[Big Rob]

I'm wading boot shopping.
My studded Simms Freestones are about worn out. Since I purchased them 10+ years ago, every boot maker has a new rubber sole offering. I can put studs in later, but on their own, I need input if they are as good as felt for keeping me upright? I don't fish water where felt is prohibited, or in a big enough radius where my boots are gonna carry a critter where it shouldn't be....so no need to go there.
I would like to hear your real world experiences.

Thanks for your input.
Rob

 

[veilside180sx]

No replacement for felt imo.

Most of the rubber boot options came about during everyone's anti-felt campaign...which was futile...and there is a reason felt is back to being the top seller.

 

[sroffe]

The first time I used rubber sole wading boots I almost killed my self falling. I put studs on. My most recent boots are now felt.

 

[Bill Burr]

I only fish 4 or 5 rivers all in the same drainage and find that felt is much better; however there are some caveats. 1. The rocks on one of the river beds is covered in algae, aka rock snot and felt doesn't work well on that so I still stick with felt soles but screw in Kold Kutters ice racing screws versus the expensive Simms studs. 2. If you're doing any type of hiking to get to your fishing spots and that journey can take you over pine needles or snow or up/down steep embankments, felt sucks; it has no purchase on certain dry land conditions.

I've had both rubber and felt soles and still like felt better for the type of fishing I do. It's just important to learn its limitations and adapt accordingly.

 

[MRKbass]

Korkers with the changeable soles. They are pretty thin so you can hike in, change em out and stick em in a vest or most packs pretty easily. I usually wet wade most of the year, but this is my preferred boot

 

[Guy Gregory]

I'm with MRK...my Korkers suit my fishing. As a fisher of the Spokane, arguably the most difficult wading stream in North America, I believe rubber soles are hazardous. They must have been sponsored by the American Society of Orthopedic Surgeons. Guaranteed trip to the hospital. Studs maybe, but felt for sure. Rinse'em with dilute bleach to kill invasives, let'm dry good, and you'll be OK. And upright.

 

[tkww]

The first time I used rubber sole wading boots I almost killed my self falling. I put studs on. My most recent boots are now felt.

Ditto. Felt is a killer on slick logs and the like, but rubber is *(*&^&$%$# useless in the water.

 

[Skip Enge]

felt...but have both...and i will say the best wading boots I have had were a pair of felted Simms mid range models...went through 5 sets of felts...uppers never failed unlike brands since...I am not particularly steady on my wheels anymore so the hybrid "sticky rubber" ones don't cut it...Back in the day I wore a pair of iron Age steel toed vibram soled boots...i could dance through the rocks jamming my foot between rocks without bruising toes...but hell i was limber and confident then...

 

[Skip Enge]

West side rivers...are slimy in terms of rocks...granitic river beds like the American River ...jump from rock to rock and stick like velcro...but that invites stupid...I've done stupid

 

[Skip Enge]

the answer?...Levitation boots

 

[kmudgn]

I have Korkers. Felt for fishing (just nothing better) and rubber for walking long treks in. It takes all of 1 minute to change out the soles and they weigh very little so to me the Korkers seem like the best compromise.

 

[Big Rob]

Great info guys...just what I was looking for. Never thought about korkers as an option, but ill certainly take a look. I do hike quite a bit in the summer...
Ive been really happy with the way my Simms Freestones have held up. Solid uppers. They probably saved me from completely grenading up my ankle (only sustained a broken lat. maleolus). Yeah, I do stupid too
So...felts it is. Nice idea about the ice screws @majpreal

Thanks again fellas.

 

[Skip Enge]

Great info guys...just what I was looking for. Never thought about korkers as an option, but ill certainly take a look. I do hike quite a bit in the summer...
Ive been really happy with the way my Simms Freestones have held up. Solid uppers. They probably saved me from completely grenading up my ankle (only sustained a broken lat. maleolus). Yeah, I do stupid too
So...felts it is. Nice idea about the ice screws @majpreal

Thanks again fellas.

Big Rob...your moniker icon is effing disturbing...but at least it ain't a "hook in the eye"

 

[Big Rob]

Cringe-worthy, aint it!?

I wonder if they snipped it and left the tip in there

 

[NW_flyfisher]

Glad you went with the Korkers, I had rubber soles and like others nearly broke my neck. Stuck with my Simms felt and just put in new screw/spikes. If I had to buy another pair, guess it would be Korkers based on the postings.

 

[YAKIMA]

felt. until they forcibly tear it off my boots.

 

[7919]

felt in the summer, rubber with aluminum in the winter.

 

[Preston]

When I was doing product reviews for Flyfishing & Tying Journal I requested rubber- soled boots from six manufacturers and put them to the test; comparing them with an old pair of Weinbrenner felts. Hands down, the Weinbrenners were superior in every aspect; the only rubber soles worth considering were those on the Patagonia boots, which were still definitely infererior to felt.

 

[freestoneangler]

It depends a great deal on which rivers you plan to wade. On certain waters I can wade fine using the non-felt soles. In others they are nearly useless and felt performs much better. I would strongly recommend buying boots with interchangeable soles; not only allowing for varying conditions, but for varying rules/regulations.

 

[Old Man]

I had a pair of Hodgman's boots with felt and studs. When they were wet they felt like they weighted in at 20 lbs each. But they also kept me from slipping and falling on my ass. After a day with these I was always tired.