Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Spawn Sack on December 26, 2013, 08:50:29 PM
-
Santa came through this year and got me a nice pair of Simms G3 waders :) My current Cabela's boots could probably last me this steelhead season, but they are pretty bagged so I've decided to treat myself to a new pair of wading boots. The only type I have used thus far are with felt soles (from Cabela's). I find the felt is great on slippery rocks, but sucks when bushwacking especially up or down a mucky hill. I've fallen on my my friend a few times and it seems felt + mud = slip and slide!
I searched the archives on this site and read through a few good threads ("Simms vibram sole wading boots" started by Noahs Arch seemed to be the best). Several people on this past thread were thinking of going with the Vibram soles, so I'm just hoping to get some more recent reviews or hear from people who didn't respond to this past thread.
To summarize some of the reveiws/opinions from this previous thread:
-Only use Vibram soles if you're adding studs
-Vibram is better on dirt/trails, but not as good as felt, even if the Vibram has studs
-Studs can make an annoying grinding noise on rocks
-Felt is tops for slippery rocks
I'm leaning towards getting felted boots with no studs. The one place I do NOT want to slip is wading out, crossing moving water, walking over slippery rocks on shore, etc. If I'm walking up/down hill on shore I just try to be more careful now with felts and generally have no issues.
Also, when lake fishing in colder weather I wear my waders + boots in my boat and definitley do not want studs scratching things up! ???
I want to get a solid pair of boots this time and don't mind forking over $200+. It seems most shops will tell you to so Simms or go home, however I'm seriously looking at the Korkers as it would be nice to be able to pop in Vibrams when felts were of no use. I don't want to buy the boots online so whatever I buy needs to be in stock. Going to Fred's Chilliwack tmrw to see what they have. Any advice would be much appreciated.
-
I have the krokers and can't say anything bad about them. I have really wide feet and they fit great and I can where them for hours. I also like the option of being able to swap out the felts.
-
My fishing partner has korkers and hates them. Not even a year old and they're falling apart.
These are not base model boots either, hurt can't stand the heavy usage he puts on them.
I bought a new pair if Simms felt boots last spring, great boots.
-
I will say the simms guide boot has great ankle support especially when your hiking lots. I use the vibram soles with studs…….. don't bother otherwise. I also have a friend that uses the same boot with just felt and really likes them.
-
I like to use Vibram with stud. I found it grippy for any condition except for on the boat or indoor.
For Stud, I found a cheaper alternative to simms stud.
I use Kold Kutter Traction Screws. they coming in many different size and are usually found in racing motor bike/ATV on snow ground.
250 studs = $19, or 1000 studs = $58 which work out to be no more than $0.076 for a stud. so that is less than $2 if 10 studs on each boots. Nothing to loose
the quality is pretty good at this price range and does the work.
the size I use is 3/8" #8(https://koldkutter.com/catalog/images/icescrewsizechart3.gif)
-
Over the last few years I have used the Simms Guide felt, Simms G3 Vibrams and Korkers Chrome. I have been using the Korkers exclusively for the last 9 months and must easily have put 50 days or more on them with no problems, no wear or tear issues. I have used the felt, Klingon and Klingon with carbide tips. I find the Klingon soles to be not quite as good as the Vibram in terms of both traction and wear. The carbide tips seem to add just the right amount of extra grip. No doubt the versatility of the Korker changeable sole is hard to beat. The boots are light and comfortable without problems of rock bruising or grinding the feet I've had with some other boot.
The Simms guide boots are the best made toughest boot on the market. They wear like iron. The downside is they are heavy and the extra weight can make a difference. I had trouble with calcium deposits on my achilles tendons for several months and the weight of the G3s could make walking a day of agony. I put hard bite star cleats on the Vibrams which gave them just about the best traction I have experienced but increased discomfort while walking on hard surfaces.
As mentioned in the opening post felt slips on mud. It also freezes and collects snow. Felt also wears faster than the other options but offer excellent traction wading rocky stream bottoms.
While some people prefer felt soles for their superior traction on rock, I think Simms Vibrams offer the best combination of traction in all conditions. Korkers are versatile and relatively light weight.
-
I've been using korkers for the last 4 season and they are just starting to wear out. I use the studded felt soles and would never use anything else. Best of all worlds with the felt and studs.
-
I have had a few pairs of Korkers over the last few years. The versitility of changing soles is the biggest selling point. I am a big fan of the boa laces too. Every version they put out they are continuously improving. I originally had the Guides and I had quite a few complaints. I had/have the Chromes were so much better, they are a really good boot. I am now are using the Devil's Canyons that just came out this month and absolutely love them so far.
Felt is hard to beat for in the water traction but I wear through felt bottoms in well under a year, so it's nice to be able to quickly swap out to fresh felt rather than resoleing or new boots. I also run studded felt for a good portion of the year, but don't want studs in the boat so it is nice to have the ability to swap rather than have fixed studs.
The Klingon soles (korkers version of vibram) are pretty much useless for wading. Scary slippery on wet rocks. Only thing I use them for is lake fishing, when I use my waders as rain gear.
The latest soles I have been using are their Alumatrax. Klingon soles with aluminum bars. Sounds weird, but the aluminum is soft and bites into rocks like Velcro. These soles have provided the best wet wading traction I have ever experienced. Better than studded felt which is what I previously thought was the best yet.
