Wading boots

[ASH556]

I've got a pair of Orvis Silver Label sockfoot waders I've had for several years. They still work great, no leaks! On my last trip (last year) the soles of my boots (a 15yr old pair of Korkers) just fell off as I was walking. I need some new boots. I fish mostly NE GA streams and sometimes Buford Dam. What's a good pair of boots for hiking the mountain streams that will also keep me from busting on the rocks at the Dam?

 

[snagged]

Felt with studs will give you the best traction.

 

[Swamprat]

Heck, if the Korkers lasted you 15 years I would probably be going back to them.

 

[ASH556]

Yeah, the problem is I only used them probably 4 or 5 times in that 15 year timeframe. They were some kind of eco sole. I tried putting screws into the rubber sole to help with the rocks at the dam. Didn't help much. Figured I'd go with something good this time.

 

[Swamprat]

Gotcha, thought you were using them several times a year.

 

[snagged]

I bought a pair of the Korkers Buckskin boots a few months ago. I like them so far. I found out about them from a fly shop in Colorado that used them on a guided trip I did. If they use them on guide trips, I figure they expect them to hold up to a lot of use. They are as comfortable as the Simms boots I had before. The stock boot package comes with rubber soles and plain felt soles. They are interchangeable soles. You'll have to buy studded felt soles separately if you want them (which I haven't done yet, but plan to do).

 

[NCHillbilly]

I'm running Simms Freestones with Rocktreads aluminum studs. Had them over four years now, and I've put an ungodly amount of miles on them.

 

[HarryO45]

I made mine with a band saw, shoe glue, clamps, and some replacement felt soles. Five years later i am still wearing them. These i made from a lightweight shoe that is fast drying, but you could make them from any shoe or boot. Pretty simple.

 

[GLS]

If it's a diy job with hex head screws, make sure the screws are aluminum and not steel. Gil

 

[NCHillbilly]

If it's a diy job with hex head screws, make sure the screws are aluminum and not steel. Gil

Or carbide. They are too hard to grip rocks.

 

[Tight Lines]

I use the Patagonia boots with the aluminum treads. Mostly because they have a lifetime warranty. I think I am on my 3rd pair.

With water and heat, the adhesives eventually fail on most all boots. So the lifetime warranty is nice.

The aluminum treads are easy to walk with and are replaceable.

The boots @NCHillbilly has a good too, though I've become disenchanted with Simms over the years. They launched with great products and warranties, but in recent years they have really reduced warranty and IMHO quality. All the while prices have increased. I still have a bunch of Simms, including waders, but might buy something different when those wear out.

 

[Raylander]

I’ve been through 3-4 pairs of Korkers in the last 15 years or so. The sun usually does mine in as they tend to get left in the back of my truck sometimes.. I use the felt soles

They work good for me

 

[Tight Lines]

I just looked at what these cost. $499. Ridiculous.

I bought my first pair in the mid-90s I guess for maybe $199. And I've replaced them now twice. So I'm doing well with the warranty but I might not spend $499 on them now. Nuts.

 

[HarryO45]

I’ve been through 3-4 pairs of Korkers in the last 15 years or so. The sun usually does mine in as they tend to get left in the back of my truck sometimes.. I use the felt soles

They work good for me

I love my Korkers with the cable tighten system. Lightweight easy on and off. Replaced them this year after ten years. Now i have like six interchangeable soles. I am tough on gear and left them out in the sun too long like you, i doubt i find a cold water boot i will ever like better

 

[GLS]

Or carbide. They are too hard to grip rocks.

And don't get sucked into buying the screws from a known wading boot mfg. One can buy a box of 100 screws from a hardware store for a fraction of what one would pay to the wading boot company. Gil

 

[NCHillbilly]

I love my Korkers with the cable tighten system. Lightweight easy on and off. Replaced them this year after ten years. Now i have like six interchangeable soles. I am tough on gear and left them out in the sun too long like you, i doubt i find a cold water boot i will ever like better

I've been looking at those when my current ones crap out.

 

[NCHillbilly]

View attachment 1321572
I just looked at what these cost. $499. Ridiculous.

I bought my first pair in the mid-90s I guess for maybe $199. And I've replaced them now twice. So I'm doing well with the warranty but I might not spend $499 on them now. Nuts.

Yeah, I ain't got $500 to spend on a pair of wading boots. I don't skimp too much, though, because I'm often out by myself miles back in the mountains. A bad slip and fall and head on a rock could be my last trip. Or miles of crawling out on a broken leg.

 

[Raylander]

A bad slip and fall and head on a rock could be my last trip. Or miles of crawling out on a broken leg.

Amen.

I never really thought about it to much when I was young. I could jump from rock to rock and do things I wouldn’t dare try at 38yo.

Couple years back I was wearing some Keen water shoes while fishing. I started to slide down a rock very slowly. My brain said to jump across the run - 3 foot jump. My body did not respond well. Immediately upon impact my feet slipped out from under me and I landed on my side and hip pretty hard. I like to think I’m tough, but it hurt bad.. I was only 50 yards from a road but way down in a steep area. If I had been knocked out no one would’ve been able to find me.

I decided that day it was time to:
A) fish with a helmet on
OR
B) ALWAYS wear felt and move slower and exercise more caution

I’ve chosen B so far and my fishing hasn’t suffered

 

[Tight Lines]

Yeah, I ain't got $500 to spend on a pair of wading boots. I don't skimp too much, though, because I'm often out by myself miles back in the mountains. A bad slip and fall and head on a rock could be my last trip. Or miles of crawling out on a broken leg.

Agreed, if I were buying new I would not either...plenty of other options these days cheaper...

 

[GLS]

Amen.

I never really thought about it to much when I was young. I could jump from rock to rock and do things I wouldn’t dare try at 38yo.

When you're 76, 38 looks a tad bit younger. Gil