Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.
Scientific name search:

> > Newbie Help with wading boot purchase (Felt or Rubber)



NatchomammaOctober 24th, 2017, 6:33 am
Texas

Posts: 1
I am purchasing my first part of Wading boots. I have been looking at Simms Headwater Pro or the G3 Guide. I am trying to decide which will work better for me, felt or rubber soles?

I live in Texas and will fish the Guadalupe river. From what I understand it is Limestone and can be slick. One day I would like to travel and fish (CO,AR,UT) but the felt banned States are not on my list.

I'd like to only purchase 1 pair of boots that will last a long time.
I have considered the Korker Buckskin boots with interchangeable soles, but not sure of quality, warrantee, etc...

Help!

RleePOctober 24th, 2017, 9:09 am
NW PA - Pennsylvania's Glacial Pothole Wonderland

Posts: 398
Whether you decide to get rubber or felt consider either getting them already studded or able to accept removable studs that you screw in with a socket or box end wrench. Getting studs will not only make your choice more broadly useful on the water (ie: felt is great on rocks, but sucks for bare ground traction like when climbing a stream bank, etc. studded felt significantly increases bare ground traction). Most of the higher end wading shoes (Simms, Orvis Patagonia, etc.) come with stud receptacles already in the sole in both rubber and felt versions. The Korkers Buckskins are another option (I wear them). The interchangeable sole system is pretty reliable and durable. The Korkers soles themselves, however, at least in my experience, are not that durable. I go through two sets of Korkers studded felts a season and they aren't cheap (about $40/set). Then again, I hike a lot when I fish, as in I cover a lot of water and this no doubt decrease the life span of the soles.

I know absolutely nothing about the Guadalupe River other than that there is a good chance it is wet...:)
IasgairOctober 24th, 2017, 4:52 pm
Colorado

Posts: 148
I agree with Rleep's advice. He pretty much covered it all.
Jmd123October 25th, 2017, 3:03 pm
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2611
Felt soles are terrible on slick clay, unless you have studs. Rubber with some bite is much better. Clay bottoms can be waaay slippery and send you ass over teakettle into the stream. I had felt for many years and they're great on rocks & etc. but without studs they don't grab on clay at all.

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
MartinlfOctober 25th, 2017, 8:12 pm
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3233
I have a pair of Simms Freestones and a pair of Simms Riversheds, both with the rubber soles. I like the Freestones just as much as the Riversheds, and think they are more durable (fewer seams) though I see the newer Freestones have a black rubber cap that my old Freestones did not have. I've had my local shoe repair guy resew the seams on the Riversheds twice. The Freestones not a time. Last year I bought some Chotas, and I really like the quicklace system, and have found the felt plus studs to be especially sticky on slick rocks. I have star cleats and hardbite studs in the Riversheds, and they are pretty good too. Lee's right, be sure you can put studs in if you want maximum traction. And I'd agree completely with Jonathon that if you have many clay/mud banks to climb, rubber cleated soles beat felt by a mile. If you want to go Simms, look at the Freestones. They are the least expensive, but I've had very good service from mine--better than the more expensive Riversheds.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
WbranchOctober 30th, 2017, 6:06 pm
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2733
I had four pairs of Simms Freestones. I recently sold an almost new pair size 13 that had the Vibram soles. I needed them for a trip to Alaska. Felt is not permitted in Alaska. As Louis mentioned the Freestones are one of the lesser priced Simms foot wear but do a great job. AS I got older my feet got longer so I had to keep getting a size larger.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Quick Reply

You have to be logged in to post on the forum. It's this easy:
Username:          Email:

Password:    Confirm Password:

I am at least 13 years old and agree to the rules.

Related Discussions

TitleRepliesLast Reply
Re: Simms waders
In Gear Talk by Wbranch
2Apr 2, 2015
by Wbranch
Free stuff
In Gear Talk by Wbranch
0
Re: Boot Fix
In Gear Talk by Martinlf
3Jun 23, 2009
by FOKer
Re: Wading Boot Help Please
In Gear Talk by Shackelford
10Feb 17, 2020
by Wbranch
Re: KORKERS Brand New Website & Facebook Giveaway!!!
In General Discussion by Sam1korkers
1Dec 3, 2009
by UPTroutBum
Re: Boots
In Gear Talk by Martinlf
10Oct 13, 2019
by Wbranch
Re: Time for new Boots
In General Discussion by David82nd
24Jun 13, 2017
by Jmd123
Re: Felt vs Studded Felt Soles
In Gear Talk by Mofmate3
5Jun 9, 2019
by Wbranch
Re: Time to reboot
In General Discussion by Falsifly
4Nov 30, 2007
by LittleJ
Re: Waders
In Gear Talk by Bellis
1Sep 13, 2020
by Martinlf
Most Recent Posts
Re: large free living caddis rhyacophila?
In the Identify This! Board by Kjfeen (Taxon replied)