Wading Boots? What's your favorite?

[Shakespeare]

I know I've seen a post like this in the past, but I couldn't find it looking back.

I'm ready for knew boots (finally upgrading for the cheapest Hodgeman's I could get) and I like the lightweight design of the Korkers Streamborn Wading Boot.

My only concern is ... Will the sole insert fall out? Or will they last?

Do people have experience with this boot?

Is there a boot you like best?

Many thanks, I really appreciate your advice,

Chris

[Abalone]

Chota's. I bought a pair from Cabelas and love them. They are comfortable, rugged and slip on real easy. They are supposed to last many years....

[Raining_Kings]

Can't tell you which ones I like the best -but can maybe simplify the choices by telling you about the two pairs I do have which I don't like.

Simms G4 Guide - Warm, but heavy and BIG. End up stumbling all over the place. Not good for hiking, may work great for boaters though. Once in the water, they are okay though.

Hodgeman Cheapies - Stitching falling apart after about 3 uses. But that was about 30 uses ago, and they are still holding up.

Next time I would look at Simms Freestone.

Looked at Korkers, and founds some negatives a couple years ago while doing research. Seemed like there were lots of comprimises. Probably depends on how much hiking in you are doing, and the need for flexibility.

[Shakespeare]

Thanks for these tips... I tend to hike a lot in my boots.

I will look into Chotas.

Chris

[Shakespeare]

Well, I figured out how to do a search on this site for "Wading Boots" and found a bunch of past posts on boots. Next time I will search before I post.

Thanks for this site! You all are a wealth of experience and knowledge.

I will shop around ... but I am leaning heavily to the Krokers.

Cheer and good luck fishing,

Chris

[ATao]

korkers are great i have the one with the boa lace and they are the best wader boot i have owned

[RazorClam]

the danner boot is really nice. Very confortable and very durable. The korkers bottoms have been redesigned and don't really have a problem falling out. The idea of different bottoms are great, but I feel like they are a pain to quickly switch out. So paying for that really is not worth it to me. The only advantage is if you plan to fish out of state, some are starting to require no felt bottoms. So that way you can plan for that, and adjust accordingly.

[Wild Chrome]

I wade pretty agressively and would never consider a removable sole. Think about those times your foot gets wedged between rocks in a fast run.......

I prefer synthetic boots so they don't contract when they dry. I just retired a pair of Simms L2's. They were pretty good, but after 1 studded sole life, the uppers are starting to separate. I've owned a few pairs of Simms Freestones. They were good; a little wider. The first pair cracked and was replaced under warranty. I was told they had a bad batch of material. I re-soled the second pair a time or 2, so they were a good buy. I'm wearing Patagonia's right now and like them, but I liked the Simms (Korkers) studded soles a little better. Owned Hodgeman a long time ago. They were ok, but not as good as Simms or Patagonia. I have a pair of Water Skeeters too with studs and a sticky rubber/lug hybrid sole. They're not as good on traction, but hike pretty well. Run small too. I guess the Simms Freestones were my fav's.

[native steelie]

i was wondering. how many people use danner boots. ive had mine for about 8 years and i use them rigorously every year. prolly more then 100 fishing trips and they are still perfect, well worth the investment in my ipinion

[DirectDrive]

Started with Danner, 6" studded.
Tough, a little heavy when wet, didn't like the studs and they're like two big cornflakes when dry. You should wet 'em before putting them on.
Still have 'em......backups.

Then Patagonia Lights......love 'em but they're about worn out.

Just bought some Columbia Sportswear Copper Creeks......they're super light, well made and crazy cheap. They remind me of the Patagonias, but 1/3 the cost. The speedlacing is weird, I need to modify it.

[Breck]

I love my Korkers. The new sole design has not failed me yet. i used to pop a sole all the time with my old Korkers, but the new design seems to be a vast improvement over the old style.

[rockaway]

Just purchased a pair of rubber studded soled Chotas at River City. ( Great guys there!!!! ) Very, very, comfortable boot. Look to be very well made. Going to give them a workout this weekend. Be sure to think about weather or not felt soled boots will be outlawed from river use due to spread of diseases. This is already starting to happen on some rivers in Montana, so I've read.

I'll give you a report later on traction.

Greg

[robbiek]

i use korkers i dont know the model i got the for free from crfsteelheader. they are well used but still in awesome shape he had them and used them for everything for about 2-3 years and then gave them to me and they are not big they are not heavy and very comfortable. i have used them 5-6 times now and even with being such an old boot i cant complain one bit

[crfsteelheader]

And my new style sole Korkers are awesome! Haven't had a problem yet with the soles popping loose, which happenned a few times with the old style. I wade very aggressively myself and do a ton of hiking in the boots. They aren't Danners by any means, but they get the job done!

