Simms ExStream Bootfoots

Skipper Cole · 11-23-2009, 10:46 AM

Howdy FlyFishers!

(Posted this on the Community thread with little response, so figured I would give yall a shot...)

Anyone give these a try last year for winter steel?

Really giving the bootfoot some thought, but am torn about the felt vs lug sole option on the boots.

Just looking for some input from folks who have actually used these for a season in varying conditions.

PMs Welcome.

Thanks!
-SC

moman · 11-23-2009, 11:07 AM

I fish the Korkers guide boots and go back and forth between the lugged felt, felt, and rubber soles as needed. All three have their place. Korkers are not an expecially cheap option, but they sure are versitile. Korkers changed their design a few years ago and moved away from their old crappy velcro attachments. I've had no troubles with the new design.

edgerat · 11-23-2009, 12:12 PM

I can only speak to how they felt when I owned a pair of the simms, I never wore them in the water. I felt like I was wearing enormous moon boots. I have the korkers now as well so I can tell you all about those if you like

Isaac

JRV · 11-23-2009, 12:17 PM

a friend of mine has them and really likes them, I have been thinking of getting a pair my self. They performed a lot better in the snow and ice than my felt soles did, he has the studed ones.

PacificCoastSteel · 11-23-2009, 12:23 PM

i own the simms exstream bootfoot waders... they are great when they're holding water out...

i have put less than 30 days on them and they're already leaking into one foot enough to soak.. in my experience (at least 4 pairs of simms classics, G3s, riverteks, etc..) simms waders just don't hold water out, and their customer service isn't the greatest either..

the only reason i got these is because they're bootfoots and they're super warm. if Patagonia made a bootfoot wader i wouldn't touch the simms, but things being what they are the Muck boot on the simms waders is a really nice wader when they keep you dry.

Dan Baileys make a bootfoot wader, felt is the only sole option i think. boots may not be as comfortable as the Mucks on the simms

i'll come back to this thread after i send my stuff back to simms to fix with an update on their customer service and the outcome of wether or not these things feel like they'll make it thru the winter.

bottom line: if you've had simms waders work for you in the past, and feel good about getting waders from them this is for sure the warmest most comfortable style of waders for wintertime. its too bad no one else has a truly competitive model out, and if Muck stays exclusive to simms there may never be one - the boots are awesome

i am more confident in other brands of waders keeping me dry, but i haven't seen a better setup for warmth and comfort - assuming theyre not leaking...

as for Korkers - if you're fishing even as much as 50-60 days a year the soles WILL flop out... its just a matter of time. even with the new ('09) models.

Sam Stocks

Skipper Cole · 11-23-2009, 12:42 PM

Thanks all!

Had a feeling I might get better feedback over here... much appreciated.

Pretty much sold on the bootfoots, just wondering if I should go lug sole or felt sole... I only fish in the snow a few times a year, but felt and snow just dont go well.

I've only had felt boots in the past, and have not ever had a pair of Simms.

I have been using the same pair of LLBean neoprenes for 10 years now, and have finally convinced myself that I'm done with neoprenes for driftfishing, ahem, I mean flyfishing.

You guys should see me driftfish a cherise bunny leach...

The bootfoots appeal to me because I have always had bootfoots for duckhunting, and never get cold feet, however when in stocking foots with felt boots my feet feel like ice blocks after ten minutes.

Thus, when I first saw the ExStreams in a bootfoot last year, I figured I should look into them, but they were so new I convinced myself to stick it out for another year and see what folks thought about them after thrashing them for a season.

@PCSteel:
Will check into the Dan Bailey's- they seem to have quite the following also, and wasnt aware they made a bootfoot. Thx!

PacificCoastSteel · 11-23-2009, 01:28 PM

the simms bootfoots in a studded lug sole are just as good as felt in most rivers, if not better...

the db's look promising, but a Muck boot they're not - simms has a powerful monopoly there..

breathables are soooo much nicer than neoprene.. with a pair of fleece sweats underneath a pair of bootfoot waders you'll be toasty in 38 degrees of winter steelhead slogging and flogging

Switch · 11-23-2009, 02:29 PM

I bought a pair last year after the season and have yet to try them. I have been in Simms Waders for about 10 years now and have put a ton of days on them. The old G3's definetly had problems with the seams wearing in the crotch area but they have fixed that problem by redesigning them and getting the seam out of the crotch. The G4's I bought were unbelievable. 150plus days on them including working hard in them in AK and not a drop of water. In my opinion the best stocking foot ever made. If you were looking for the most durable wader I would recomend these and you could order them with muckboots. Not cheap at $599 but probably the best. Cant imagine the Extreams are a whole lot warmer even though they are marketed as such. Ill be trying the Extremes this year in fact might try them out tomorrow. Ill try to post a report once I get a few days in them.

