Gear Roll-up: Skwala Sol Wading Pant, Sage R8 Core 696 Fly Rod, Ombraz Sunglasses

There are many high-quality shades out there for anglers, but none that are quite like Ombraz. The first thing you’ll notice is they don’t have arms...

Flylab, Andrew Steketee, Tim Romano, and Cliff Watson

Nov 05, 2025

Jensen Brehm, co-founder at Ombraz sunglasses, showing how his “armless” sunglasses hang in there.

Skwala Sol Wading Pant

The Skwala Sol Wading Pant ($129) made its way into my arsenal after the airlines lost my luggage, while I was en route to Colorado for a fishing trip. I swung through Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne, and after multiple positive experiences with Skwala gear, I figured these would be a good choice. I was right. After a full year of heavy use, I’m quite satisfied with these wading pants.

First and foremost, they are incredibly lightweight and quick drying. This should be standard for wading pants, but this isn’t always the case. Second, they did not skimp on the pockets. These pants are loaded with storage and even have a few zippered pockets, which, as an angler, are imperative. When hopping over trees, sliding down rocks and potentially swimming, having a pocket that stays shut might just prevent you from losing your keys or other important items. Finally, they fit true to size. They even include a “tall” option for the long-legged angler.

My only complaint is in the durability department. As an exploration-focused fisherman, I frequently bushwhack through the woods and, simply put, abuse my gear. In these pursuits, I have found that the lightweight nature of the pants has a hard time standing up to sharp tree branches, and on one occasion, an overly excited dog.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Of course, they aren’t bulletproof; they’re lightweight wading pants. Fair enough. But I’d push Skwala to try and find a fabric that’s more abrasion-resistant for anglers who seek to push it further into the backcountry.

Nonetheless, I will continue to wear these pants even with a few small rips. I’m not one to throw clothes out, and a worn piece of gear is much more valuable to me than multiple unused garments. If they can make these just a bit more durable, Skwala will have made a pair of pants that matches the perfection of their Sol Defense Hoody. – Cliff Watson (follow Cliff on Kudos)

Rods & Reels

Sage R8 Core 4-piece fly rod: 10-foot, 4-weight ($1050). We reviewed the 9-foot 5-weight R8 Core last year, and we liked it, after getting used to the speed and recovery of the rod–it’s a predictably powerful and laser-like fishing tool. These fly rods can do a lot of work, once you take the time to dial in the timing and casting stroke. The 10-foot, 4-weight struck me as an odd length and weight at first, but once I got used to the extra reach, the rod started to make more sense. Although it’s billed as a “technical nymphing” rod with “accuracy and delicacy for strike detection,” I didn’t really use it this way, and focused more on spring creek sippers and cruising lake fish. For small creeks, it’s a lot of power for the purpose, unless you’re making giant, downstream drifts and battling the wind. Maybe it’s just me, but I always felt like I could get closer to the fish (to warrant a 10-foot rod) and to a scenario where a shorter rod was optimal. I did appreciate the extra length and astounding lightness (3-1/8 ounces) of the fly rod when hunting lake fish. Here, the length, speed and accuracy were ideal for cruising dry fly eaters. I fished the rod with both the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Textured Trout and RIO Elite Gold fly lines–both performed well and as advertised. If you’re looking for a Sage R8 Core today, connect with Yellow Dog Flyfishing. This is a high-end fly rod and price point. – Andrew Steketee

Sage R8 Core 4-piece fly rod: 9-foot 6-inch, 6-weight ($1050). Ditto from above: We reviewed the 9-foot 5-weight R8 Core last year, and we liked it, after getting used to the speed and recovery of the rod–it’s a predictably powerful and laser-like fishing tool. In every rod lineup a few lengths and weights will typically stand out from the rest–for me (having cast and fished four or five of the R8 Cores), the 9-foot 6-inch, 6-weight was one such rod (in a good way). Like the other R8s, the rod is fast, crisp, accurate and remarkably light (3-3/8 ounces) for its length and line weight. I used it for lake fishing (from shore and from a boat), throwing river streamers and some light dredging. It has the muscle to throw all kinds of full sink and sinking tips, but where it really shines is on the lake. In the Rockies, afternoon wind is ubiquitous, and this rod has the ability to cut through some borderline miserable conditions and still deliver flies with accuracy and some touch. The easier stuff–working sinking lines and landing (muscling) fish–is a breeze. The extra six-inches is a bit much for streamer days in the drift boat, where you’re often working closer to the bank, but a wading angler might appreciate the extra length for stack mending and line management. The rod is a genuine gun, and if that is what you’re looking for, it shouldn’t disappoint. I fished the rod with both the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Textured Trout and RIO Elite Gold floating fly lines and the RIO Streamer Tip. If you’re looking for a Sage R8 Core today, connect with Yellow Dog Flyfishing. This is a high-end fly rod and price point. – Andrew Steketee

