The numbers
Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders at a glance
The most common wader on the South Holston and the Watauga. Four layers everywhere, Simms’ fit range, and a repair program that keeps them going when the knees finally wear.
At a glanceCheapest here $150, most expensive $650.
- Simms fit and repairs
- 4 layers throughout
Watch for: Not the lightest pair in July.
Check price on Amazon →Typical street price, rounded, October 2026. The live price is on Amazon. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you. The picks are what works on Tennessee water, not what pays most.
Head to head
Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders against its price neighbours
The pair of waderss just below and just above it in price, spec by spec. Greyed rows are the same on both.
The boots to put under any stockingfoot wader here.
Orvis’s entry wader with the fit and the gravel guards of the expensive pairs, and a shop in Sevierville and dealers in Nashville and Knoxville who stand behind them..
What the guides on the Clinch and South Holston wear 150 days a year.
Patagonia’s top wader: welded seams instead of stitched, a convertible waist high design, and a repair program with no time limit.
Who it fits
Where the Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders fits in Tennessee
Anyone who fishes the tailwaters most weekends.
Breathable fabric (Gore-Tex or the brand’s equivalent) is what every pair here uses. Neoprene is for duck hunters. The price difference is in layers: 3-layer fabric in the budget waders, 4 and 5 layers in the legs and seat of the premium ones, which is where waders fail on the rocks.
Fit matters more than brand. Waders that are too long bunch at the knee and wear through; too short and you cannot step up a bank. Most brands offer short, regular and long inseams and king sizes; use the chart.
The alternatives
Other trout waders compared
Frogg Toggs Hellbender Pro Stockingfoot
The budget breathable wader that holds up. Four layers in the legs where waders fail, a wading belt in the box, and a price that makes them the right first pair for the Clinch or the Caney Fork.
- Cheapest breathable pair that lasts
- 4 layer legs
Watch for: Fit runs boxy.
Simms Freestone Wading Boots
The boots to put under any stockingfoot wader here. Vibram rubber soles that take studs, which is the right setup for the algae on the Clinch and the ledges on the Caney Fork.
- Takes studs
- Drains fast
Watch for: Sized for a neoprene sock; buy a size up.
Orvis Clearwater Waders
Orvis’s entry wader with the fit and the gravel guards of the expensive pairs, and a shop in Sevierville and dealers in Nashville and Knoxville who stand behind them.
- Better fit range than the budget pairs
- Orvis dealer support in Tennessee
Watch for: 3 layer upper wears faster than the Simms.
Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Waders
What the guides on the Clinch and South Holston wear 150 days a year. Gore-Tex Pro, articulated knees, and a cut that lets you climb a bank. They cost double the Freestone and last more than double.
- Lasts for years
- Gore-Tex Pro breathability
Watch for: The price.
Patagonia Swiftcurrent Expedition Waders
Patagonia’s top wader: welded seams instead of stitched, a convertible waist high design, and a repair program with no time limit. The alternative to the G3 for anglers who want the warmer cut in winter.
- Welded seams
- Repair for life
Watch for: The price, and a long wait for repairs in spring.
Common questions
Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders questions
Is the Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders worth $300?
The most common wader on the South Holston and the Watauga. Four layers everywhere, Simms’ fit range, and a repair program that keeps them going when the knees finally wear. Anyone who fishes the tailwaters most weekends.
What is the Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders best for in Tennessee?
Anyone who fishes the tailwaters most weekends. Stockingfoot waders with separate boots are the right choice for the tailwaters.
What are the Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders specs?
Fabric: Breathable 4 layer Toray; Layers: 4; Seams: Taped; Pockets: Zip chest pocket, flip out; Sizes: S to XXL, short, long, king; Warranty: 1 year, repairable.
Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders or Orvis Clearwater Waders?
Orvis Clearwater Waders is $50 cheaper. Orvis’s entry wader with the fit and the gravel guards of the expensive pairs, and a shop in Sevierville and dealers in Nashville and Knoxville who stand behind them.. The Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders adds: simms fit and repairs, 4 layers throughout.
Should I spend more on the Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Waders?
The Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Waders costs $300 more. What the guides on the Clinch and South Holston wear 150 days a year. Stay with the Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders unless that is the feature you need.
What is the main drawback of the Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders?
Not the lightest pair in July. Boots are a separate purchase and a separate decision.
Where is the best price?
The Amazon link on this page shows today’s price; the figure here ($300) is a typical street price. Bass Pro and the lake marinas carry trout waders too; the county pages list them.
What warranty does the Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders have?
Warranty: 1 year, repairable. Boots are a separate purchase and a separate decision.
Who should skip the Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders?
Anyone for whom Orvis Clearwater Waders already does the job: Regular tailwater anglers who want a pair that fits properly. Breathable fabric (Gore-Tex or the brand’s equivalent) is what every pair here uses.
Is this an affiliate link?
Yes. Buying through it pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Keep going
More Tennessee water, and who fishes it
Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.