Wading boots: Studded Aquastealth vs Felt?
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I am needing a new pair of boots and seeking information on the pros/cons of felt vs studded aquastealth. I have always worn felt but many companies are offering both options. I have heard felt and Didymo are not a good combination but I have also heard the aquastealth lacks stability on certain surfaces.
Are the studs damaging to anything like drift boat floors?Also I will be doing alot of backcountry hiking. I have considered the Korkers with the interchangable soles.
Dustin,
I would say it depends on where/when you’re fishing. I recently switched to studded aquastealth and love it. I believe it outperforms felt when hiking through mud or other slick surfaces. Grips very well on hard bottom also. They’re especially valuable when there’s a layer of snow on the ground, because snow does not stick to the bottoms like it does with felt.
That said, I think they can be damaging to most drift boat floors. You may want to hang on to your felt boots for that purpose.
JL
Read more about stealth rubber here: http://www.stealthrubber.com/brands.php
You might want to consider 5.10 trail shoes…stealth rubber sole on a hiking style shoe.
http://www.fiveten.com/One of the biggest pros to aquastealth, in my opinion, is that when you’re winter fishing, like Jim said, snow doesn’t build up on them like it does on felt.
I have a pair of korkers boots. They are pretty good use. My problem is that it is a bit of a pain to switch from one set of soles to another. Other than that they are very comfortable and work very well on the trail and water.
Aquastealth studs ,at least the LL Bean version ,will kill you on large slippery rocks .After two nasty falls I switched to Borger’s boots( i think Weinbrenner) .The only advantage the aquastealths have is on mud and snow.
Another vote for Aqua stealth.
I switched to Simms AS after my dog chewed my leather felt soled boots apart 3 seasons ago ad have fallen in love with them. You probalby should give alot of thought to the environs you typically wade but atleast in my case Ive havent yet been in a situation where I missed my felt soles.
I do alot hiking sometimes to get to the stream and theres simply no comparison. AS boots are infinitely lighter dry, let alone wet once the felt starts absorbing stuff and I think the studs are better suited to hiking (ak crossing deadfalls, going upslope tc).
As pointed out the studs will trash decking. I have a cedar deck that I cross to get to the stream behind my house and theres no way Id ever cross it with the boots on.
With regards to the comment about felt being a perfect medium for transferring bacteria.
I’d have to think so, we’re being advised to get in the practise of washing down waders after a day.
Id have to think felt soles are that much more susceptible to transfering.I noticed Simms only offers the new Rivershed boots with Aquastealth/ studs. Are the studs permanent on most boots or can they be easily removed. I dont want to be in a situation where someone is insistent on me not getting in their boat with studs.
I noticed Simms only offers the new Rivershed boots with Aquastealth/ studs. Are the studs permanent on most boots or can they be easily removed. I dont want to be in a situation where someone is insistent on me not getting in their boat with studs.
I have experienced both attitudes with drift boat drivers and one trip I was made to stand in the boat all day with my boots off. Although I had a pair of Korker convertibles for a few years, they didn’t hold up well with the abuse I gave them plus my old feet were getting uncomfortable in them. Although my LL Bean studded Aquasteath soled boots are still functional and have held up well, I use them only for wet wading here in Alabama because the studs can’t be removed. I chose the Chota STL Plus as my next boot for travel and guided float trips. They fit, are as comfortable as hush-puppies or rockports right out the box and have a great lacing system. The studs are removeable and the aquastealth soles grip well even without the studs. My vote–Chota STL Plus.
From my own experience noise can easily spook fish. I was stalking a huge brown on the White a few months ago and my foot kicked a small rock on the bottom and the fish immediatly left the area. I was in a foot of water and the fish was twenty feet away. HEARTBREAKING!!!!
Hi all,
I’m an Aquastealth with studs proponent now. I used them for two months in NZ with few problems. The only time they are sketchy are while boulder hopping. Made me wonder how old time mountaineers got away with hobnailed boots! I kept wondering if I was spooking fish with the studs but it didn’t seem to be an issue in moving water.
Where they really shine is on those long walks back to the car. There are some places out there that would be terrifying to walk in felt soles, especially in the rain.
The other reason I’ve made the switch is that I think it is impossible to adequately clean felt between watersheds. Like it or not critters like Didymo and Mud Snails are here to stay so it’s high time we all started cleaning our gear. Don’t mean to sound preachy but it’s the way it is.
Have fun out there!
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