Skipper Cole · 11-23-2009, 02:58 PM

Thanks fellas.

A shop in NE pdx has a pair that I can look at this wknd so I'm going to check them out. No one stocks them that I could find, (in couv or pdx) the shop in question the owner has a pair that he's going to bring in for me.

@ PCSteel:

great distinction- studded!
(looked into the DB's but wasnt as impressed)

SSPey · 11-23-2009, 03:06 PM

I wore Extreams about 20 days last winter, only on the coldest days when stockingfoots wouldn't cut it. I found them very good, and so far I give them ten toasty toes. They replaced a pair of Simms Guide Gore-Tex bootfoots that lasted only 1 winter season before the boot cracked and leaked (crappy boot). Those, in turn, had replaced a pair of Simms Neoprene bootfoots that I used for about 10 years in cold winter conditions, with a very durable (and somewhat cumbersome) boot design. The Muck boots themselves are pretty comfy and come pre-tested with a reputation for durability. We'll see.

I screwed and glued studs into my felt soles for added traction. I have found over the past year of comparing soles that studded felt outperforms studded vibram lug soles in some of the toughest ultra-slick places, but otherwise they're fairly comparable, with the lug sole better on land.

Skipper Cole · 11-23-2009, 03:35 PM

Yeah, I've only used felt... always just your plain old felt soled lunkers, always the cheapest ones I could find...

So goes without saying I'm a bit apprehensive about switching over to studded lugs...

But felt does suck in the snow...

This, is the rub.

Skipper Cole · 11-24-2009, 07:34 AM

Just wanted to share some info with you guys that I just got from Simms-

They said that the lug soles on these ExStreams are not vibrams, and they should NOT be studded.

They said that those lug soles were designed for the saltwater guys who fish off the beach for stripers in the NE, who didnt like the felt because sand sticks to them.

The ExStream bootfoots will not be continuing in the product line in 2010, (I think because they want to tinker with the muck boot and add those vibram Streamtread soles to them, but she didnt say that.) She said something about a newer model possibly coming out in Spring 2010.

The rep recommended that I go with the felt bootfoots, and add a few of their studs, but to be very careful when doing so because those bootfoots do not have the same plate in them that regular Simms boots have.

She said that those lug soles on the ExStreams were not designed for river fishing, and that the felts were the way to go.

She also said that a few cobblers in the PDX area are skilled at doing a conversion of the felt soles to their new "Streamtreads" vibram soles, which is what I thought the lug soles on the ExStreams were in the first place, so glad I asked.

I'm going with the felt bootfoot ExStreams, Simms customer service just sealed the deal for me. I emailed my questions at 9pm last night, and got a response at 8am this morning. I like that.

Anyways, just thought I'd update you guys-

Thanks for all the help FF'ers,
-SC

Switch · 12-15-2009, 04:20 PM

The email just went out to dealers with the remaining Simms stock and a discounted price for them. If you want these waders Id contact your favorite dealer asap and tell them your size. Should be able to get them for about $275ish maybe less with the felt soles $250ish with the lug.

Ive worn mine out two days now and like them. I think for drift boat fishing or for someone that doesnt cover lots of water on foot they would be great. I tend to walk several miles down the river when fishing and cross multiple times. I like the support of a lace up boot and I like the zip up pockets on my G4's for deeper crossing for this style of fishing, but still look forward to the Extreams nice warm pockets and bootfoot for more warmth when I am fishing from a boat.

I do like the double fleece lined pocket which even has pouches to put disposible handwarmers in and the Muckboots are very comfy.

DR. Feelgood · 12-15-2009, 05:14 PM

So Many Ways!For the last 2 years for cold conditions(BC in fall and some winter days in Oregon)I've fished the Simms G4z with custom Muck boots from the factory.While the $800(the boot is $100 extra)total is tough... that zipper pays for itself in the middle of the river when it's snowing and the Muck boots I can't beat anywhere.. The Mucks are felt so I slip on those gollashes type aluminum cleat when I need 'em.

Unlike some reports I've been VERY happy with Simms.This summer I sent back a the pair of these custom boot foot G4z's I"d fished for 2 seasons( but only probably 30 days use) because a little leak was starting at the boot connection. In a month they sent me new custom boot foots in the box!

Switch · 12-15-2009, 05:40 PM

That is the perfect wader for most people. An option is to get the G4 w/o the zipper for $599 with boots on or $499 without. I have a pair of G4's that have over 165 days in them working, camping and pleasure fishing and they still haven't started to leak at all. Never had a pair of any waders make it 30 days working in them without leaking some. Doubt there's ever been a better breathable made than the G4.

