Lets talk wading boots

Bamboozle said:
The best grip I got hands down was with brand new Kold Kutter or Gold Ice Screws which diminshed slighty by the end of the day. That's becuse they are VERY sharp and cut/bite into the rocks better that a carbide "point."
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If the screws were noticeably worn by end of day, that’s strong evidence that the *rocks* bit into the *screws*. Those screws aren’t hard enough to cut quartz. Carbide studs are, but as you noted they had better be low profile or they’ll be little better than skate blades. The felt does the bulk of the work.
 
I used to subscribe to the theory that studs should be nearly flush with the sole. Then I tried these this year:

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I've never had better traction in or out of the water. I used studded Klingon soles before this, which meet the nearly flush criteria. These are better. Perhaps quartz or granite would make me feel differently but these are great in Central PA.

I got a new pair of Devils Canyons for Christmas and haven't used them yet. The pocket at the front is just starting to get loose on these. I think I have seven and a half years on them now with lots of walking and rough wading. FWIW, the Buckskins I had before these were acceptable but not nearly as durable.
 
I have some Simms G3 that I bought years ago. I put carbide on the soles. They work great except for the bowling balls on the Lehigh.
 
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ROVERT said:
I used to subscribe to the theory that studs should be nearly flush with the sole. Then I tried these this year:

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View attachment 1641251606

I've never had better traction in or out of the water. I used studded Klingon soles before this, which meet the nearly flush criteria. These are better. Perhaps quartz or granite would make me feel differently but these are great in Central PA.

I got a new pair of Devils Canyons for Christmas and haven't used them yet. The pocket at the front is just starting to get loose on these. I think I have seven and a half years on them now with lots of walking and rough wading. FWIW, the Buckskins I had before these were acceptable but not nearly as durable.
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how is it walking in those things?
 
I've used Korkers, Simms, and now Skwala. I can confidently say the best combination I have used for wading boots is Skwala Carbons and GripStuds Model 3000A tungsten carbide studs. I had to get them replaced because a lace hook broke, they replaced it no issues. Haven't put studs in them yet, but I fished Penns no issue without them.

Used them all over Pennsylvania, Maine, New York, Vermont and Wyoming on some pretty slick rivers like Penns and the Magalloway along with some coastal fishing on slick Maine rocky beaches/jetties.

I reviewed them a while back: https://www.paflyfish.com/threads/skwala-carbon-wading-boots-3-month-review.86711/

I'm not a fan of felt bottoms, while they have their place, its not for me. I rather have rubber/studs.
 
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nymphingmaniac said:
how is it walking in those things?
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I get funny looks in Sheetz but fine other than that.

Seriously, though, I learned the first day that I can't be lazy dragging my feet over exposed roots. That is the only issue. They're unmatched for climbing banks.
 
I just bought a pair of Simms G4’s felt soles that came w/ 2 sets of screw in cleats one aluminum and other carbide for $200 on Sierra. Most comfortable boot ever with great flex and awesome ankle support. And I’m unsure how but these shipped free and no tax.
 
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Paid ~$140ish for these @ Spruce Creek in March 2025. Yes, they were new then, and the laces matched. LOL

Not going to rant against Spruce Creek or Chota, maybe I'm just hard on my sh*t? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Fished for a little more than a year in Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The guys at Spruce Creek took the time to fit me in my waders. They put the studs in, too. Comfortable, stable. Just falling apart now. LOL

Would something costlier last longer? Or should I look at boots as an expensable/yearly kit purchase?

Joe
 
CinnamonJoe said:
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Paid ~$140ish for these @ Spruce Creek in March 2025. Yes, they were new then, and the laces matched. LOL

Not going to rant against Spruce Creek or Chota, maybe I'm just hard on my sh*t? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Fished for a little more than a year in Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The guys at Spruce Creek took the time to fit me in my waders. They put the studs in, too. Comfortable, stable. Just falling apart now. LOL

Would something costlier last longer? Or should I look at boots as an expensable/yearly kit purchase?

Joe
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Idk if I can say I am surprised they broken down after a year and a few months. My old Simms boots did the same thing.
 