St. Croix Evos EV590-4 fly rod: 9-foot, 5-weight ($975). The Evos 590-4 from St. Croix is classified as a dedicated “fast action” rod that can handle a heavier set up. Over the past year, this has been my rod of choice when I’ve needed some extra power and strength. It shoots lines further than I could dream, while still being technical enough for small dries with smaller tippet materials (5x and smaller). Compared to other fast action rods, I would say it’s a bit slower than your dedicated “bang the banks” boat rod and the cast and timing is pretty important to master. When you get the flow right, this stick can do most anything. Small streamers and dry droppers is where this fly rod excels. Great feel in the grip and amazing fighting power on larger fish. But it isn’t cheap, coming in at nearly a grand. Nice rod, but there are other competitors with equal performance for far less. – Will Koenig

Wading

Skwala Backeddy Waders ($699). The Backeddy Waders from Skwala are the real deal–tough, reliable, well-designed and good looking. I’ve put these waders through the ringer while exploring western Wyoming and Idaho this summer–fished, hiked, bushwhacked–and they never flinched. The pocket spaces (larger kangaroo pocket, side pockets, plus a smaller stash pocket), magnetic suspender clip system that makes taking on and off a breeze and knee pads, that I never thought I needed until I had them, are all thoughtful features of these well-built and conceived waders. The pocket system provides organization and places to stash all my essentials in the front: bear spray in the left open pocket, a Coors Banquet in the right, plus two additional compartments for tippet, flies, sunscreen etc. No leaks, no seam pulls, just top-notch design and no-frills functionality. The kneepads are also a great addition for creeping the banks for spooky fish, though hardly noticeable when walking or wading. These are my new go-to waders, and I wouldn’t hit the water without ’em. Learn more from the behind the scenes video. – Will Koenig

Optics

Ombraz Armless Sunglasses ($160). I was skeptical when told about a pair of “armless” sunglasses. As a photographer for the last twenty years in the outdoor world and co-owner of Angling Trade, the B2B authority in the fly-fishing space, I’ve seen it and used it all in the sunglasses realm. Unfortunately, that means I’ve become a product snob when it comes to the glasses I wear and test. There are many high-quality shades out there for anglers, but none that are quite like Ombraz. The first thing you’ll notice is they don’t have arms. Think of your current pair of sunglasses, but with a tailless sunglass retainer like these from CHUMS as the only thing holding them to your face. It sounds strange, but they really work. I’m not saying Ombraz are the best sunglasses for every use case, but after testing them fishing, boating, shooting (cameras and guns), skiing and boogie-boarding in the surf, I can say without hesitation they make a lot of sense for a lot of outdoor situations. – Tim Romano

Nocs Provisions Zoom Tube 8x32 ($79.95). The Nocs Provisions Zoom Tube 8x32 is a popular monocular known for its compact size, water resistance (IPX4), fairly rugged design and clear optics (FOV = 384ft @ 1000yds). It also comes in at a super reasonable price. It’s primarily designed for people who want a portable and convenient way to get a closer look at nature without the bulk of a full-sized pair of binoculars–I’ve been using it on the river for spotting birds, fish, otters etc., which it handles with ease. I’ve liked the rugged design and “gripability,” water resistance (can handle a slight drizzle) and the highly portable weight: 7.6 ounces. It’s important to understand monoculars aren’t meant to replace a more powerful pair of binoculars–they’re meant to spot stuff and give you some quick beta, and you need to be able to dig them out of a boat bag or backpack quickly. They also shouldn’t add a ton of weight to the day’s fishing excursion, unless you’re in a boat. GearJunkie does a quick comparison of the Zoom Tube ($79.95) and newer Field Tube ($129.95), which provides some value: “The Zoom Tube has an IPx4 weatherproof rating, which translates to its ability to withstand a drizzle. In contrast, the Field Tube monocular is waterproof, with an IPx7 rating, and it’s made fogproof with nitrogen sealed inside behind O-rings…” I’ve loved the monocular, but maybe I’m just at a point in life where I enjoy the birds as much as the fish. Product video. – Andrew Steketee

Vallon Howlin’ sunglasses ($97). These Vallon sunglasses are intended to blend some style with functionality and are largely successful. The manufacturer summarizes the lens tech this way: “proprietary V52® lens technology constructed from nylon polyamide to provide exceptional optical clarity (ABBE value 52), and 100% UV protection (UV400). They have the highest optical clarity of any performance sunglasses on the market, and are 20% lighter than comparative lenses.” The frames are definitely light, though feel a little fragile, and the polarized lenses seem on par with all the other brown fishing lenses I’ve tested on the market (Kaenon, Smith, Ombraz). Nothing earth shattering here, but a great price point. If you’re looking for more lens wrap in a technical fishing frame, there are lots to choose from. – Andrew Steketee