Skipper Cole · 12-21-2009, 08:15 AM

Actually... after all that time spent researching and comparing, agonizing over such a purchase...

I went with the G3 stockingfoots, and some of the vibram StreamTread boots. LOL.

It really came down to hiking around.

I'll look into the new and improved ExStreams when they come out, and until then, if its that cold...

I'll be the guy in the camo neoprenes.

shawn k · 12-21-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipper Cole

Actually... after all that time spent researching and comparing, agonizing over such a purchase...

I went with the G3 stockingfoots, and some of the vibram StreamTread boots. LOL.

It really came down to hiking around.

I'll look into the new and improved ExStreams when they come out, and until then, if its that cold...

I'll be the guy in the camo neoprenes.

make sure you buy the screw in star cleats that simms sells for those boots if you plan to fish the deschutes or the clack. I have a pair of those
boots and I fell three times the first time I used them on the sol duc this summer.

PacificCoastSteel · 01-08-2010, 10:01 AM

i wanted to post in this thread an update for me and my take on Simms...

i have said negative things about their customer service and the purpose of this post is to rescind this accusation.

i have recently had cause to send a few items back to simms for repair. a pair of G3 boots with a lace pull that was tearing out, a G3 jacket with 4 teeth missing on the main zipper, and a relatively unworn pair (maybe 30 days) of exstream bootfoots with a foot-soaking leak that i couldn't locate to repair...

Simms took it upon themselves to replace each and every item with a brand new piece of gear. they even let me switch sizes and upgrade boots to a different style and sole.

here's the kicker: after only two days on the water with the new waders i did something really stupid - that i have never done before and don't intend to do ever again - and ruined my brand new pair of replacement waders... (winter steelheaders with heaters in your boat take heed).

this was my fault, no fault of simms what soever. with little hope, i made a call to the customer service rep who had helped me with the recent returns. i explained my stupid tale of idiot woe and threw myself to the mercy of the Simms Warranty and Repair center's judgment..... AND WAS REDEEMED!

i have been told that somewhere in Montana there is a fishing God who protects the stupid angler. this week he took the form of Simms customer service, and i await yet another pair of replacement waders - waders, that i will treat like warm, bootfooted gold.

i cannot speak to what your experience with them may be or have been, but this was mine.

hereby taking back anything negative i have ever said about Simms customer service: Sam Stocks.

Skipper Cole · 01-08-2010, 10:15 AM

I found them to be quite helpful as well...

I spent a total of about one hour on the phone with the gal while she answered all my questions about the intricacies of vibram lug soles and streamtread soles... shared with me the new product lines for 2010...

I was flat out impressed.

I've heard alot of crappy things about their customer service as well, but that didnt match my experience.

And PCSteel, I did the same thing with a driftboat heater on a pair of neoprenes... darn near caught myself on fire.

NCL · 01-09-2010, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacificCoastSteel

i wanted to post in this thread an update for me and my take on Simms...

i have said negative things about their customer service and the purpose of this post is to rescind this accusation.

i have recently had cause to send a few items back to simms for repair. a pair of G3 boots with a lace pull that was tearing out, a G3 jacket with 4 teeth missing on the main zipper, and a relatively unworn pair (maybe 30 days) of exstream bootfoots with a foot-soaking leak that i couldn't locate to repair...

Simms took it upon themselves to replace each and every item with a brand new piece of gear. they even let me switch sizes and upgrade boots to a different style and sole.

here's the kicker: after only two days on the water with the new waders i did something really stupid - that i have never done before and don't intend to do ever again - and ruined my brand new pair of replacement waders... (winter steelheaders with heaters in your boat take heed).

this was my fault, no fault of simms what soever. with little hope, i made a call to the customer service rep who had helped me with the recent returns. i explained my stupid tale of idiot woe and threw myself to the mercy of the Simms Warranty and Repair center's judgment..... AND WAS REDEEMED!

i have been told that somewhere in Montana there is a fishing God who protects the stupid angler. this week he took the form of Simms customer service, and i await yet another pair of replacement waders - waders, that i will treat like warm, bootfooted gold.

i cannot speak to what your experience with them may be or have been, but this was mine.

hereby taking back anything negative i have ever said about Simms customer service: Sam Stocks.

I have had two experiences with Simms warranty, one was as you described above, I couldn't believe the accommodations they made. Then I had a pair of G3 waders start leaking in the crotch area (I understand a common malady with G3's) and the experience was 180 degrees the other way with Simms saying they were just worn out and there was mildew present so they could not fix the waders. So I had a $450 pair of waders that were of no value that I had worn maybe 30 times. It seems like it depends who you get at Simms with what they are willing to do.