Wading boots
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- Posts: 21
- Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2014 8:31 am
Wading boots
I was just reading Murf's post about his Simms wading boots and as I am looking at wading boots at the moment, I thought I would ask some questions.
I have never owned wading boots, instead just using an old pair of shoes. In the new season, I am looking at doing more tramping/fishing trips so am now looking at options.
Firstly, how important are wading boots?
For tramping/fishing wouldn't a good pair of tramping boots be better?
What are the advantages of wading boots over tramping boots?
And which pair of boots would you recommend?
Reuben
I have never owned wading boots, instead just using an old pair of shoes. In the new season, I am looking at doing more tramping/fishing trips so am now looking at options.
Firstly, how important are wading boots?
For tramping/fishing wouldn't a good pair of tramping boots be better?
What are the advantages of wading boots over tramping boots?
And which pair of boots would you recommend?
Reuben
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- Posts: 196
- Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 10:31 am
- Location: Invercargill
Re: Wading boots
Reuben
I don't use wading boots. There are several issues I have with them.
1. They don't have 1/2 sizes so I can't find any that fit
2. They are designed for using with waders and are quite wide to fit the neoprene booties in
3 They are too expensive for what they are
4. They don't last long if you do a fair bit of walking.
Generally they aren't suitable for tramping/fishing. If you are tramping/fishing and you want to use your wading boots you will have to have another set of boots for the tramping part of the trip and you will have to carry the wading boots. They are generally designed for the US market where the fishermen don't walk for mikes up and down the river.
Unfortunately I don't have a solution for you. At present I am using a couple sets of cheap work boots but they are not a complete solution.
Dave
I don't use wading boots. There are several issues I have with them.
1. They don't have 1/2 sizes so I can't find any that fit
2. They are designed for using with waders and are quite wide to fit the neoprene booties in
3 They are too expensive for what they are
4. They don't last long if you do a fair bit of walking.
Generally they aren't suitable for tramping/fishing. If you are tramping/fishing and you want to use your wading boots you will have to have another set of boots for the tramping part of the trip and you will have to carry the wading boots. They are generally designed for the US market where the fishermen don't walk for mikes up and down the river.
Unfortunately I don't have a solution for you. At present I am using a couple sets of cheap work boots but they are not a complete solution.
Dave
- ChromeChaser
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 12:40 pm
- Location: Te Anau
Re: Wading boots
I good option, that I use, is the cheap Riverworks $100 pair. I get one, maybe two if im lucky, seasons out of them. Then I give em the biff
I'm never ever paying $400 for simms boots again. I don't do a lot of walking, but the sole went really quick on those. Apparently you can get them replaced for $80, but then you've got to find a shoesmith, the time, his time, and the cost adds up. $100 boots = easy, and there just as good as simms boots to by the waay, but ligher, and more comfortable. Even come with a spare inner sole. How good is that!
I'm never ever paying $400 for simms boots again. I don't do a lot of walking, but the sole went really quick on those. Apparently you can get them replaced for $80, but then you've got to find a shoesmith, the time, his time, and the cost adds up. $100 boots = easy, and there just as good as simms boots to by the waay, but ligher, and more comfortable. Even come with a spare inner sole. How good is that!
- fraser hocks
- Posts: 915
- Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 3:25 pm
- Location: Queenstown
Re: Wading boots
Must say I love my Simms wading boots. I recently needed a new pair, but been a yorkshireman was been tight and tried to get as long as I could out of my old pair. 3 solid years of hard tramping and fishing (I fish right through winter so my boots rarely get time to dry) and my riversheds were holding on for grim death.
Well wouldn't you know it? First day of a three day fishing trip with some mates and the boots blew out. I figured, no sweat IL just use my tramping boots! Well I gave it a go, and I may as well have strapped blocks of ice to the bottom of my feet. I reckon that would have given me more traction. How people use tramping boots to wade and don't end up breaking limbs from falling over all the time is beyond me?
Wadding boots, which have nice soft sticky rubber soles and cleats all the way for me. Wouldn't go any other way, and that's coming from a tight yorkshireman
Well wouldn't you know it? First day of a three day fishing trip with some mates and the boots blew out. I figured, no sweat IL just use my tramping boots! Well I gave it a go, and I may as well have strapped blocks of ice to the bottom of my feet. I reckon that would have given me more traction. How people use tramping boots to wade and don't end up breaking limbs from falling over all the time is beyond me?
