Wet Wading Options

Orvis Ultralight waders are a top choice
Waders.  You may just not be comfortable wet wading in the river.  There is absolutely no shame in that whatsoever.  Some rivers are colder than others, and a long day in an icy river is not pleasant, no matter how hot it is outside of the water.  I have opted for waders nearly every trip this mild summer, but that is going to change with a heat wave on the way.

A lightweight pair of waders is nice to have in the summer.  For many of us, fishing is a fair-weather activity, so a lightweight pair of waders is going to be right in the wheelhouse too.  Orvis' Ultralight Convertible Waders are about as good as it gets for what they are.  They are super lightweight with great waterproofing, plus the ability to easily convert them into wading pants makes them a great choice for summer wading.

Zippered Waders have good ventilation

Redington's Escape Zip are another nice option.  The material is a heavier grade than the Orvis Ultralights, and the waders are noticeably heavier than the Orvis', but some would say that makes them more durable.  I know that I love a good zippered wader and unzipping them definitely helps them breathe much better than regular waders, especially hiking around on a hot day.  These are heavy enough for some fall and winter wading as well, but you might want to keep that zipper up in the winter time.  
Wading boots are a necessary part of a fishing outfit, but they are they heaviest item that a angler might buy beyond a boat.  Many anglers opt for sandals like Tevas or Chacos, but there are problems with those, especially in the river.  No ankle support, rocks and sticks under the toes, blisters and sliding around in them make sandals a less-than-desirable choice for many.  

A lightweight pair of wading shoes makes cruising up and down the creek a breeze.  The Orvis Approach Wading Shoe is a great choice for that. It feels like wearing a tennis shoe and is great for rafting and a plethora of other fun summer water type of activities.  These lightweight shoes make getting around those boulder gardens a breeze and your feet will be noticeably less tired than wearing those 7 pound wading shoes.  The extra stability and grip of this shoe makes it worth the upgrade alone.  Plus you don't have to deal with rocks under your feet like with sandals.