Skwala Fishing

What Skwala Fishing does

Skwala Fishing is a Bozeman, Montana-based specialty apparel company that designs, markets, and sells technical fly fishing clothing and gear. Its product portfolio spans six coordinated collections (RS, Carbon, Backeddy, Thermo, Fusion, Sol) covering waders, waterproof jackets, base layers, insulated midlayers, sun protection, and fishing pants, plus a recently launched footwear line (RS and Carbon Wading Boots). Technical inputs include Vibram's IDROGRIP sole compound with a proprietary tri-tiered lug pattern, Toray Primeflex 4-way stretch fabric, hand-selected New Zealand Merino wool, and Dot Air microporous sun-protection textiles, with category-leading premium pricing from $35 for tees to $899 for the RS Wader.

The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model. Direct-to-consumer sales run through skwalafishing.com and a showroom at its Bozeman headquarters, with free US ground shipping over $150 and in-house customer service. Wholesale distribution runs through 100+ authorized fly shop partners across North America, supplemented by a three-rep outside sales team covering Pacific NW/Alaska, Mountain West, and MT/ID/WY. International expansion is led by an exclusive distribution partnership with Denmark-based Catch Partners covering Scandinavia and central/southern Europe effective February 2025, with parallel entry into Canada and Australia. Customer segments are recreational and professional fly anglers, guides, and independent fly shops, supported by a Pro program and conservation partnerships with Trout Unlimited, Wild Steelhead Coalition, and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.

The company was founded by Kevin Sloan, a former executive at Simms, Orvis, Sitka, Yeti, and Arc'teryx, with a team that includes recovering fishing guides and other outdoor-industry veterans. It is privately held, bootstrapped with no disclosed funding rounds, and operates at 11-50 employees. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Skwala Fishing

Legal name

Skwala Fishing

Website

https://skwalafishing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Skwala Fishing is a Bozeman, Montana-based specialty apparel company that designs and sells technical fly fishing clothing, waders, and wading boots through DTC e-commerce, 100+ fly shop partners, and an expanding European distribution network, serving recreational and professional fly anglers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fishing Apparel

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Waders, Apparel & Footwear for Fishing Retail (CRAMALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fishing & Tackle Retail (CRAMABAL)

Keywords

• Fly fishing apparel
• Wading boots
• Technical outerwear
• Fishing waders
• Outdoor apparel

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC): E-commerce sales through skwalafishing.com and showroom sales at Bozeman HQ. Products shipped within US and Canada including Alaska, Hawaii, and APO/FPO addresses.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Sales through authorized fly shop retail partners in North America, Europe (via Catch Partners), and Australia.
3. Pro Program: Industry professional program for fly shops, guides, and outfitters offering discounted pricing for fishing professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Skwala Fishing designs and manufactures technical fly fishing apparel and gear, including waders, waterproof jackets and bibs, base layers, insulated midlayers, sun protection shirts, fishing pants, gloves, and wading boots. The company sells its products direct-to-consumer through skwalafishing.com and its Bozeman, Montana showroom, as well as through a wholesale network of 100+ authorized fly shop retail partners across North America, Europe, and Australia.

Product overview

Skwala Fishing is a technical fly fishing apparel company offering a comprehensive product portfolio across multiple performance categories. The product line is organized into six distinct collections: RS Collection (premium extreme weather waders and jackets), Carbon Collection (lightweight travel-focused waders and jackets), Backeddy Collection (essential everyday fishing apparel), Fusion Collection (synthetic insulated midlayers), Thermo Collection (Merino wool base layers), and Sol Collection (sun protection apparel). The company also recently expanded into footwear with RS and Carbon Wading Boots. All products are designed by anglers for anglers from the company's Bozeman, Montana headquarters, emphasizing technical performance fabrics, thoughtful fishing-focused design, and durability. The product ecosystem includes waders, waterproof jackets, insulated midlayers, base layers, sun protection shirts, fishing pants, gloves, and accessories, allowing anglers to construct complete layering systems for any fishing conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RS Collection Premium fly fishing apparel collection built for extreme performance and long days on the water, featuring unequalled protection, durability, and comfort. Includes RS Wader, RS Jacket, RS Bib, and RS Outpost Jacket with advanced articulation designs for freedom of motion.
• Carbon Collection Lightweight fly fishing apparel collection designed for mobile anglers featuring revolutionary lightweight and highly waterproof/breathable textiles. Includes Carbon Wader, Carbon Jacket, and Carbon Pant for anglers who need to stay light on their feet to travel farther and fish harder.
• Backeddy Collection Essential fly fishing gear collection with rugged, breathable, comfortable designs and simple, clean aesthetics for varied fishing conditions. Includes Backeddy Wader, Backeddy Jacket, Backeddy Vest, and Backeddy Fishing Pant made with Toray Double Weave Primeflex 4-way stretch fabric.
• Thermo Collection Merino wool base layer collection using hand-selected New Zealand wool fibers for maximum insulation, minimum water absorption, and luxurious feel. Includes Thermo 150 Hoody, Thermo 260 Zip, Thermo 260 Bottom, Thermo 350 Hoody, Thermo 350 Pant, and Thermo 350 Vest for layering in variable conditions.
• Fusion Collection Technical insulated angling layering collection that maximizes warmth without restricting mobility using synthetic down and stretch face fabrics. Includes Fusion Tactical Hoody, Fusion 90 Vest, Fusion 90 Pant, Fusion Snap Shirt, Fusion 3/2 Puffy, Fusion Hybrid, and Apex Hoody.
• Sol Collection Sun protection collection for hot weather fishing featuring 40-50+ UPF ratings and quick-drying materials. Includes Sol Breeze Shirt, Sol Defense Hoody, Sol Tropic Hoody, Sol Tactical Hoody, Sol Wading Pant, Sol Short, and Sol Tropic Glove.
• Footwear Collection Wading boot collection featuring the RS Wading Boot with Vibram IDROGRIP soles, proprietary tri-tiered stair-step lug pattern, figure-8 ESS rock plate, and high-density EVA midsole; and the Carbon Wading Boot combining hiking boot comfort with wading boot traction. Also includes the Backeddy Wet Wading Sock.
• RS Wader Premium wading wader built for extreme performance and long days in the water, featuring unequalled protection, comfort, and durability with advanced articulation designs for freedom of motion. Priced at $899.
• RS Wading Boot Aggressive wading boot featuring Vibram IDROGRIP soles with a proprietary tri-tiered stair-step lug pattern, figure-8 ESS rock plate, high-density EVA midsole, and custom non-absorbent foam interior cuffs. Rated 4.9/5 from 81 reviews. Priced at $349.
• Sol Breeze Shirt Ultralight sun shirt with 40+ UPF protection using Dot Air microporous fabric technology, gusseted arms for casting mobility, zippered side-entry pockets, and sewn-in microfiber patch for sunglasses. Available in Ocean Blue, Silt, and Stillwater colors in sizes M-XXL. Priced at $129.
• Fusion Tactical Hoody 3-in-1 midlayer combining fleece breathability, micro-puffy insulation, and hoody sun protection with strategically placed materials featuring heavier textiles on shoulders, chest, and arms for wader-wearing anglers. Priced at $229.
• Skwala Gift Card Digital gift cards available in denominations of $50, $100, $250, $500, $750, and $1000, valid only at SkwalaFishing.com.

