Comments on: Rubber Sole: An Underground Gear Review

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:30:21 +0000

Fit is an overlooked aspect in wading boots, but it’s hard to try on a lot if your local fly shop doesn’t have a bunch.

My problem with the Korkers was the lack of support in the upper. You having problems with that?

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:28:43 +0000

I bought a pair of Simms L2s and they fit in length but after wearing them for one trip they made my feet cramp up. They are a narrow fit. I bought the Korkers Streamborn which were a lot wider and much more comfortable.

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:32:52 +0000

Roger: I’ve been a Weinbrenner guy for years, so can’t help with the Simms fit. Maybe a reader can.

Good luck!

By: Roger 'Downunder' Roberts

Roger 'Downunder' Roberts — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:09:50 +0000

I want to buy a pair of SIMMS Studded Aquastealth wading boots. Rivershed or the lighter L2 is the option. Would prefer the lighter weight boot but cannot get access to an L2 to try the fit. Rivershed size 9 good fit. Anyone out there with an average width foot had experience with the narrower L2 of similar size? Can’t afford to waste $129 plus on a misfit!

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:17:50 +0000

Mabel: Haven’t heard of anything, and wading boots don’t really fit the bill. Have you considered putting the rubberized Yak Trax “crampons” on an existing pair of boots?

They provide excellent grip even on ice, and can be removed when no longer needed. Plus they’re inexpensive — typically less than $20.

By: Mabel

Mabel — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:05:48 +0000

I am searching for preferabbly flexible rubber boots (about 11″ tall?) with a studded bottom for ice grip … found this so far … do they make such a critter? thought you might know. I live at 5,000 feet and it is so cold this year, all my paths for feeding are SOLID slippery ice. I am not a young chicken and would not like to fall … thinking of ways to superglue something to the bottom of rubber boots, it is that bad .. HELP .. Mabel

By: An Underground Gear Review Update: Rubber Sole : The Trout Underground Fly Fishing Blog

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:01:43 +0000

[...] Not quite a year ago, I posted a gear review about my studded-rubber soled wading boots. [...]

By: George

George — Fri, 04 May 2007 20:05:08 +0000

Hi everyone,
I was looking for reviews regarding aquastealth sole and found this page.
I’ve been using a pair of Simms Guide boots with felt sole for a few years now and I’m very happy with them. Their shape is very well designed. Yes they do shrink/bend a bit when dry but you can apply snow seal on them to keep them soft. Before you do that use Aquaseal to cover the seams against the rocks. Aquaseal it’s flexible even after it dries out. They will hold longer.
Based on the reviews here and my experience, my next pair will be the same: Simms Guide felt sole.

Tight lines

By: rriver

rriver — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 20:17:23 +0000

I am on my second pair of Korkers, though I like the Simms fit better. My first pair wore through the sides, and I had delamination problems with the studded felt soles. I like them though and purchased another pair. To Korkers credit, they sent me 4 replacement soles for the them after I called there customer service to complain about the sole problems.

Sometimes waders and shoes don’t match up as well as you would like. Orvis Pro Guide waders have a little thicker foot than Simms, for instance. It causes a one size difference in the boots.

- rriver

By: HH

HH — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 19:53:32 +0000

Tom, Thanks for the review. I’ll have to give the Weinbrenner studded rubber soled boots some thought, particularly for snowy conditions. I’ve been wearing Weinbrenner studded felts for some time. I really like the stacked heel. In my experience boots with a continuous ramped felt sole tend to turn into skis on smooth mossy rocks under water and muddy or wet grassy slops out of the water. It doesn’t sound like this is a problem with the rubber soles. I also appreciate the fact that the boots fit the same when wet and dry. I tried a pair of Simms Guide boots several years ago and they shrank when dry and had to be pre-soaked in order to fit correctly. What a pain.

By: Heddon17

Heddon17 — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 04:58:21 +0000

I have a pair of the Korkers Wetlands Convertables and like them a lot. Great boots for fishing the Upper Sac since you use the rubber soles for hiking the tracks, then change soles and put on the studded felts right before you get in the river.

The first pair of Korkers Wetlands did not hold up well and lasted just one season. This was due to quality control issues that plagued these boots, and the felt soles (including the studded ones) for a while after they first hit the scene.

They’ve since resolved these issues and the current pair I bought last summer to replace the old pair have been working great with no problems.

I wouldn’t use them if I were fishing the Pit exclusively since that river would do them in pretty fast. In fact last fall I bought a pair of the Simms Studded Freestone Boots for heavy duty wading on the Pit and Klamath Rivers so I’m set for wading boots for the foreseeable future ;-)

Brian

By: Sully

Sully — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 04:00:43 +0000

I have a couple pairs of Simms studded Aqua-Stealth boots and like them. Picked up the second pair dirt cheap from your new sponser this Spring. Immediately before the current boots I had a pair of Beans with the same bottoms and liked them, too. The Simms just fit me better.

In addition to gripping just fine (wading IS easier here than in NorCal)they clean up and DRY much better than felt- a real consideration in our whirling diseased world.

Roberts lets you wear studs in his precious tunnel hull?

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 01:03:41 +0000

@rriver: Take a look at the Weinbrenners (Bob Grace at the Ted Fay Fly shop carries them) and see if they fit your feet. They’re well constructed.

Dave Roberts has been fishing the Simms studded Aqua-Stealth soles on the Rogue for many months now (the studs are more aggressive on the Simms than the Weinbrenner) and is real happy with them.

@Hawgdaddy: I own a pair of the convertible Korkers and while I like the interchangeable soles, the lack of ankle support cause me to dislike the boots. In fact, they’re sitting in the garage and I haven’t yet figured out what to do with them.

Changing soles is an interesting idea, but I’m a lazy human being, and so I’m just going to hike in the studded rubber soles and leave it at that… 8-)

By: hawgdaddy

hawgdaddy — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:18:49 +0000

Something like the Korkers convertible wading boots I use might also be an option for those hiking a considerable distance before fishing. I use the regular rubber soles when hiking and switch to felt for fishing (they have studded felt soles as well). I’ve had mine for two years and they’re still holding up well, but I don’t get to fish as nearly as much as many of you guys. I suspect 200 fishing days a year would do them in pretty quickly. Also sometimes it’s aggravating to carry the extra soles, plus a pair of neoprene socks to keep your feet dry if you plan to hike back out without wearing your waders.

hawgdaddy

By: rriver

rriver — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:14:55 +0000

I was tempted to try the rubber soles, but I read they didn’t hold as well as felt spiked.

I fish about 200 days a year, and wade alot of fast heavy water. I have never had a pair of boots last 12 months (I think 10 was about the record). If I could get a year out of a pair of boots I would be very happy. I clean and dry my boots after every trip.

Currently I am using Simms L2 felt sole studded with about two months on them. So far, so good.

I have not heard of the Weinbrenners. I will have to check them out.

- rriver