Comments on: The Underground’s Wading Boot Review Begins a New Chapter

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:10:05 +0000

Janusz Panicz: How about now Tom – still think I’m the big foot ;-)

This changes nothing. You're still the living manifestation of Sasquatch himself.

By: Janusz Panicz

Janusz Panicz — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:34:47 +0000

Hi Mark, You can take your chance with Cabela's UltraLigh Wading Boots . There are available up to size 15 but trust me their size 15 is even bigger than Simms size 16. PS. How about now Tom - still think I'm the big foot ;-)

mark phillips: I am a keen fly fisher & I am unable to find size 17 wading boots. Can you be of any assistance, yours thankfully Mark Phillips.

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:27:07 +0000

mark phillips: I am a keen fly fisher & I am unable to find size 17 wading boots. Can you be of any assistance, yours thankfully Mark Phillips.

Holy crap. And sadly, no, I can't be of any help. Call Simms and Orvis, and see what they can do, but I have this feeling you'll be buying outdoor boots and modifying them for wading boot use (adding studs to rubber soles?). Good luck.

By: mark phillips

mark phillips — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:07:42 +0000

I am a keen fly fisher & I am unable to find size 17 wading boots. Can you be of any assistance, yours thankfully Mark Phillips.

By: Tony Jones

Tony Jones — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:14:44 +0000

I think my boots are around a year and a half old. I probably fish, on average, about two days a week; sometimes more, sometimes less. I had a similar problem with the Mk1 Korkers but I figured that was because they were the cheaper entry-level Wetlands boots.

Regarding the kinds of rivers I fish, I wouldn’t describe them as particularly difficult to wade – mostly shingle or rocks, I’ve not found the studded rubber any less sure-footed thean felt (either with or without studs).

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:22:08 +0000

Thanks for the update. How old are the Korkers? The company seems pretty responsive to their customers.

Could you clarify where the studded rubber’s working for you – what kind of river/stream bottom?

Thanks.

By: Tony Jones

Tony Jones — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:47:23 +0000

Just an update on my Korkers Streamborns; the studded kling-on soles are working out ok but just last week I noticed that the rubber molded base of one boot seems to be coming away from the uppers in the instep area. I’m hoping to glue it back on once the boot is completely dry, I’ll need to clean the accumulated mud and grit out and I’m reluctant to pull the base of the boot off completely before I stick it all back together so that might prove a difficult task. I’ll need to find a suitable adhesive, I think the formula of Barge Cement has changed and a quick google tells me that it may not be as effective as it once was.

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:18:01 +0000

Excellent. Best of all, you can take sole credit among your fellow bigfoot types for moving Simms with your plight.

It’s almost certainly not the truth, but this is fly fishing, and truth should never be allowed to get in the way of a good story.

By: Janusz Panicz

Janusz Panicz — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:24:19 +0000

Good news (mostly for me). Simms have just made new Freestone with Vibram soles available in sizes up to 16 !!!

By: Joe H

Joe H — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:28:06 +0000

I’ve used the Korkers boots with the BOA lacing system for two seasons now and have had 0 failures. It’s super handy to be able to reach down and tighten up my boots. I understand that BOA also backs up the product with a lifetime warranty. I carry an extra set of laces with me just in case, but I’ve taken some nasty spills and they’re still going strong. I still think nothing grips better than felt, but the Kling-On rubber by Korkers does seem to grip better than my Vibram boots on slippery rocks. I’m a total convert to the Korkers.

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:10:46 +0000

Hate to say it, but it’s time to take a tour of all the wading boot Web sites, sending emails where you can. And maybe it’s time to get those 16 felts too.

Also, have you considered alternatives to two pairs of thick socks? I own several pair of Polarstretch socks that are *very* warm (considering their lack of bulk), and I have heard of others successfully using thing neoprene inside their waders.

Finally, bootfoot waders are way warmer than stockingfoot, and while they used to kinda suck, there are some cool new versions out that more approximate the support of stockingfoots, but much warmer. Just a thought.

By: Janusz Panicz

Janusz Panicz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:00:32 +0000

Thanks Tom, Bigfoot you say ;-) I use regular US size 14 but for winter fishing with 2 pairs of socks and additional neoprene socks size 16 is the only way. In my e-mail to Simms I in fact did ask particularly about availability of vibram soles in size 16 and whether there were any plans to have them in "bigger" sizes. The straight on answer form Simms was they didn't have and didn't plan to have any model with vibram soles in sizes above 14 at that time.

Tom Chandler: The obvious joke about the Underground discovering Bigfoot aside, did the Simms service rep offer any answers about a size 16 Vibram boot? If Simms is sourcing the soles from an outside vendor, it’s entirely possible Vibram isn’t producing them larger than 15. I’d ask a lot of questions (of a lot of manufacturers – I understand Orvis is revamping their wading boot line, maybe a 16 will appear there). Good luck.

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:31:31 +0000

Janusz Panicz: I’ve recently contacted Simms’ to ask about they strategy concerning big sizes and the nice lady who replied sounded like surprised with my question. So anyone could advise on this? Do I have to hurry and get a pair of Freestone size 16 Felt Sole before they are sold out or there is no need to worry?

The obvious joke about the Underground discovering Bigfoot aside, did the Simms service rep offer any answers about a size 16 Vibram boot? If Simms is sourcing the soles from an outside vendor, it's entirely possible Vibram isn't producing them larger than 15. I'd ask a lot of questions (of a lot of manufacturers - I understand Orvis is revamping their wading boot line, maybe a 16 will appear there). Good luck.

By: Janusz Panicz

Janusz Panicz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:10:26 +0000

Apart from durability issue that you focus on my problem is with wading boots’ sizes. I’ve used Simms Freestone Boots Studded Felt Soles size 16 and they seemed to be the only size 16 boots on the market. Now with introduction of vibram soles Simms does not longer have any model with up to 16 size to offer.

I’ve recently contacted Simms’ to ask about they strategy concerning big sizes and the nice lady who replied sounded like surprised with my question. So anyone could advise on this? Do I have to hurry and get a pair of Freestone size 16 Felt Sole before they are sold out or there is no need to worry?

Thanks,
Janusz

By: Tony Jones

Tony Jones — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:25:49 +0000

Tom Chandler: Consider trying a pair of the studded rubber soles, and let us know what you think.

S'Funny you should suggest that. I have just ordered a pair of replacement studded, errm, Kling-On soles. I will let you know how they go and how they last. FWIW I had the studded Aquastealth soles on my old style Korkers and the soles outlasted the boots.