Simms Wading Boots

[Benny]

Have you guys ever bought a pair of wading boots and begin to have second thoughts about spending close to $200 bucks on them? Well I did when I first bought my Simms Rivershed Boots Streamtread. At first they felt kind of hard, stiff, not the most comfortable of boots. I had always been a Chota fan until up until the shrinking problems with the leather, always fighting to put them on, I had to get them wet in order to put them on after all the shrinking, which was total BS IMO. Well I've had the Simms Riversheds for a little over a year now and have been noticing that the more I wear them the more comfortable they are becoming. I think I still need to test them a bit more on some really tough wading, but thus far I really am enjoying these boots.



Are any of you guys using the Simms HardBite Star Cleat Studs or just the Studs? What do you think about Star Cleats or the Studs, do they help when wading or should I just leave my boots as is? Like I stated above my boots are really comfortable right now. If I added the studs would that change the comfort of the boot?

Thanks

[darrin terry]

I've got the same boots, Benny. I really like them. I have had mine about 1-1/2 years (~70-80 days on the water) now and have had no regrets at all. After the first 2-4 months I decided to add the star cleats. I placed two, staggered under the ball or pad of each foot and two staggered under each heel. I am considering adding one at the toe and one more in the arch area. For that little extra grab. The soles performed well enough that I think they could go without the cleats many places, but on the local tailwater, the cleats really help. I do sometimes wonder about the effect of the cleats on fish - sound wise. Also, after about a year of use, at least one of the star cleats has had a good bit of the welded carbide bits break off. Not sure I like that but I am not using near all of the cleats that came in the container so far. I do still occasionally slip, but that can always occur from time to time.

As for comfort, I think they are the most comfortable wading boots I have used so far. I also have Simms Freestones (Felts with carbide screw-in studs and Headwaters (Aquastealth with no studs). The Freestones were pretty good grippers with felt, but hard to get on due to being so stiff. The Headwaters were OK grippers provided the moss/slime was not too bad, and were very easy to get on and off my feet. The Riversheds are fairly comfortable, easy to get on and off, and while not quite as grippy as felt, they are pretty close. Keep in mind that I felt that studs were an absolute necessity for myself on the local water. As you already know, the Riversheds Vibram sole is far. far superior to felt out of the water and much lighter for not absorbing water as felt does. This all adds up to a superior boot IMO. The star cleats aren't cheap at about $40, but are worth having IMO.

[NorcalBob]

If you like the boots, and like the "sticking" performance without studs, leave them off. Studs are awesome for traction in certain situations, but they suck in other situations. Soooooooo, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!!

[DubL HauL]

I don't have any opinions on the cleats but I have some feedback on my Pro Guides with Streamtread:

I tried on the Rivershed and Proguide. I liked the look of the Rivershed almost better and they were slightly less $ but the Proguide boot felt better on my foot so I sided on comfort and spent a little more $. I don't know how many fishing days but a lot coming up on a year old. Initially I thought the lining fabric, tongue and some of the boot construction would wear out before the sole. Understanding prior to purchase Simms plan to offer re-soling meant to me the boot should last a few years/seasons.

My soles are almost done, they are almost flat with little remaining tread. I plan to have them re-soled however I'm not sure how long the boot will hold up. The rubber toe is beginning to peel away from the leather. I'm anticipating another year after the re-sole which is where I am now pending the boot holds up fingers crossed.

I do a lot of hiking in my boots, it's not uncommon to hike 4 miles or more in a fishing day so I probably wear out my wading boots more on the trail than in the stream.

Boot is very comfortable but a bit heavy.

Andy

[fflutterffly]

I have your same boot but the cleats I used are from home depot, hex screws. I like them for almost every situation.

[briansII]

Nice pic Benny.

I'm using the HardBite studs. They work, but as Darrin mentioned with the Star Cleat, the carbide pellets have pretty much worn off. Even with the worn studs, the difference in traction on the slick stuff is day and night. If I had the sole made for the Star Cleats, I'd be really tempted to use them, but man are they expensive! I bet you could do what Ariel does, and just get hardened, hex screws. Try that first, and see if you like the feel. FWIW, I put Superfeet footbeds in my wading boots.

briansII

[Benny]

The ridiculous price is what's turning me off, but if it's going to make me not slip and hurt myself on the snot slick boulders of the Kings or Kern, my guess is they maybe worth the investment. Thanks for all the input everyone, I really need to get out and do some testing. I wonder if I could return them if I don't like them

[midger]

I don't know about the King, but DO NOT recommend studded boots for the Kern. The large granite boulders there make wearing studs trecherous and that's the closest I've come to really hurting myself when I fell twice due to the studs slipping on granite while I was boulder hopping the Kern. Felts did great. Studded felts no good.

I like studded boots on the Klamath, Trinity, McCloud, but other rivers not so much. I keep both types of boots--in addition to the Patagonia Sticky Rubbers with no studs.

Oh, and hardware store screws work well as a cheap man's studding option, but make sure to get short--ie 1/4 inch--screws or the pain can be excruciating.

[Rockstar Fisherman]

When are studded boots recommended??? My Simms felt bottomed boots have worked excellent for me in every situation I've been in, including peak bagging. I look at slipping and falling as part of the cheap thrill I get out of wading, its a hazard that'll always be present.

[RSetina]

Mike, I'd say they are recommended more as you get older. Falling hurts more as you age and catching yourself is tougher, and if studs help to keep that from happening, and for me I think they do, use them. Of course some times they just don't work, ie granite.

[Rockstar Fisherman]

Mike, I'd say they are recommended more as you get older. Falling hurts more as you age and catching yourself is tougher, and if studs help to keep that from happening, and for me I think they do, use them. Of course some times they just don't work, ie granite.

Oh trust me I never want to fall, especially when I have waders on and am on a big river like the Kern. I've still just never quite heard a clear cut version of when studs would be preferred over felt. Felt works great, at least in my somewhat ignorant opinion.

[midger]

Mike,
Studs are better when you have a river with smaller, moss covered rocks. An example of this would be the Klamath from Orleans up to Happy Camp. Believe me, I've used felts and felts with studs. Far, far fewer falls with the studs as they bite through the moss and give you more grip. A lot of folks use the chains that slip over their felted boots to give them better traction when fishing these waters.

BTW, studs suck in a drift boat or raft. They do a lot of damage to the boat and can be catostrophic to a raft's well being.

[Rockstar Fisherman]

Thanks Midger! I can think of a few areas myself that have those types of bottoms where studs might be worth a try some day.

[fflutterffly]

Benny. What size boot do you wear? I have 9.5 you can try out.

[Benny]

Benny. What size boot do you wear? I have 9.5 you can try out.

Thanks for the offer Ariel, my wading boots are a size 11.