Felt Soles or NOT?

[Kneedeep]

I like my felts. I wear both studded and nonstudded depending on which waters I'm fishing. I suppose more due diligence will be in order to do my part. I don't think I would be able to fish with as much confidence without them. I have read were "sterilizing" the boots with a bleach solution will kill most unwanted pests. So be it.

 

[tomgamber]

tabasco_joe wrote:


The linked article mentions the ban in New Zeland and that several states discussed the possibility of outlawing felt soled wading equipment (ban). The TU approach would presumably allow you to wear out your current felt soles but the intent is to "ban" the sale of felt waders after 2010.

OK, I'll give you the N.Z. one but stating that some states have "reportedly discussed" banning them is almost as solid as PA getting tax relief from casino gambling... :-D

 

[tabasco_joe]

tomgamber wrote:

A request was made...I'm sure TU sees it as an opportunity to act responsibly WITHOUT some sort of forced regulation. I find that refreshing. Maybe they've already lobbied and found the fight fruitless and are trying another approach but requesting that this practice be stopped (agree with it or not) is much more tolerable than being told they have to...

.

Tom; I hope TU took this approach as opposed to lobbying for a ban. It's a step in the right direction but they could have shown even more creativity by encouraging manufacturers to make low cost non-felt wading boots available. Maybe even promote them with the TU label or offer TU memberships with purchase or as part of a membership promotion. If there were non-felt boots that worked as well as felt and had other advantages such as better wear they would go obsolete on their own.

 

[pcray1231]

Nothin wrong with TU asking these companies. Doesn't mean they'll comply, when forced to choose between ethics and business, businesses choose business, but they'd prefer to find a way to make them both agree. Rather than just stopping the sale of felt, which for some companies means stopping the sale of wading boots altogether, they'll say no to TU, but ramp up R&D efforts at the same time. In time that R&D will turn into new, more environmentally friendly products, and the marketing will say how necessary these things are (which of course they make money on people replacing their current boots). They'll also be ready should a mandatory ban happen on felts.

Perhaps each company will come out with its own version of "Aquastealth" and advertise it. I don't even think you have to go the rubber route like Aquastealth, just make a less absorbant felt-like material, combined with a boot design to help the stuff dry. It's not that felt is bad for those who manufacture it or not ineffective enough, it just holds water for too long. I don't think this is a terribly difficult nut to crack for a modern R&D center of a reputable company. The question will be how quickly it trickles down to the "me-too" companies, it's those companies that will offer gear at Joe everyday angler prices.

 

[tomgamber]

ask and you shall receive:

http://www.midcurrent.com/news/2008/09/this-is-last-year-for-felt-sol.html

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear Tom,

Wanna bet the prices start at $ 250.00 for the boots and $ 150.00 for the sandals? If you buy a pair of their special wading socks and their top of the line waders you'll be able to drop a $-gee whizz-$ on waders.

Thanks but no thanks, felt without studs is better than studded Aquastealth, and studded felt beats all. Thank God for Cabela's, $ 60.00 for studded felt!

Regards,
Tim Murphy

 

[tomgamber]

I own the 50 dollar unstudded felt from cabelas...I just thought it was funny that we were talking about this and 5 minutes later I get that article in an email...

 

[afishinado]

Tim,

I recently purchased the Cabela's Lightweight Felt wading boots on your recommendation. I bought the wide size. They fit and feel great! They are the first pair of boots I found that are wide enough for me to layer heavy socks for the winter, without having to go to a size or two larger. No more looking like Ronald MacDonald on the stream. If they hold up as good as you say, they deserve two thumbs up!

I agree with other posters that felt soled boots are superior to other types for safety. I’ve tried studded boots, but gave away the pair I bought. I couldn’t get past the unbelievable amount of scraping noise they made when walking over rocks on dry land. I could only imagine what that sound was like to the fish, since sound is amplified in water. I suppose in a big river it wouldn’t hurt too much, but I spend a lot of time fishing small streams and trying to sneak up on fish.

For now – for me, I’ll keep the felts and carefully clean and dry them along with my other equipment. When/if a new type of sole is developed that works as well felt, I will consider buying them.

 

[tabasco_joe]

I just bought a pair of Cabelas Light Weights with studs myself. The studs on my older Orvis boots are wearing down and I was doing a lot of "skating" last time on Penns. If Cabelas would have had non-felt studded boots under $100 I might have bought a pair to give them a try. I'll continue to wear the Orvis on small mountain streams where the studs don't matter and save the new ones for Penns, Lehigh, etc.

 

[Fishidiot]

I have worn felt soles for years and don't apologize for it. I am carefull about wading new waters; know which streams carry didymo; and sun dry my felts between trips. I suspect (as mentioned in previous threads) that it's inevitable that this ban will eventually be put in place, just like an eventual ban on lead sinkers. The invasives will continue to spread, maybe a bit more slowly, but they'll spread and we'll be slipping on the didymo and getting snails embedded in our butts.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear afishinado,

I'm glad I could help you out, I don't give recommendations lightly and I try to be completely honest when I recommend stuff.

I'm sure you wil get two or three years out of those Cabela's boots and at $ 50.00 a pair you can't complain about that.

Regards,
Tim Murphy

 

[Fishidiot]

I too own a pair of Cabelas Ultralight felt soled boots - yeah, no question they're a good deal and comfortable. Mine are on their third or fourth year and I do a lot of fishing. I have had to patch 'em a bit and re-glue the corners of the felt. Nevertheless, I have been very pleased with this product.

 

[jaybo41]

Since I haven't been around in a while I'll weigh in and drop my 2 cents on the issue.

I see nothing wrong with TU asking the manufacturers to come up with newer, better products that will help reduce the spread of our fisheries. While right now, cost on the few options available are prohibitive, I think ultimately, it's the right thing to do. Hopefully the price comes down on them. In time I think it will, but in the mean time, we should all do what is within our means and budget. We spend a lot of time on the streams, we're all concerned about man made pollution, we should be concerned with micro organisms as well. Preservation of our streams seems to rank higly with all of us, so I'll do my part and go from there.

With all of that said, studded felt is by far the most traction I've had on a pair of boots. Recently, I replaced my old boots with a new set of studded aquastealth boots and at first was a bit unsure as to what to expect from the grip. After 4 days of hiking through streams I got my answers. Do they provide as much traction as studded felt? Not quite, but I never lost my footing either. I will get used to them, I'm confident in that.

Perhaps another option for those that want to try the aquastealth is to get current boot's felt replaced when they're worn out. I did a google search and found at least one shop that will do it. I'm unsure of price, but it may be worth looking into.

To each their own, but I for one, like the direction some of the manufacturers are going. It's going to push for newer more green technology in equipment.

 

[Chaz]

Here's a conspiracy theory, manufacturers know that a total ban on felt is coming soon rather than later, and are holding back the manufacturing of other products so they can dump the felt soles on the public.
I couldn't find anything remotely resembling a decent boot that was non felt and had studs, except the crappy aqua stealth boots last spring when I was shopping for something other than felt.
The use of anything pourous is suspect for carrying the nasties that are invading our streams. Look for neoprene to go away soon too.

 

[Chaz]

Jack, check the PFBC web site for more info on the nasties, they think that transfer is a problem, though I don't know of any proof that you eliminate the risk with something other than felt. The talk is to eliminate ALL semi pourous material, apparently anything that is single celled can be moved from stream to stream. The other thing is we all pay a price for the stupidity of others. If we can't learn from history we are doomed to repeat it.

 

[Mariner]

bad link for New Zealand