[ling killer]

Originally Posted by Raining_Kings

Can't tell you which ones I like the best -but can maybe simplify the choices by telling you about the two pairs I do have which I don't like.

Simms G4 Guide - Warm, but heavy and BIG. End up stumbling all over the place. Not good for hiking, may work great for boaters though. Once in the water, they are okay though.

Hodgeman Cheapies - Stitching falling apart after about 3 uses. But that was about 30 uses ago, and they are still holding up.

Next time I would look at Simms Freestone.

Looked at Korkers, and founds some negatives a couple years ago while doing research. Seemed like there were lots of comprimises. Probably depends on how much hiking in you are doing, and the need for flexibility.

my hodgmens just did that on my 4th use, right by the bottom laces where they meet the shoe, looks like their still usable, and u say 30 mo times so i'll wear em out i guess and then get some good ones, bottoms are aok

[nookslayer]

Big fan of the Simms new guide boots with studs. I've had them for 2 seasons now and they're the best boots I've ever owned hands down.

[River Borne]

I too am a big Simms fan, but Simms is no longer making felt soled boots. I shudder to think of trying to wade the Crooked or the D with vibram soles. I guess I gotta try something else.

[tnetz]

I Have two pairs of Korkers. The guide boot is the way to go. No problems with them yet. One minus to them is there is no place to attach your gravel guards.

[Zugbug66]

I like The sims freestones with the felt soles. I also use the screws you put in yourself. I fish about once a week and tent to replace the screws a couple times a year. they're roomy and solid. I used the korkers for 1 winter and they seemed undersized, which means cold feed during the winter. And yes, I always buy my boots 1-2 sizes larger than my shoes, but the same size simms boot has plenty of room. as far as traction goes... the korkers with the lug soles and the "long spikes" are unmatched! so if your getting the Korkers, maybe buy them 2 sizes larger than your shoes.
wayne

[garyk]

SIMMS Freestones are a comfortable, high-volume boot good to use with neoprene waders.

When Korkers came out, I was the BIGGEST SKEPTIC. Interchangable soles!?!? ***!!!

I figured they were a hoax perpetrated on the A-River-Runs-Through-It wannabes. A boot for posers. An insult to every honest flyfisherman who'd ever pulled on a pair of Danners.

I was WRONG.

Korkers are an great piece of equipment, especially when you have to cut weight. Or have to hike a few miles and don't want to wear out studded soles.

I don't think I've used the Freestones since I got the Korkers.

[NCL]

Originally Posted by Zugbug66

I like The sims freestones with the felt soles. I also use the screws you put in yourself. I fish about once a week and tent to replace the screws a couple times a year. they're roomy and solid. I used the korkers for 1 winter and they seemed undersized, which means cold feed during the winter. And yes, I always buy my boots 1-2 sizes larger than my shoes, but the same size simms boot has plenty of room. as far as traction goes... the korkers with the lug soles and the "long spikes" are unmatched! so if your getting the Korkers, maybe buy them 2 sizes larger than your shoes.
wayne

I also think the Korkers are undersized/narrow and they are tight. I like the boot and the options available but my feet do get cold.

I like my Simms Guide Boot and Simms makes a EE which is nice

[D3smartie]

I have hunted and fished in my Korkers for the past 3 years. Mainly the saltwater in puget sound and ducks in eastern WA, Fortunately I dont have to fish in slick, bouldery runs or where there is any aggressive wading. I tried them once on the Deschutes and wouldnt ever do that again. For actual fishing these days I go to my Simms Freestones. Best bang for the buck when it comes to wading boots IMO.
If you decide to go with korkers here are some things I have run into.
The boa laces will freeze up, especially if you use them in areas with silt. Its always fun at the end of the day to have to cut your boots off with a leatherman, or if you dont have that leatherman, try to work enough slack into the BOA so that you can loop it around the trailer hitch and try to break them off.
The soles do not stay in. Maybe it is my boot size (15) but they do not stay in. I have learned to live with it but if i was actually fishing a river that needed some traction i would be seriously worried.
if you are going on a trip with korkers, always bring a back up pair of something else. it has come in handy more than once for me.

I also dont understand why a boot without any grip on the edges would ever be a good way to go?

[yomper]

Originally Posted by Zugbug66

I like The sims freestones with the felt soles. I also use the screws you put in yourself. I fish about once a week and tent to replace the screws a couple times a year. they're roomy and solid. I used the korkers for 1 winter and they seemed undersized, which means cold feed during the winter. And yes, I always buy my boots 1-2 sizes larger than my shoes, but the same size simms boot has plenty of room. as far as traction goes... the korkers with the lug soles and the "long spikes" are unmatched! so if your getting the Korkers, maybe buy them 2 sizes larger than your shoes.
wayne

I have a pair of Sketcher boots [street type}that caused me to slip and slide on rocks when bank fishing so I stuck some felt soles on them now I am thinking of using them in the water but cant find studs anywhere Cabelas say their pack of replacement studs are only for boots made with studs any idea?