Wadding boots, which have nice soft sticky rubber soles and cleats all the way for me. Wouldn't go any other way, and that's coming from a tight yorkshireman
Bucking trends in fly fishing since 1970!
- Whio
- Posts: 173
- Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 10:00 pm
- Location: Wanganui NZ
Re: Wading boots
+1 for Riversheds. On to my 2nd pair and love them for the ankle/foot protection and comfort. Not to say that Andy's approach isn't a good one. I'd just never thought of buying cheap and biffing them when they wear out. His idea would buy 3 pairs for one pair of Simms.
Either way it's wading boots all the way for me. In summer I use a neoprene bootie in lieu of waders to fill the boot.
Either way it's wading boots all the way for me. In summer I use a neoprene bootie in lieu of waders to fill the boot.
Some of my life I spend fly fishing, the rest I just waste!
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- Posts: 16
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 10:17 am
- Location: Havelock North
Re: Wading boots
I had used my old running shoes for wet wading, however not the best traction for some streams. This year tried the Simms RipRap shoe. They are low cut, light weight, instead of wearing booties just wore an old pair of heavy socks. Around a $100US, don't know what they run here. Since I fish a lot, if they last a season I get my money's worth. When it's colder have never found a wading boot that is not too stiff, rigid and weighs a ton(not a big guy), am expecting a pair of Patagonia Ultralights this week from Tasmania at about $200NZ including shipping, a little pricey in my book. Weight is a little over 2 pounds, am hoping they fit the bill, will know by the end of the week.
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- Posts: 16
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2014 10:17 am
- Location: Havelock North
Re: Wading boots
Received the Patagonia Ultralights late last week and have worn them twice. Easy on, easy off. Soft rubber soles and flexible uppers. Fit well and great to hike in. A little slippery on algae covered rocks. Will have to see how durable they are but they are great to walk in which is what was looking for.
- Tom McAuliffe
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 4:23 am
Re: Wading boots
I bought my first pair of wading boots last season, after only using tramping boots for years. What a difference. For me the main advantages are they are very light and don't hold water in them for long like tramping boots, and provide far superior grip on rocks and the slippery stuff. They are also comfortable enough to cover plenty of miles in a day if thats your thing.
cheers, tom.
cheers, tom.
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- Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2018 2:08 am
- Location: Clifton
Re: Wading boots
I apologize for bumping this old thread...just my two cents
There are pros and cons for various boots and which bottom they have.
Felt has been known to transfer diseases included didymo (rock snot). But it sticks good on slippery stuff. With some boot manufacturers, you can add spikes to the felt. Spikes come in also different shapes and sizes (and prices). For me, any boots that I own, whether felt or rubber soled, have some form of spike in them.
Benefits of rubber soled boots are no disease transfer, and if you ever have to walk in the snow, you'll appreciate it (Felt is like a sponge on snow, and you'll have 5" of hard pack on your soles if they get wet and you walk through the snow). Rubber doesn't stick as good, but nothing a quality set of carbide spikes won't fix.
As for boots - Cabelas is always good for on the cheap (but they work). I prefer Chota boots - they are the widest boot I've ever owned, and I prefer that. They also have a "speed lace" system. Not the Velcro you were looking for, but not a bad option.
Simms - Love my Muckboot Waders (strictly for warmth)- but hate Simms boots (and waders). So no, not everyone thinks Simms is the greatest
There are pros and cons for various boots and which bottom they have.
Felt has been known to transfer diseases included didymo (rock snot). But it sticks good on slippery stuff. With some boot manufacturers, you can add spikes to the felt. Spikes come in also different shapes and sizes (and prices). For me, any boots that I own, whether felt or rubber soled, have some form of spike in them.
Benefits of rubber soled boots are no disease transfer, and if you ever have to walk in the snow, you'll appreciate it (Felt is like a sponge on snow, and you'll have 5" of hard pack on your soles if they get wet and you walk through the snow). Rubber doesn't stick as good, but nothing a quality set of carbide spikes won't fix.
As for boots - Cabelas is always good for on the cheap (but they work). I prefer Chota boots - they are the widest boot I've ever owned, and I prefer that. They also have a "speed lace" system. Not the Velcro you were looking for, but not a bad option.
Simms - Love my Muckboot Waders (strictly for warmth)- but hate Simms boots (and waders). So no, not everyone thinks Simms is the greatest
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Re: Wading boots
Felt soled boots are banned in NZ so they don't really enter into the picture there.
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