Good wading boot thread

[midger]

Benny's thread got me researching boots. I currently use felts, studded felts, and/or sticky rubber (patagonia) depending on the river I'll be fishing.

Here's a good thread on wading boots for those looking for answers. It even has a Korker's rep answering some of the questions.

Rubber or felt? Cleats or not? Type of cleats? As for me, I'm a felt kind of guy, but I found the dialogue interesting.

http://www.west-fly-fishing.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=630033&page=1

[mtnguru]

I like this. I haven't actually ever owned a pair of wading boots, I've been using a pair of Croc's and before that....an old pair of running shoes from Sheriff Joe.

Also, how do you all feel about how the sizes? I know my booties aren't the closest fit and worry about all that excess neoprene getting in the way.

Chris

[meb]

Good thread. I was disappointed with my Simm's with the rubber soles. Sounds like most people on the thread felt the same way. Then I put in a few studs and that helped, but for powerful rivers and wading deep I still use studded felts.

[rayfound]

Inspired by Chris, and wanting something light and easy to carry I got some knockoff crocs, and I've found them as good or better than my felt boots (which I prefer sans-cleats) .

They offer no snakebites protection though.

[meb]

Do small rocks and pebbles get caught in the Crocs? I've used different Teva or Keanne sandals when wet wading in the summer on the Yuba and Sacramento rivers, but I always seem to be trying to shake rocks out while wading. Last year I used rubber flip-flops, and they worked pretty well.

[rayfound]

Do small rocks and pebbles get caught in the Crocs?

Not really. Sometimes when hiking through loose/dry decomposing organic material, you need to clean them out once in a while.

The softness of the foam rubber really forms around the texture of the (wet or dry) rocks, giving great traction.

[Trootfisher]

thanks for sharing the thread midger.

I've had a pair of LL Beans with the siped Aquastealth rubber for years and they stick to the rocks very well and have held up.
Then again, I'm probably not putting in as many hours as many other folks.
Solid boot, though.