When you live for cold fronts, flooded timber, and long boat runs in the dark, your waders aren’t “gear”—they’re life support. SITKA’s Delta Zip Wader set the bar for premium waterfowl waders.

The new Delta Pro Zip GTX Wader raises it with tougher textiles, beefed-up protection where you grind the hardest, and refined boots. Here’s how they compare—and which one we recommend for different hunters (and budgets).

The Short Version

• Delta Zip Wader: Proven, breathable GORE-TEX Pro laminate with front YKK AquaSeal zip and integrated insulated boots; a high-end, field-tested workhorse. Best value for most hunters who want top-tier performance without the newest premium price.

• Delta Pro Zip GTX: Up-armored 4-layer GORE-TEX Pro build with more puncture and abrasion resistance, reinforced kneepads, upgraded traction/outsole and boot ergonomics, streamlined suspenders, and the same waterproof center zip. Ideal for hunters who punish gear in brush, ice, and timber all season and want the toughest SITKA has made. 

Materials & Weatherproofing

Both waders use GORE-TEX Pro for 100% waterproof/breathable performance with a YKK AquaSeal center zip that makes them easy to get on/off in the dark or in a skiff.

What’s new in Pro: SITKA reports the Delta Pro Zip GTX uses the toughest GORE-TEX construction they’ve ever put in a wader, claiming higher puncture and abrasion resistance than previous models. Translation: more forgiveness when you kneel on ice, brush, or shell banks.

Knees, Shins & High-Wear Zones

Both models reinforce the places you crawl and kneel. The Pro adds heavy-duty kneepad overlays (CORDURA-class protection) for more grind-proof longevity in timber and pits.

Boots & Underfoot Feel

Delta boots have been a hallmark—insulated, warm, and bonded to the chassis. The Pro iteration updates the boot package with lighter weight, cushioned EVA-like midsoles, improved heel-kick for removal, and a multi-surface outsole/tread designed for mud, ice, and levees. If you hike dikes or climb in and out of boats all day, you’ll feel the difference in support and traction.

Storage & Suspension

Both keep things clean: water-resistant chest pockets and high hand-warmer pockets, plus a low-bulk suspension that won’t fight your gun mount or layup blind. The Pro refines the harness to be more streamlined and less obtrusive.

Serviceability (Big Deal)

SITKA designed these to be fully serviceable: patching/taping, seam re-taping, suspender replacement, and even boot replacement are on the menu. SITKA also offers an end-of-season inspection and leak-hunt service, and they publish typical costs for non-warranty work up front. This is one of the major reasons Delta waders hold long-term value. 

Who Each Wader Is For

Choose Delta Zip Wader if…

• You want elite-level waterproof/breathable performance and the convenience of a center zip without paying the newest-model premium.

• Your hunting is a mix of boats, marsh edges, blinds, and moderate brush/ice with occasional abuse—not daily timber crawls.

• You value a proven track record and easy access to repairs and boot replacements to stretch lifespan.

Choose Delta Pro Zip GTX if…

• You routinely punish waders: flooded timber, beaver-chewed brush, sharp ice shelves, barbed fences, and layout hunts on abrasive substrates.

• You want the most durable SITKA has made, with beefier knees, tougher face fabric, and improved boot support/traction.

• You want the latest refinements and can justify the premium price. 

Best Bang for Your Buck

• Value Winner: Delta Zip Wader. It delivers flagship performance—GORE-TEX Pro, waterproof center zip, integrated insulated boots—and plugs into SITKA’s full service/repair ecosystem. If you’re hunting 20–40 days a season across mixed conditions, this is the sweet spot on performance per dollar. 

• Durability Winner: Delta Pro Zip GTX. If your season is 50–90 days, you’re in timber and ice constantly, or you’ve blown out knees on cheaper waders, the Pro’s tougher textile and reinforced zones are worth the upcharge—and should cost less over the long run when paired with SITKA’s service program.
  
  

Final Word

Both Deltas are real-deal, guide-grade tools. Pick the Delta Zip if you want proven performance and maximum value; step up to the Delta Pro Zip GTX if your hunts are abusive and you need the most bomb-proof build SITKA makes right now. Either way, the 100% serviceable design means you’re investing in a wader you can maintain season after season—boots, seams, suspenders, patches, the works.

Shop the Sitka Gear Delta Zip Wader

Shop the Sitka Gear Delta Pro Zip GTX Wader