Thread: Wet wading options?

What are people wearing? Wet-wading season is approaching, and I'm sick of banging up my feet in Chacos and having little to no grip on snotty river bottoms.

I know Lexi-Bell swears by his Bite sandals - I'd grab a pair of those, but it doesn't seem like they are readily available anymore.

Any one tried the Simms stuff? Any other suggestions? Looks like Teva has some good options too.

Lot's of people seem happy with the Simms riprap shoe. If you can handle vibram they should be solid for you.

Snapt - thanks for the advice. I like the idea of the shoe too - seems like it might be better at keeping pea gravel out of the shoe.

I wear my wading boots with big socks that I fold over as gravel guards, works great

I do the wading boot thing to, with Simms neoprene socks. Works well! Decent for hiking too. Those fancy wading sandals look intriguing and most of the guys I know that wear 'em, like 'em.

I've been using some New Balance 'water shoes' - the 920 - but when I searched it looks like that model designation is just a running shoe now. Mine are built like a running shoe but with mesh panels, drainage holes and siped soles. They're perfect for wading - good support and traction. I can wear them on trails into backcountry fishing.

Now it seems that NB makes a 720 model that should work, but looks less supportive.
http://www.newbalance.com/performanc...roducts/SM720/

Check out Teva too.

Simms vibram soles are worthless because they wear out way too fast (20-30 day lifespan). Korkers has a new wet wading shoe called the HyJack. Sneaker design with the Korkers interchangeable sole system for $90. At least you can easily replace the rubber (and chose felt or cleat) soles with Korkers. Personally, I prefer a higher cuff than a sneaker design. I've had a few pairs and although the lighter weight and backpackability of the shoe vs. the boot is nice, the sand and gravel gets into the shoes constantly. I use my wading boots paired with the simms neoprene socks.

2nd the worthless, piece of shit, Simms vibram craptactular slick bottomed soles. Steer clear of those. They suck.

Vibram is just fine as long as you're not old and fat

apparently the 20-30 day thing is fine too if you are in the "industry" so don't have to pay for stuff.


wading boots + neoprene socks. the cheapo scuba kind (like $6)

I've used the boot/neo sock combo, too, but I actually prefer my Salomon Techamphibian shoes... Pretty sure they're discontinued now, so Salomon may have a new name/design for it. Or if you're an odd size you can pick them up dirt cheap. They grip great, albeit not as good as felt on Rock Creek snot. The best part is for long approaches, it's just a day-hiker that breathes well... Super comfortable.

Originally Posted by snapt

Vibram is just fine as long as you're not old and fat

That must be my problem with simms vib soles.

I also wet wade in my wading boots with the Simms neoprenen socks. I still get some sand etc in them, since I guess I have skinny ankles....they certainly could make them tighter or have a seperate skirt on them...it is when I fold them down that I have the most issues, but they are pretty good for the most part.

Does anyone think one type of rubber sole is better then another? Some of the places that do resoling offer a couple different options. Resoling is a bit overpriced compared to new boots, unless you have the Korker's. I love my G4 Simms boots for comfort, etc...so I am up in the air about paying the $65 to $120 to get them resoled, depending on where you go, or just going with a new pair of Korkers.

Anyone use the Korkers Chrome boot?

Aqua Stealth vs Stream Tread vs Kling-on?

I went with the Korker Riverguard at the end of last year over the Chrome boot becasue I'd rather do laces then the skiboot dial thing on the chrome. I think the Riverguard is the older sole system though, but still replaceable and you can find them on close out from the Orvis site for under $100

Also if you have a size 8 foot...FrontRangeAnglers.com out of Bouder(?) has the Korker Sandal on sale for $22.97. I think it comes with the trail sole, but could swap that out for a different one.

Originally Posted by ak_powder_monkey

I wear my wading boots with big socks that I fold over as gravel guards, works great

That's what I do too. Can't see forking out the $$ for a special shoe that does what my boot already do.

I have used my Keen sandals before, but just because I was lazy and didn't want to put my boots on. Worked ok, but they get too much gravel in them.

Thanks for all of the advice guys - per usual, the fishing mag brain trust is dishing out good stuff.

