Which product this review covers. Our hands-on notes below describe the men's Redington Sonic-Pro chest wader — the plain, pull-on Sonic-Pro in the Feather Grey/Falcon colourway, with the flip-out zippered chest pocket and 3.5 mm neoprene booties. It is not the Sonic-Pro HD, the front-zip Sonic-Pro HDZ, the Ultra Packable, or the women's Sonic-Pro. Redington has since stopped making waders altogether, so treat this as a record of a discontinued wader plus guidance on what fills its role today.
For a current alternative, start with the Orvis Clearwater Waders.
Your waders decide how much of a river you can actually fish. The Redington Sonic-Pro was, for years, what a lot of anglers reached for when they wanted honest construction without a guide-level price tag — a stripped-back, sonically welded chest wader that skipped the gadgets and put the money into the fabric.
We tested and fished a pair. Like the other review gear covered on Fly Fisher Pro, it was bought or borrowed, never gifted. Below is what the tested pair was like on the water, what the Sonic-Pro name did and didn't cover, where the line stands in 2026, and which current waders fill a similar role.
Quick verdict
The short version: the Sonic-Pro was a deliberately plain, four-layer chest wader whose whole argument was welded seams and a low seam count. The tested pair kept us dry and allowed a full range of movement. The compromises were a fabric that felt warm during extended wear, booties cut generously enough to bunch inside wading boots, and a belt and strap system that felt less refined than the shell.
In 2026 you cannot buy one new from Redington. The brand has exited wading entirely, so any Sonic-Pro you find is old stock, used, or a lookalike listing. If you want the same character of wader today, look at the current mid-priced four-layer stockingfoot models listed further down.
Which Sonic-Pro this is — and which it isn't
“Sonic-Pro” was a family name, not a single wader, and mixing the members up gives you the wrong buying advice. The pair we fished matches the base men's Sonic-Pro on four independent points: a four-layer, 100% nylon waterproof/breathable DWR-coated shell; ultrasonically welded seams with double taper backing; an ergonomic 3.5 mm neoprene bootie with a 4 mm bottom; and a flip-out zippered pocket alongside a two-sided fleece-lined handwarmer pocket. It had no front zip, which rules out the HDZ outright.
The men's grid ran to thirteen sizes, from Small (35–37″ chest, shoe 7–8) up to XXL (51–53″ chest, shoe 12–13), with Short, Long and King variants filling the middle.
| Model | Foot style | Front access | Defining feature | Identity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic-Pro (men’s) | Stockingfoot | Pullover | Welded four-layer shell | Reviewed model |
| Sonic-Pro HD | Stockingfoot | Pullover | Heavier-duty non-zip design | Distinct HD model |
| Sonic-Pro HDZ | Stockingfoot | Waterproof front zip | Front-zip access | Distinct HDZ model |
| Sonic-Pro Ultra Packable | Stockingfoot | Pullover | Packable shell design | Distinct packable model |
| Women’s Sonic-Pro | Stockingfoot | Pullover | Women-specific stretch panels | Distinct women’s model |
The women’s Sonic-Pro was a genuinely different garment, not a resized men’s model: it used waterproof stretch side panels, a stretch mesh back panel and 4 mm booties. Redington Crosswater is a budget fly rod and is unrelated to the Sonic-Pro wader family.
Where the Sonic-Pro stands in 2026
Redington no longer makes waders. Its parent company, Far Bank, states plainly on its warranty page that “due to the discontinuation of our wading products, our warranty policy will refund or credit, rather than replace, qualifying products as we cannot repair or guarantee availability of replacement wading products.” The wind-down was announced in October 2024, and the cut-off written into the policy is 1 October 2024.
That date matters if you own a pair. Waders bought before 1 October 2024 were covered for a full refund inside 60 days and a Far Bank credit for the balance of the first year. Waders bought on or after it carry a 60-day refund window and nothing beyond. The one-year defect warranty retailers advertised alongside the Sonic-Pro no longer applies to new purchases.
Redington’s current wading collection lists no waders, and retailers identify the Sonic-Pro, HD, HDZ and Ultra Packable as discontinued.
There is no Redington successor. The company did not replace the Sonic-Pro with another wader. Far Bank's current Redington storefront focuses on rods, reels, outfits and accessories rather than waders. Anything presented as “the new Sonic-Pro” is a different brand's product filling a broadly similar role.
