At Simms, every wader that leaves our Bozeman, Montana facility carries the fingerprint of the anglers who build them. On our production floor, precision isn’t optional — it’s the standard. It’s a standard upheld by the Wader Makers who understand that what they’re building has to meet the demands of real days on real water.

Kyle Dresser is one of them. A lifelong angler and president of Simms’ Core Angling Group (CAG), Kyle brings his passion for fishing — and his deep pride in the brand — to everything he does. From the production floor to hidden streams, Kyle embodies what makes Simms waders, and the people behind them, truly special.

“Before I ever set foot on the production floor, I knew Simms waders were different. As a guide, I spent a decade on the water relying on them. I remember driving with clients on my way to the Gallatin or Madison and we’d pass by the Simms building and I’d just think how cool it was that Simms waders were made right there. What I didn’t fully understand back then was just how much goes into every single pair.

During the offseason from guiding, I was looking for a way to remain in the fishing industry so I picked up seasonal work in the Simms warehouse. That turned into a role on the production floor, which is where and when I really started to understand what set Simms waders apart. Now,  about nine years later, it’s still the people, and the process that drive everything we do.

What I really admire is that there’s a real human element to our process. Every cut, every stitch, every piece of tape — it’s all done by Wader Makers who truly understand what these waders mean to the people that wear them. We’re not just making a product; we’re building something that allows anglers to step into the river and fully embrace the experience. Something that keeps them out longer, fishing harder, pushing through whatever the water or weather throws their way. And that’s why every detail matters. No one on my team is going through the motions. And nobody is just punching a clock. We all take pride in our work and of course, the final product.

To me, it’s not just the craftsmanship, the attention to detail, or all the lab and infield testing. It’s the people that build them. In my mind, that’s not only what makes our work unique, it’s what makes our work special.” ~ Production Supervisor, Kyle Dresser