[Zugbug66]

Originally Posted by yomper

I have a pair of Sketcher boots [street type}that caused me to slip and slide on rocks when bank fishing so I stuck some felt soles on them now I am thinking of using them in the water but cant find studs anywhere Cabelas say their pack of replacement studs are only for boots made with studs any idea?

You can pick up the studs at River City Fly Shop (west side) or NW flyfishing outfitters (east side), of PDX that is. They Help!
Wayne

[DirectDrive]

Studs are not welcome in some boats.
If you're a guest, ask in advance so those invites keep coming your way.

[Shakespeare]

I decided on the Korkers Streamborn.

Wow... just putting them on at the store (with my waders too.) felt amazing. They really feel like a hiking boot. What an upgrade from my old canvas Hodgemans.

I did go two full sizes up from my street boot size.

I love that I will be able to hike into some of my favorite remote spots... and then switch over to felt. Can't wait to use them!

Thanks for the advice all... and good luck fishing!

Chris

[feathachucka]

Originally Posted by Shakespeare

I know I've seen a post like this in the past, but I couldn't find it looking back.

I'm ready for knew boots (finally upgrading for the cheapest Hodgeman's I could get) and I like the lightweight design of the Korkers Streamborn Wading Boot.

My only concern is ... Will the sole insert fall out? Or will they last?

Do people have experience with this boot?

Is there a boot you like best?

Many thanks, I really appreciate your advice,

Chris

Simms L2 felt studded. On my third pair of these and absolutely love them. Great traction, very comfortable, articulated boot makes em easy to get into, light yet plenty of ankle support. For the money, you will have a hard time finding a boot as good as these. Problem is they have discontinued them but you can still find them if you do some searching on the web I think for $80-$90. I bought an extra pair when the disco'd them a year ago just to 'save'.

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by feathachucka

Simms L2 felt studded. On my third pair of these and absolutely love them. Great traction, very comfortable, articulated boot makes em easy to get into, light yet plenty of ankle support. For the money, you will have a hard time finding a boot as good as these. Problem is they have discontinued them but you can still find them if you do some searching on the web I think for $80-$90. I bought an extra pair when the disco'd them a year ago just to 'save'.

Agree. Total screw up on simms part. They are starting to are like Sage (discoing stuff people like and buy).

[358norma]

Originally Posted by DirectDrive

Studs are not welcome in some boats.
If you're a guest, ask in advance so those invites keep coming your way.

A small chunk of plywood on the floor keeps your pretty boat from getting gouged. It's what we do anyway.

[Duane Doran]

I'll throw another name into the mix: William Joseph. I wore Simms boots for years the problem I have is that I like a lighter boot and have wide feet. I found I had to buy 2 sizes larger than what I wear with Simms boots in oder for them to fit comfortably. I often felt like I was wearing clown shoes. Anyway, after I wore out the last set of Simms I bought a pair of Willaim Joseph boots and they are awesome. Very comfortable, light weight, with good support, and reasonably priced.

I for one do allow wading boots with bolts in my boat. I feel they do not give enough extra grip to make them worth the ensuing damage your boat floor will suffer. Get yourself a set of strap on Korker spikes (they were famous for these long before they started making boots). They are easy to put on and take off and provide real grip in even the slipperyest condistions.

[Wingdam]

I love Simms boots, but I'm not happy they phased out felt. I don't like studs in my boat, so my question is has anybody actual used Simms new Streamtread soles on slimy rivers such as the Deschutes without adding studs? How do they grip?

[Dom C]

Another vote for the chotas.. Inexpensive, well built, and really comfortable. Much more so than the pair of simms guides I wore out and quite a bit less money.

[Steve Plant]

Simms - minus the studs.. Great for wading, but not good for the boat floor.

[Corrado1]

I would highly recomend the Korkers. I have a pair of both the streamborns and the boa system guide boots and love them both. The new design of the interchangable sole is WAY better than the old one's and I have not had any problems in over a year with either pair. I would recomend the boa lace system as it is awesome in the winter when everyone is trying to untie frozen laces and all you have to do is pop the boa system and SHAZAM your boots are off. I have also not broken or had to replace (knock on wood) any of the boa system wire laces. The boots come with replacements but I have not had to switch them out.

Plus they are local Portland guys so you are also supporting local business.

[lostbackpacker]

Originally Posted by nookslayer

Big fan of the Simms new guide boots with studs. I've had them for 2 seasons now and they're the best boots I've ever owned hands down.

ditto, only mine dont have studs