Hands-on: how they fished
Everything in this section is attached only to the pair described above. The tested gear was bought or borrowed; nothing here was gifted.
The shell and the seams
The waterproofing is where the tested Sonic-Pro earned its keep. Welded construction avoids the needle holes created by conventional stitching, and the design also has relatively few seams to begin with — a plain silhouette with no front zip, bellows pockets or decorative panels. In our test it kept us bone dry while wading.
The fabric is noticeably substantial. It has weight and body and does not pack down small. The legacy test found it resistant to undergrowth, but no measured service-life claim is possible. That heft is the trade: a brush-resistant shell rather than a fold-it-into-a-daypack design.
Breathability is not warmth
Worth separating these, because marketing language around breathable waders blurs them. A four-layer shell is a waterproof barrier, not insulation. The Sonic-Pro kept water out; it did not keep you warm. Your layers underneath did that work, and the fabric's thickness was a comfort bonus rather than a thermal claim.
Breathability was the honest weak point. During extended wear, the substantial shell felt warm and sweaty even when the water was cold. It still allowed more air circulation than neoprene, but this was not a lightweight warm-weather wader.
Fit, cut and mobility
The cut is slimmer than the old baggy-wader default. In the tested pair, that meant less resistance in current without restricting reaching or casting. The fabric was heavy, but the cut and articulated knee still allowed a full range of movement.
The tested pair ran true to size through the body. The shoulder straps are adjustable, but their range may be insufficient for a short torso. Shorter anglers should check that the crotch sits correctly before committing to a used pair.
Pockets, belt and hardware
Storage is deliberately thin. You get the flip-out zippered chest pocket — useful for a phone, licence and car key, with a genuinely handy mesh tippet pocket inside it — plus the two-sided fleece-lined handwarmer pocket, which on a raw morning is a better feature than it sounds. That is the lot. If you want a wader that swallows fly boxes, this was never it, and the design says so openly.
The wading belt was the low point. It is slim and can carry tools such as pliers, but next to the shell it felt flimsy; the legacy test also raised concern about how well its stretch would hold up. Replacing a worn or poorly fitting belt is sensible — see the safety section.
Booties and boot fit
The 3.5 mm bootie with a 4 mm sole panel felt comfortable underfoot. The problem is volume: the tested booties ran large and tended to ruck and bunch as a wading boot went on. Do not automatically size the boot up to compensate; check the bootie's actual fit with the socks you use.
Who the Sonic-Pro suited
Strong points
- Welded seams and a low seam count — fewer places to leak
- Dense four-layer shell that resisted brush and abrasion well
- Slim cut that reduces drag in current without limiting movement
- Comfortable, well-padded booties underfoot
- Fleece-lined handwarmer pocket that earns its place in cold weather
- True-to-size through the chest and waist
Weak points
- Runs warm and clammy; among the less breathable options in its class
- Heavy and bulky to pack
- Booties cut over-large and bunch inside boots
- Shoulder straps run short on adjustment for shorter torsos
- Belt quality well below the rest of the build
- Minimal storage by design
- Discontinued — no in-brand successor or factory repair route
In short: it suited cold-and-shoulder-season anglers, steelhead and salmon water, brushy small streams and anyone who valued a wader not leaking over a wader carrying gear. It did not suit hot-weather trout fishing, travelling light, or anyone needing a wading system with real pocket capacity.
What fills the role now
With no Redington successor, two current stockingfoot chest waders occupy a broadly similar buyer role:
- Orvis Men's Clearwater Stockingfoot at Trident — the nearest match on construction: a four-layer waterproof/breathable nylon shell with a polyurethane membrane and tricot liner, an external chest pocket, a kangaroo handwarmer pocket, anatomical booties and gravel guards. It follows the same durability-first, no-front-zip brief as the Sonic-Pro, with more storage.
- Simms Tributary Stockingfoot at Trident — a three-layer upper over a four-layer lower, which concentrates reinforcement lower on the garment while keeping the torso less substantial. It is the more relevant comparison when the Sonic-Pro's warm-weather comfort is the concern.
For a wider field, including women's-specific and zip-front options, see our guide to the best fly fishing waders. Saltwater and beach anglers should start with our surf fishing waders guide instead, since the abrasion and rinsing demands are different.
