I’ve long used studded felts on the Upper Sac; they provided good grip on most surfaces, but my constant hiking along the sharp-rocked beds of the railroad tracks quickly wore away the felt around the studs.
After a few months, I was left with spiked wading boots that skated on smooth surfaces, grated noisily on rounded rocks, and drove me to distraction.
Regular felt was an option, but one that lacked longevity on the sharp railroad bed rocks. I needed another option.
Rubber Sole
Grippy rubber soles have been around for a few years, but my first experience wasn’t stellar. I’d tried a pair of plain rubber Aqua Stealths, but found them sadly wanting on algae-coated cobbles.
Still, early in the year, local guide Steve Bertrand told me his studded rubber soles didn’t grip as well as the felt, but they’d lasted the better part of two seasons.
Aha! Longevity.
After weighing the costs of re-soling, I bought a pair of studded rubber Weinbrenners, figuring they’d make tolerable winter boots even if they weren’t suited for everyday use (hedging your bet is a useful rationalization when buying fishing gear).
The testing began.
Seventy Percenters
After five months of steady use, the soles are still in excellent shape. I’d rate them excellent for longevity (I’ll know more in a couple years).
The constantly evolving Weinbrenner uppers used to be a mixed bag, but they’ve done away with many of the stitching problems I experienced on my earlier Weinbrenners.
The wading itself? It’s a mix. On dry steamside rock they’re outstanding - way better than studded felt.
On in-stream rocks with little or no slime, they were good.
On rounded, slimed covered rocks they were… well, let’s say they had 70% the grip of studded felts.
I haven’t fallen yet, but hitting the “greased cobble” stretches of the river without a wading staff is a non-starter. Still, I’m wearing them every day and not regretting it. So far, so good.
Break-in Period
Bob Grace of the Ted Fay Fly Shop suggested they’d grip better once the edges wore away a bit and sole became more rounded.
I haven’t experienced that, but then, my soles don’t exhibit much wear. Therein lies the charm. These should last a long time - probably as long as a pair of studded felts and one or two re-sole jobs.
That’s attractive because I like to fish good, reliable gear - stuff that’s ready to go without a lot of babying or repair.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Everything is a compromise. For a cheap bastard like myself, the compromises here seem acceptable. In addition to the everyday longevity, I get a boot that grips very well when dry rock hopping. And the soles are denser, more protective, and more comfortable than felt while hiking.
They also seem to be laterally stiffer than felts, protecting my feet from wedging and torqueing.
Finally, studded rubber doesn’t add several inches of ice to your boots when hiking through the snow - a real downer when fishing felts in the winter.
Buy, or Not?
If I fished the Pit River exclusively, I’d think twice about these boots, probably going with studded felt instead. If I fished small streams, spring creeks or other easy wading rivers, they’d be a no-brainer.
If you hike extensively in wading boots - especially over sharp rocks - you’d have to consider studded rubber soles.
Those who often fish from drift boats will find the studs don’t mar boat surfaces as badly as most studded felts (probably because the studs don’t protrude as far from the sole).
For everyday use on the Upper Sacramento River? I’ve been wearing mine almost exclusively this season, and I have no plans to switch back.
I’m giving up some grip - and that’s not a fun thought - but I’m gaining other tangible benefits (like avoiding re-soling the things every 6-9 months).
For their longevity, dryland performance and passable wet performance, the Underground gives the Weinbrenner studded rubber soled wading boots 3.5 roll casts (out of a possible 5).
Specifics
Weinbrenner’s studded rubber wading boot costs $137. Simms also makes a studded rubber boot, though be prepared to pay the Simms premium price ($160). Others make studded rubber boots, and because it’s footwear, I’d check with my retailer about trying some one.
The Weinbrenner “fit” is very roomy, and most people report no problems adding orthotics or insoles to the boots (a good idea if you have a narrow or low volume foot).
The Simms are also roomy, though with more of a hiking boot fit. For those that care, the Weinbrenners are made in the USA, while the Simms are produced overseas.
[tags]weinbrenner, wading boot, wading, fly fishing, aqua stealth[/tags]
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