New wading boots

[none]

I think I’ll need new wading boots next season.

I’ve always bought Simms wading boots. They are comfortable (except the too narrow L2 model), excellent ankle support and have shown to be very durable. I need a roomy toe area, that’s where the Simms boots really helped.

Patagonia is coming out with a new wading boot and it’s looking very good.

But I’ve read too many times the previous models weren’t very well built (seams getting loose, wear & tear causing boot to come apart, etc.).
Also the previous models had thin padding around the ankle.
But again Patagonia’s service is outstanding.

Anyone seen this new model yet?

[jeff kashuba]

whats the price? does it come with studs or screws? i think you’re gonna need them…

[none]

$179.
Yes removable studs.

[Daryl Human]

I reecently bought a pair of the Patagonias. They are the business. Good grip, good ankle support, they’re comfortable and the new Boa lacing system makes life so much easier. I really am enjoying them.

[none]

They kinda look a bit narrow like the Simms L2 boots a while ago.
Can you tell us whether the toe area is roomy or snug?

[Mike McKeown]

I reecently bought a pair of the Patagonias. They are the business. Good grip, good ankle support, they’re comfortable and the new Boa lacing system makes life so much easier. I really am enjoying them.

Daryl, you tjop… you have a pair of Korkers…

[Daryl Human]

Eish, my bad, LMAO. ;D

They are Korkers, but they are awesome 😉

[Zach Matthews]

Hahaha!

Zach

[Michael Phillippe]

I bought the new Simms Guide boots (with the new sole but no studs) this spring and wore them for a month in Montana and Idaho and then again in Alaska this September. I think the new soles are as slick as glass. Nothing grips like felt, but that’s all history. My American-made Danners are forever retired. The best solution I have for now is Simms boots with studs for wading and a second, cheap (I have L.L. Bean travel boots) pair with sticky soles for floating.

[none]

Sounds like the Vibram soles don’t perform as good as old felt soles?

[Michael Phillippe]

I don’t think Vibram is close to felt in performance. I have 3 pairs of boots – aged 6 mos to 3 years with respect to technology – and nothing beats my old Borger felts. BUT, unless you only wear them in your backyard, it’s almost a crime to wear felt in streams. Especially since we are all itinerant anglers.

[Zach Matthews]

I also don’t think any of the rubber products are in the same league as felt.

[dave nyberg]

I have a pair of Chota Roc Locs and they grip very well to me.  A couple of friends also have them and are very satisfied.    

[Abe Mathews]

Zach, I’m in agreement with you about rubber soles being a bit of a smokescreen.

[greg stuart]

http://oregonflyfishingblog.com/2008/11/07/gear-review-cloudveil-8x-boots/

I have had these for a couple of years and they still look good….comfortable and light….and cheap compared to the Simms boots…..

[Karlin Bilcher]

I own a pair of simms riversheds and patagonia river walkers.  I like them both.  I wear the simms if I am doing a lot of hiking and the patagonia’s when I am not hiking a ton or when it’s real cold.  The simms are studded aqua-stealth and the patagonia’s are studded felt.  No question the felt provides better traction. The patagonia’s are a tad more roomy, the simms fit a little more snug.  
IMO Simms tried to flex it’s market share muscles and be out in front on the aquatic invasive deal by doing away with felt.  Could have been a bad move.  In addition simms boots are entirely over priced – and what happened with the (5/10) “aqua-stealth” sole for one or two years then suddenly moving to the “vibram” sole and then having to pay and additional $20 for the studs and install them yourself?

[Zach Matthews]

Abe –

I have absolutely no doubt that it’s well intentioned.  I just think it’s an unsupported hypothesis: not that felt is bad–there’s no question felt soles can be a disease vector. I just don’t think the overall effect would be any different without them.

In fact, I predict the banning of felt in the states where that’s happened will have no effect on the spread of invasives.  There’s no question anglers introduced things like didymo and whirling disease into new watersheds, but that would have happened had felt soles never been invented.  And there’d be a lot more angling injuries to boot.

Zach

[Zach Matthews]

As for price, I have to admit I was a little shocked to see $180 sticker prices on wading boots across the board.

[Michael Phillippe]

Zach, I’m afraid you’re right. This strikes me as a small part of the invasive species problem that the marketing folks at Simms, Patagonia and others have leveraged very well. The fact is that it will be criminal to wear felt in Maine, Alaska and probably other states soon. I think Tom Rosenbauer’s ideas are quite valid.

And $180?! That’s not even the top. Simms has two models higher!

[mike b.]

I’ve worn aqua stealth soles for over 10 years, and quite frankly, it has been so long since I’ve worn felt that I don’t miss it.

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