When considering wading boots, remember that some states to not allow felt soles. I always buy hard rubber soled boots with studs added.
 
salmo said:
When considering wading boots, remember that some states to not allow felt soles. I always buy hard rubber soled boots with studs added.
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Dear salmo,

One thing I never understood about the felt bans. Most wading shoes have uppers made of synthetic materials with lots of stitched panels and have thick padded tongues along with thick woven laces. Yet somehow, invasive parasites manage only to attach themselves to felt. That has never seemed likely to me.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
mcwillja said:
Felt never rubber ever - sorry but even if banned im wearing felt. Not worth a broken leg or worse. Nobody will ever convince me rubber is better for wading than felt
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If you ever fish in the snow, no one will have to convince you.

Felt is really bad in snow and bad out of the water in general. Every plain rubber sole I've used has been inferior to felt for wading on rocks. With studs, though, I don't feel like I'm giving up anything. Out of the water, there is no comparison, I'll take the studded rubber every time.

I haven't used studded felt but I imagine that would be fantastic in the water and a compromise out of it.
 
Those trashed Chotas were my 1st pair of rubber soled boots with studs. Prior, I was a felt guy; but I decided to go 'rogue' ( that be like: using single foot guides in my two rod builds! LMAO)

I'm with Rovert.

Rubber w/studs: no issues fishing in a variety of streams in the Midwest & back East. Only places I did not try them yet, where most years I get to fish with some frequency were out west in WY, CO, SD (Black Hills), NE (Pine Ridge/Niobrara Sandhills). I honestly think they would do fine. Unfortunately, they are falling apart. LOL

I will need new boots really, really soon.

Joe
 
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ROVERT said:
If you ever fish in the snow, no one will have to convince you.

Felt is really bad in snow and bad out of the water in general. Every plain rubber sole I've used has been inferior to felt for wading on rocks. With studs, though, I don't feel like I'm giving up anything. Out of the water, there is no comparison, I'll take the studded rubber every time.

I haven't used studded felt but I imagine that would be fantastic in the water and a compromise out of it.
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Dear Rovert,

Fifty years ago, you wore felt soled, or rubber soled hot sweaty boot foot Hodgeman's, Lacrosse, Ranger's or Red Ball's in either hip boots or chest waders. Those were the choices then. Or you could just stand in the water wet wearing the footwear of choice. I bought a lot of $ 5.00 K-Mart sneakers back then.

When I finally bought stocking foot waders, you had felt or the same rubber soles that sucked on hip boots and chest waders for wading shoes. I went with Weinbrenner's in felt and then studded felt because I knew how slippy the rubber lugged soles were. I even re-soled them several times.

Back then when you fished in the snow you just knocked the snow off your wading shoes on a rock, or against a tree. It really wasn't difficult to do. You just did it.

I have studded felt and studded lug rubber soled wading shoes now. I did buy a pair of Hodgeman canvas studded wading shoes too, that were NIB off Ebay. I'm still looking for a NIB pair of studded Weinbrenner's.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
I used rubber soles with studs, at Penn's, for the first time and I was as comfortable wading as I have ever been. At a place like Penns, even felt isn't enough at 60+. maybe when I was 30. But the snow thing? Remember the shoes the band Kiss used to wear?
 
ROVERT said:
I used to subscribe to the theory that studs should be nearly flush with the sole. Then I tried these this year:

View attachment 1641251605

View attachment 1641251606

I've never had better traction in or out of the water. I used studded Klingon soles before this, which meet the nearly flush criteria. These are better. Perhaps quartz or granite would make me feel differently but these are great in Central PA.

I got a new pair of Devils Canyons for Christmas and haven't used them yet. The pocket at the front is just starting to get loose on these. I think I have seven and a half years on them now with lots of walking and rough wading. FWIW, the Buckskins I had before these were acceptable but not nearly as durable.
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Glad you posted this. I did my first wading with the Korkers Bantam Lites with the Vibram X Trek soles. I was surprised at the grip. I'm planning to do that same creek and use the studded klingons at a later date.

I was fishing Crooked Creek after the outflow. Rocks of various sizes with "greezy" coatings on them which could be a challenge if you didn't watch the path you were on.

What's your feedack with those soles that you posted?
 
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