Felt Boots carrying Didymo

[Flatsix]

I just read an article in a newspaper from Hawaii that talked about the spread of Didymo from the use of felt soled boots in various waters around the U.S. I've also read some info elsewhere regarding the spread of parasitic mussels via the same felt soled boots.

I'm looking at buying another pair of boots with a different type of sole. What is your experience with the use of non felt soled boots (Vibram etc)?

I'll most likely replace my Simms Guide boots with a similar in Vibram, do they provide a similar or better performance than the felt? Just curious what your experience is with various brands of non felt boots.

[FlyinFish]

I can't help much with the popular wading boot brands, but I can offer an alternate option that works great for me...

I use the Merrell Moab Ventilators: http://www.zappos.com/merrell-moab-vent ... mid-walnut

I mainly wanted a boot for wading that was a good hiking boot as well. Merrell makes some awesome boots. This one I got in the "ventilator" version and it drains super, super well. I wear it with waders but it's also awesome wet wading. I bought it to size for waders and then I add an extra insole and it works for wet wading. Great hiking boot and awesome for wet wading.

The Vibram works fine for me. I slip occasionally, but I just take it slow and am overly cautious. And that's mostly on local waters that have lots of medium sized boulders and no bank.

And at $90, it's a great price. With everybody going crazy over gore-tex and waterproof, the ventilator version comes in at a nice low price.

My one and only complain is the lace loops. I wish the ankle to foot kink would be those metal C loops instead of a sew in loop. I have a little trouble getting the laces nice and tight at that location. It could also use one more loop up top.

[Bakoguy]

Felt certainly can be a culprit for parasites if it is not properly treated after being in the water.
However, I'm not so sold on Vibram I would welcome others comments. I bought some hiking boots with Vibram that I sought to use wet wading. I could not walk on the rocks especially out of the water. After a couple of serious near misses I retired them for hiking or yard work. I too have worn out my wading boots and need to get another pair. Hope you get some feedback.

[fflutterffly]

I wasn't so hip on switching to the new Vibram sole boots, but got the Simms guide anyway. They wanted a * of a lot of money for the 'star' studs, which put me off, so instead I bought 100 Hex head screws for the same purpose. The boots turned out to be wonderful for hiking, excellent for the waters I've fished. I haven't tried them in the Kern yet. Having a very rocky bottom will be the test. Even though the store bought 'studs' rust, where the Simms don't, I still feel 85% comfortable that they will do the same job. Extra care is taken when stepping from rock to rock. I have not had a fall yet.
As for lacing systems, I tie my boots tightly at the car, wade for about 5 min and then tighten the boots once they have soaked well. This makes most materials more pliable and easier to tighten.
Wading boots tend to be simply a shell, so I like the idea of adding the insoles when wet wading, simple solution. I'd suspect, however, that a hiking boot will weight more once it is wet. I've never checked out the 'ventillator' and its construction but it sounds like you've found a nice alternative to the $200.00 + problem.

[Sasha]

I agree with Mike, one needs to clean their equipment to help with such matters. I bet that critters can hide on the new boots as well. I have a pair of Simms vibram sole boots after replacing my broken felt boots. Looking at all the stitching on the sole there is no way stuff couldn’t hitch a ride on them as well. Basically what I am saying is that I don’t think felt is the evil that it is made out to be.

Also, yes vibram works ok but not as well as felt. I recently added carbide cleats to mine; yes they are better but they are still not as good as felt. I can't wade as aggressively as I could with my felt boots as I am not 100% confident with them. I am interested to see what happens when the "less agile people" start having to wear vibram due to felt going away. I know if I was older and less agile I would not want to wear those things out of fear of falling.

[Flatsix]

Looking at all the stitching on the sole there is no way stuff couldn’t hitch a ride on them as well. Basically what I am saying is that I don’t think felt is the evil that it is made out to be.

Good Point

I've thought the same thing about the stitching and material folds as well. If the microscopic eggs or larvae can hide in the felt then they could surely hide in a lot of other places in the boot construction.

Maybe I'll just keep treating the boots for parasites and keep them until they wear out.

[briansII]

I've been using studded, Aquastealth soles for more than a few years. Back when I bought them, it was for performance issues, and not for invasive tag alongs. Main reason was for weight when hiking out. Wet felts are heavy. Also for hiking on loose soil, and snow. Now that studies are done, countries, and states are banning felt, I will never go back to felt. I have no doubt, the little critters can, and do hide in other places in a wading boot. My main concern is how long the felt stays moist. Moisture is the biggest determining factor on how long these bad critters can live on/in your wading boots. I think felts would require the utmost care, so not to spread any bad things to the river. For me, that makes my decision easy. I'm lazy, and rubber soles would be a bit less thought and maintenance.

Hands down, studded felt perform better on slippery rocks. Studded Aquastealth are not as good, but get the job done. I do think they are better(by a mile IMHO)than plain felt. I'm guessing the new Vibram soles are a step or two better than the Aquastealth soles.

briansII

[Raider]

Hi guys, I have been wearing the Simms Rivershed Vibram sole boots for over a year now. I really like them. They aren't quite as good in the water, especially the Kern as felt, but are pretty close. I take it a little slower and tend to use my wading staff more(as I should always be) I've taken a couple falls, but not as many as I have taken with felt boots. While they are slightly more slippery in the water, out of the water is where these boots shine. They really stick to the rocks on the shore. Most of my worst falls were not in the water, but moving along the bank. Wet felt is really slick on water polished rocks, even on granite rocks. The Vibram really makes it safer on shore.
As far as cleaning, no one ever said these boots don't need to be cleaned. I usually just put them in the freezer for a couple days. If I've been in real muck and am worried I got into a mess of snails, I'll soak them in bleach before I freeze them.
As with anything there are good points and bad points. These boots stay much lighter when wet, much easier to go all day in. They aren't quite as good on really slick rocks, but I quickly adjusted to how they work wet and I can't really tell much difference. They are much better along the bank and I think they overall are better boots. Even if they aren't better, the difference, to me, is worth the effort to help prevent spread of invasives. I usually don't wade in(sorry) on things like this, but as I read, I felt(oops) like no one really knew where the rubber met the road, or streambed as it were. Later, Raider

[Sasha]

Oh I agree they do excell in hiking mode; as well in the transition from wet to dry. They are good on most surfaces when wet as well. They do suck though on algae covered granite even with carbide. I don't hate them though; I still think my Simms Rivershed boots were a good investment.