Quantifiable outcome

• RS Wading Boot rated 4.9/5 from 81 reviews; reviewers note excellent support, grip, and durability
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Off the Grid StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Partnership to create 'Return of the Guide' fly fishing film for the 2026 Fly Fishing Film Tour. Film chronicles the story of Luciano Alba's discovery and development of Lago Strobel (Jurassic Lake) in Patagonia.
• Catch PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 December 2024Exclusive distribution partnership with Denmark-based Catch Partners to enter European market starting February 1, 2025. Covers waders, footwear, outerwear, insulation, and sportswear across Scandinavian markets (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland) and central/southern Europe. Part of Skwala's broader global expansion including Canada and Australia.
• Wild Steelhead CoalitionsupportingOthersSkwala supports the Wild Steelhead Coalition's conservation efforts for wild steelhead populations. Coalition promotes responsible angling, habitat restoration, and policy changes. Wild steelhead have declined up to 97% in some areas.
• Bonefish & Tarpon TrustsupportingOthers5% of total retail sales during the 12 Days of Skwala Sale donated to Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. BTT focuses on saltwater fisheries conservation including the Bahamas Mangrove Restoration Project and Shark Depredation Project.
• VibramcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborative development of exclusive tri-tiered, stair-step lug sole pattern for RS Wading Boots. Uses Vibram's patented IDROGRIP material for enhanced wet traction.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KUIU: KUIU is a premium direct-to-consumer technical apparel brand originally built for hunters that has expanded into fishing apparel and layering systems. Like Skwala, KUIU emphasizes proprietary technical fabrics, premium pricing, founder-led brand storytelling, and a hybrid DTC plus specialty-retail model.
• Redington: Redington is a long-standing fly fishing brand offering rods, reels, apparel, and waders sold through fly shops and DTC. It directly overlaps Skwala's core fly-angler customer and competes on waders, jackets, and layering at typically lower price points than Skwala's premium RS line.
• Sitka Gear: Sitka Gear is a premium technical apparel brand serving hunters and anglers with weatherproof layering systems, base layers, and accessories. Several Skwala founders and team members previously worked at Sitka, and Sitka competes directly in the technical layering category Skwala targets.
• Grundéns: Grundéns is a heritage fishing apparel brand specializing in waterproof and technical fishing outerwear, bibs, and rainwear for commercial and sport anglers. It competes with Skwala in technical outerwear, particularly the RS Bib and RS Jacket categories, and uses a similar specialty-retail distribution model.
• Simms Fishing Products: Simms is the dominant US fly fishing apparel, wader, and wading boot brand and Skwala's closest direct competitor. Both brands sell premium technical waders, jackets, boots, and layering systems through DTC, fly-shop wholesale, and guide pro programs targeting the same core fly angler.
• Orvis: Orvis is a long-established fly fishing apparel and tackle retailer with broad assortments across waders, jackets, boots, and base layers sold DTC and through fly shops. It directly competes with Skwala across nearly every product category and customer segment Skwala serves.

Broad incumbents

• Patagonia: Patagonia is a major general-purpose outdoor apparel brand with a long-standing fly fishing-specific sub-line (waders, jackets, sun shirts). It competes with Skwala on premium technical apparel but offers a much wider non-fishing assortment and far larger marketing and retail footprint.
• Arc'teryx: Arc'teryx is a premium technical outerwear brand owned by Amer Sports that competes with Skwala on waterproof/breathable jacket technology and premium pricing. Several Skwala founders previously worked at Arc'teryx, and Arc'teryx's high-end shell and midlayer technology sets a performance benchmark Skwala references.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgv4FtmtdBsvrMSIaAYIDWA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SkwalaFishing
• Instagraminstagram.com/skwalafishing
• Xx.com/FishingSkwala
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skwala-fishing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Skwala Fishing