Sizing, care and repair
Sizing. Fit the chest and inseam first and the shoe size second, and use the Short/Long/King variants rather than jumping a whole size to chase length — that is what those variants exist for. Try waders on over the base layers you actually fish in, then squat fully: if the crotch pulls tight, you need more length, not more girth. Given how large the Sonic-Pro booties were cut, do not size boots up for them.
Care. Rinse away mud, silt and salt with fresh water, then dry both the exterior and interior completely away from high heat. Store the waders hanging or loosely rolled rather than compressed on the same crease. Follow the cleaner and DWR-treatment instructions for waterproof/breathable fabrics; avoid fabric softener and bleach.
Repair. Inspect the shell, seams and bootie junctions before each trip. Small punctures in clean, dry fabric may accept a purpose-made urethane wader-repair patch when used according to its instructions. A failing welded seam is harder to repair reliably, and Far Bank says it can no longer repair Redington wading products, so budget accordingly if you buy used.
Wading safety: belt, PFD and cold water
None of the above matters if you go in. Three habits are worth more than any wader feature:
- Wear the belt. Secure a properly fitted wading belt before entering the water and keep it snug. Waders are not flotation. If a belt is worn, damaged or difficult to secure — as the tested Sonic-Pro belt felt — replace it.
- Use suitable flotation where appropriate. A properly fitted PFD adds protection around strong current, deep water, waves, cold water or boat travel. Choose a model appropriate to the activity and know how it operates before relying on it.
- Treat cold water seriously. Plan layers, exposure time and an easy retreat. Waterproof fabric does not prevent cold shock or hypothermia. Fish with a partner where possible, tell someone your plan, carry a staff when conditions warrant it, and keep dry clothes accessible.
FAQs
Can you still buy Redington Sonic-Pro waders?
Not new from Redington. The company discontinued its wading products, and its own wading collection no longer lists waders. Anything you find is remaining retailer stock, used, or a listing for a different item.
What happened to the Sonic-Pro warranty?
Far Bank now refunds or credits qualifying wading products rather than repairing or replacing them. Waders bought before 1 October 2024 were covered by a 60-day refund and a store credit for the rest of the first year; waders bought on or after that date have a 60-day refund window only.
What was the difference between the Sonic-Pro and the Sonic-Pro HD?
Both used the same four-layer welded construction and the same 3.5 mm/4 mm bootie. The clearest documented difference is chest storage: the plain Sonic-Pro used a flip-out zippered pocket with a mesh tippet pocket, the HD a large water-resistant chest pocket. The HD sat higher in the range.
Is the HDZ just a Sonic-Pro with a zip?
The HDZ is the front-zip member of the family, built on the HD platform with a waterproof zipper — different entry, different pricing, different failure points. Archived HDZ details verify a distinct front-zip design. It is also discontinued.
Is the women's Sonic-Pro the same wader in different sizes?
No. It had its own pattern: waterproof stretch side panels, a stretch mesh back panel, a YKK-zip chest pocket and 4 mm booties. Archived women’s-model details verify a distinct design.
Were they any good in hot weather?
Least good there. The dense four-layer shell traps moisture and long warm days were clammy. A lighter three-layer wader or a wader pant is the better summer answer.
Is a used pair worth buying?
Only with eyes open. There is no factory repair route and current warranty coverage is tightly limited by purchase date. Inspect the shell, welded seams and bootie-to-leg junction carefully, ask about leaks and repairs, and value it as a discontinued wader with limited support rather than as a current model.
Final recommendation
For a current replacement, start with the Orvis Clearwater Waders.
Sources
- Far Bank — Warranty & Repair Policy (discontinuation, refund/credit terms, 1 October 2024 cut-off)
- Far Bank — Redington Wading collection
- Redington brand home at Far Bank
- The Fly Shack — Redington Sonic-Pro Wader (specs and size chart; discontinued)
- The Fly Shack — Redington Sonic-Pro HD Wader (specs and size chart; discontinued)
- The Fly Shack — Redington Women's Sonic-Pro Wader (specs; discontinued)
- Bear's Den Fly Fishing — Redington Sonic-Pro Waders (features, colourway)
- Flylords — Redington to Discontinue Wader Line (22 October 2024)
