Sticky Rubber ?!?!?

[fishabuoy]

With the issues and concerns of felt soled wading boots spreading NZ Mud snails, Whirling Disease, and other exotics that harm trout populations, and the fact that my old Sims studded felts were wearing out after about 15yrs of hard use (not to mention hurting my feet) I took the plunge and bought a new pair of boots that have multiple options for soles. In addition to felts and studded felts, I decided to give the sticky rubber soles a shot since I was getting new boots anyway.

So the last time I was out on the Merced a few weeks back, I tried the studded stealth rubber soles on my new boots, and I have to say....I hated them . I never felt sure-footed, never felt like I was on even/level footing, always felt like I was about to lose it, and had difficultly wading the simplest of lies trying to get close enough to nymph a particular piece of water.

I have fallen only once with felt soled and studded felt in 30+ years of stream fishing, and I fell 3x in the span of a couple hours, including a ridiculously silly fall that absolutely drenched me and half filled my waders. The Merced is not known as a particularly difficult stream to wade (NOTHING compared to the PIT, that's for sure!!!) After getting bruised and battered for the first few hours I switched the soles out to studded felts (just to be sure it wasn't ME...) & I was back to wading just fine - no slipping, consistent solid footing when and where I needed it for the rest of the day.

So I'm curious, with the push to ban felts, how have the rest of you that have tried them fared with these so called "sticky rubber" wading boots ?? Have you noticed a difference among brands of wading boots and the effectiveness of their rubber sole options ? How about studded rubber vs un-studded ? Any advice, suggestions, or insight is greatly appreciated. Would you say your felts grip better and the rubber is a compromise with respect to the fish and the river environment?

best-
Bob V

EDIT - apologies for missing the posts a few down on Didymo which is similar....still would like to hear your opinions, preferences etc...

[briansII]

With the issues and concerns of felt soled wading boots spreading NZ Mud snails, Whirling Disease, and other exotics that harm trout populations, and the fact that my old Sims studded felts were wearing out after about 15yrs of hard use (not to mention hurting my feet) I took the plunge and bought a new pair of boots that have multiple options for soles. In addition to felts and studded felts, I decided to give the sticky rubber soles a shot since I was getting new boots anyway.

So the last time I was out on the Merced a few weeks back, I tried the studded stealth rubber soles on my new boots, and I have to say....I hated them . I never felt sure-footed, never felt like I was on even/level footing, always felt like I was about to lose it, and had difficultly wading the simplest of lies trying to get close enough to nymph a particular piece of water.

I have fallen only once with felt soled and studded felt in 30+ years of stream fishing, and I fell 3x in the span of a couple hours, including a ridiculously silly fall that absolutely drenched me and half filled my waders. The Merced is not known as a particularly difficult stream to wade (NOTHING compared to the PIT, that's for sure!!!) After getting bruised and battered for the first few hours I switched the soles out to studded felts (just to be sure it wasn't ME...) & I was back to wading just fine - no slipping, consistent solid footing when and where I needed it for the rest of the day.

So I'm curious, with the push to ban felts, how have the rest of you that have tried them fared with these so called "sticky rubber" wading boots ?? Have you noticed a difference among brands of wading boots and the effectiveness of their rubber sole options ? How about studded rubber vs un-studded ? Any advice, suggestions, or insight is greatly appreciated. Would you say your felts grip better and the rubber is a compromise with respect to the fish and the river environment?

best-
Bob V

EDIT - apologies for missing the posts a few down on Didymo which is similar....still would like to hear your opinions, preferences etc...

JMHO on rubber soled wading boots. I don't think they are up to felt sole performance yet. Maybe someday, but just not quite there yet. Having said that. When I wear out my current pair of Simms with Aquastealth soles, I'll buy the latest incarnation of rubber soles again. JMHO again, but if rubber soles are even slightly better(some will debate they aren't)for the rivers I wade, then that's what I'm using. Their performance is good enough, that I can wade just about anything I want.

For me, studs are the only way to fly on rubber soles. Without them, I'd be more bruised and wet after trips. I feel like I get a lot more traction IN the water with studs. Out of the water I get good traction too, but some polished granite can be downright scary with carbide studs. I recall a time I literally skated down a slab or polished granite. The studs were like ice skate blades on that surface.

briansII

[RichardCullip]

I've used the old style Simms Aquastealth rubber soles with studs, lightweight Cabela's felt boots w/o studs and now am using the new sticky rubber Simms StreamTread Vibram soled boots (Rivershed model).

Of the three I like the new sticky rubber Simms StreamTread vibram boots the best. Yes, I have sacrificed a little bit of sure-footedness on wet slime covered rocks when compared to the felt soles. However I have much better dry rock (think Lower Kern) traction and safety with the sticky rubber. I find these boots are fairly lightweight and comfortable enough to hike in that I use them on longish day hikes, first as my hiking boot then as my wading boot saving me from having to use two pair of boots on day hikes to fishing spots.

I've heard from some trustworthy friends that the addition of carbide studs on the Simms StreamTread Vibram soles helps out a lot on wet slimey rocks. I might give that a try on the Lower Kings (the toughest wading I do) but I didn't have a good experience with my studded Aquastealth boots - way too dangerous on dry rock out of the river.

So far my sticky rubber Simms StreamTread vibram boots (w/o studs) are serving all of my wading needs. Of the three types of boots I've used, I like the Vibram-soled boots the best. These were great up in the Eastern Sierra High Country on my trip last week. Absolutely great when scrambling around on dry granite getting to and from fishing holes and sure-footed in the water.

[COCarp]

I second the Simms Streamtread. I have yet to try out the studs and when I do...I'm going to ACE hardware and picking up some drywall screws vs the super expensice "Simms" studs.

[beachbum]

The Patagonia Sticky Sole boots have worked well for me. Having just waded the slickest water I fish, and only slipping once, I like them. I do use a wading staff when conditions are tough.