Wading Shoe Soles - THE LAST WORD

[mike734]

Alain what are your thoughts on the studded felt inserts on the Korkers. it seems as though you don't want to just switch out the rubber studded inserts for studded felt. I figure there must be a reason for this.

[alanb_ct]

Mike: I haven't tried those, to be honest. I find it tiring to keep swapping the soles with the screwdriver and all. Also, the soles cost about $30, close to what I paid for a whole new pair. Finally, just swapping the soles is not as good as swapping the whole shoe in terms of biologic transport.

[Mantis]

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[BlackLabel]

I have the studded Aquastealth Bean boots and I feel the traction is no problem at all but they do leave a little to be desired in the comfort area. The Simms screw in studs are better than the bean ones. They are pretty much machine screws with pieces of hardened steel on the end of the screws (looks like left over welding slag). The only thing you need to be carefull of is the depth of the simms studs might go through the aquastealth sole and into the inside of the boot.

I've though of trying to make mine own studs with my MIG welder. I wonder how it would work?

[Rocco]

Hey, you guys. This just struck me like a thunderbolt -"The asymmetrical wading shoe system" (patent pending). Buy two pairs of wading shoes of the same design, say Simms Headwaters, one pair in Vibram and one pair in felt. Wear one felt shoe and one Vibram shoe at the same time - you're ready for any river bottom. When this pair wears out you've still got the second pair. Even better, put studs in the second pair and switch off. The combinations are endless.

[rs0i]

Has anybody tried the Chota STL Wader Polypropylene felt soles? How is this poly felt different than regular felt for gripping purposes?

[Dr. BlueDun]

Hey guys darn good reviews---I think you all have saved me from spending a lot of bucks and then taking a flop on my 79 year old arse. I agree with Alain as I have three pairs of boots, I use one on the Willowemoc, and a separate pair on the West Branch and yet another pair from the Salmon River. For me taking a fall is easy as "senior vertigo" a 6'2" frame makes for easy falls and broken bones (the end of fly fishing). I think I will add a set of corkers to the mix for the Salmon. I would have been very disappointed if I bought Simms w. Caulks, and took a flop after that cash outlay. So once again thanks from this old codger for your well-timed and thoughtful post on this thread. BTW go to this site as another posssible alternative http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php.A+ to you all--"Doc"

[SherpaB]

One pair of shoes that looks interesting are the new ones by Redington, the Ecogrip. I know for a fact that those soles are currently used by the navy seals for various sea/land situations. OTB makes them and they are even somewhat saying they work well with waders...I have to think they are probably worth a look. No studs but a deeply siped sole just like the old sperry topsiders...(as a sailor they are by far the best traction on a wet deck), combined with the nubby soles they might prove pretty good. You can see them at the redington website or the OTB originals at: https://www.otbboots.com/main.html

[Lonewolve]

Silver,
Thanks for this post, I am currently in the hunt for a pair of wading boots ,I already own a pair of Weinbrenner/Borger boots they were bought in 1995,and they have been through the gauntlet.It is sad that Weinbrenner has discontinued this boot.IMHO they are the best wading boots ever made , i will get a Korkers studded felt kit and have them resoled in about three years.Lost a stud up on the Salmon River last week.rest of the studs are intact.I wish i could find me a pair in #14 eee.