantly changed over the past couple of years (wider, flatter, etc.), and as a result, I’ve had to become very selective about the kind of boots I wear-especially if I don’t want to have sore feet the next day. For me, the RS boot offers a stable, comfortable walking platform. Unlike the Carbon boots, I went with a size 13 RS boot, and they fit very well when wearing them with waders. My experience with sizing runs counter to what Skwala recommends, so I’d highly encourage anyone interested in getting Skwala boots to try them on before buying them.
Wear / Durability: As of now, there seems to be little to any signs of wear and tear on my RS boots, and I’ve definitely put some miles on them in the last couple of months. The seams and stitching are not separating, the soles show no noticeable wear,
Comfort: These are very comfortable boots, which I attribute to them being the width I need, giving me the ankle support I need, and the removable insole that comes with each pair of RS boots. I can’t recall ever having sore feet after using them for a full day, which I’ve definitely experienced in other boots that didn’t have the support and width in the toe box I need.
Things I’d Change: As of now, there is nothing that I can think of that would make these boots better for me while using them. As mentioned above, the RS boots are comfortable, they have great ankle support, and despite being heavier than the Carbon boots I haven’t noticed any fatigue after wearing them all day.
Overall, I’ve been impressed with the Skwala gear I’ve been fishing in, and the gear hasn’t let me down. If you have any questions about the gear I’ve tested, or other Skwala items, feel free to reach out or stop by the shop. As always, coffee’s on at 8 AM.