I guess I should have been a bit more specific...I am looking for something to replace Chacos that will server as my "do everything" river footwear. I spend a good chunk of the summer and fall floating with the family in a raft, in addition to fishing. I agree that wading boots are a good option for fishing. But they just are not the right shoe for those middle of the summer family floats when it's 90+ outside and I am in and out of the boat and chasing kids on the rip rap and sandy beaches.

For that reason, I am looking for either a Chaco alternative (like Keens or the Simms sandal) or some sort of low-pro shoe.

Well, in that case, I like my Keens (newport h20) for around camp and town, but they can suck on trail or water. They'll work, but the low sides and open back allow too many rocks in. A low pro water shoe may be better.

The Simms sandal features the same crappy vibram sole as the boots. The sole would be adequate if you did a minimum of walking on abrasive rocks and mostly used them in the boat and in camp. But for full-time wading use, the vibram soles are just awful in a ratio of price to durability. Worst deal out there, pretty much.

I've been happy with the Merrell Manistee shoe for a couple seasons now. Looks like the sole has changed a bit, and definitely not as grippy as my studded boots, but good enough for scrambling around mtn streams and comfy for the hike in & out and covering a lot of ground thru the day. Wear 'em either with just a heavier wool sock or sometimes the Simms neoprenes.

For the record I've used Vibram since the switch and havn't had much to complain about, but most people I know have worn theirs out abnormally fast and complain about the grip. I still have a pair for trout fishing where hiking > agressive wading. That would be where I'd use the the Simms shoes. Anything else just use whatever you have and a neoprene sock like we've been doing for the last 20 years for best results. I do like Keens for all purpose boating, fishing, beer drinking use!

I find I get about a season and a winter out of simms vibrams before they are useless... They are easy enough to get resoled though. Can't say that any of my felt soled boots lasted much longer than that.

Granted, I mostly fish in the Teton Canyon which cuts down through a very abrasive ryholite formation. But ryholite is no worse than limestone or sandstone. And I hate wet socks! I get jungle rot walking miles in wet boots. My Simms boots were exclusively put on and taken off streamside, never even hiked a mile in them. 20 days, they started getting slick. 30 days and I was slipping and sliding to the point they were getting too dangerous to wear fishing solo in the backcountry. They were downgraded to use in meadows and boats, no more rocks. Around 40 days both soles started to delaminate and at 45 days one of the soles came halfway off while I was wading. Into the dumpster they went after 45 days of use. Resole? Throwing good money after bad if you ask me. I used to get 2-3 years (150-200 days?) out of the old Simms feltsole Guide boots. I think I went through three pairs 2000 to 2010. They were great boots. Yo, Snapt, heard anything about Simms bringing back the felt? I got some pataguccis felts last summer and they are decent but have an issue(my size 11 has a length of a 13 so I'm constantly stubbing my toes and stumbling with an extra inch of empty boot toe flopping around). They just do not fit me like the good ol' old Simms Guide boot.

Neckdeep, Simms felt is available in freestone, guide, and rivershed since Feb 1. If you use any star cleats in them throw some aquaseal on the threads as they'll stay in better, although I didn't and mine haven't loosened at all after 50ish days, but like I say for whatever reason my boots don't seem to wear like a lot of others have.

Thanks for the info, I'll be getting me some new guide boots this summer. Bad boots nearly cost me a broken wrist last august. Chipped a $300 reel and tore my articulator disc protecting my face from hitting a rock. One second slower reaction time and I could have knocked my teeth in and rolled out into the rapids - game over. I don't even have a functional pair of waders now, just a sieve with legs, but I'll get the boots first. Safety first. Maybe I'll just hunt morels til it gets warmer.

I think the type of rock you walk on and how one uses them makes a big difference. Anglers who do most of their fishing from a boat and smooth gravel bars like these boots. They are light and the rubber transports a fraction of felt's water, sand and mud back into the boat! Me, I'm a canyon crawler these days...think I took four or five boat rides last year. I cannot risk blowing out a wheel alone and 600 feet down in a remote hole in the ground. I need bombproof boots.

Originally Posted by neckdeep;3607043I

got some pataguccis felts last summer and they are decent but have an issue(my size 11 has a length of a 13 so I'm constantly stubbing my toes and stumbling with an extra inch of empty boot toe flopping around). They just do not fit me like the good ol' old Simms Guide boot.

Glad I'm not the only one with that problem.