-
Great tips guys! :D
Vancook: what Simms felt boots did you buy?
Fishingforsalmon: good idea on the traction screws! You mentioned you use the 3/8 screws for Vibram soles, I wonder if a different length is required for felt soles? I believe it was Jonny Cannuck who commented in another thread on this topic that there are screws for Vibram, and screws for felt, and they are different lengths, and not to mix them up!
I can't believe how expensive the Simms screws are! Holy crap! What's so great about them compared to the cold cutters? I think they were $40bucks for a pack!
Anyway, I went and tried several pairs of boots on today (with waders on, of course). The Korkers just didn't fit well, didn't like them. It's possible there are other models that I might like, but I'm not about to drive all over the lowermainland trying on various Korkers. Tied on several Simms boots, fit was much better. Going on what I liked and the advice of the staff, I was between the Guide boots with felt soles and the Freestones with felt.
Apparently the guide boots are warmer as they have more neoprene/insulation, and are an overall better built boot. However, as many have pointed out they are significantly heavier. I tried one on each foot and didn't notice a huge difference in weight, however walking all day I imagine the difference would be more noticable.
I think the Guide boots were $60 more than the Freestones. I am leaning towards the guide boots as it sounds like they are warmer and better constructed. I don't think I would put studs in them for now as 99% of the time I do not have a problem with felt, and if I'm going down a bank or whatever on the canal I just walk low so if I fall my arse is already close to the ground :o When fishing rivers like the Thompson where I've heard studs are needed, I've heard of guys slipping a strechy/gripping device over their boot similar to chaining up a tire on a vehicle. I don't know the proper name for them. Given the price of the Simms studs, what do ya'll think of just buying a pair of these thingamajiggers and using them the odd time where extra traction is needed?
-
I've had both. The Guide boots are worth the extra money. Better fit and they will last longer.
-
you mean like these !!! :o
http://www.patagonia.com/ca/product/river-crampon?p=79195-0
$239.00 is getting a little fu**ing ridiculous !!!
-
I love my Simms guide boots, I have the vibram ones and had burnt through four pairs of Simms cleats in two years. I have also started using the Kold Kutter and haven't looked back. They don't give you as much grip as the Simms cleats but in my opinion they give more than adequate traction. If you are getting the Guide boots with felt I think using a pair of crampon cleats is a great idea for winter or rivers with that slippery snot algea.
-
Thanks RalphH, alright I'm probably going to get the Guide Boots then. Store didn't have any in my size but will have tomorrow likley, so if the size 10s fit I'll likley buy them.
HOOK, holy crap now those are some hardcore crampons! :o Can't see myself needing something that hardcore. You can get them on backcountry.com for $199 I think, no sales tax (Oregon) and free shipping to the US.
I think for now I'll just stick to the straight felts as I generally haev zero issues with felt, and if I start fishing the Thompson etc then I'll buy a set of studs and screw them in to the boots.
Can you take the studs in and out repeatedly? I'm guessing this is a bit of a nono?
PS: Chumchaser and Fishingforsalmon: Do you have any idea which cold cutters are the right length for Simms felt soles? According to comments on this site it is different than the Vibram soles (forget if it is longer or shorter). I am guessing it will be 1/2 or 5/8. Assuming the size 10 guide boots fit okay, I will buy them. I don't think I'll put studs in them right away but I would like to have some on hand. Who knows maybe I'll try the Simms studs first buy they are pretty ridulously priced IMO! :o
-
I have the Simms guide felt boots and love them. Great support and very comfortable. Well worth the extra bucks.
-
Santa came through this year and got me a nice pair of Simms G3 waders :) My current Cabela's boots could probably last me this steelhead season, but they are pretty bagged so I've decided to treat myself to a new pair of wading boots. The only type I have used thus far are with felt soles (from Cabela's). I find the felt is great on slippery rocks, but sucks when bushwacking especially up or down a mucky hill. I've fallen on my my friend a few times and it seems felt + mud = slip and slide!
One cheater way I've done when hiking on slippery mud, is to put on ice soles onto my felt and I found it helped a LOT! You know those black strechy rubber things with studs/springs on them - they cost under 20 bucks. They also obviously help when on icy patches where felt can be slippery too!
Maybe not the BEST option, but certainly cheaper than buying new boots (for others sake that don't need new ones at the moment)...
-
been running the freestones felts and have had no shrinking issues, their warm, grippy, supportive, comfortable, and i'd recomend them over anything ive used including g3 guides.
-
Considering the potential for transporting invasive aquatic life from river to river, I'm surprised with the number of people still buying felt boots.
http://www.stopans.org/Felt_Bans.htm
-
Considering the potential for transporting invasive aquatic life from river to river, I'm surprised with the number of people still buying felt boots.
http://www.stopans.org/Felt_Bans.htm
Did you ever think that maybe most of the guys that still buy felt boots still take the time and clean them properly! You will bite it one day with your Vibram soles. Maybe ask yourself why people add studs to there Vibram soles. Answer, They are JUNK on the coast flows without studs!
-
Did you ever think that maybe MOST of the guys that still buy felt boots still take the time and clean them properly! You will bite it one day with your Vibram soles. Maybe ask yourself why people add studs to there Vibram soles. Answer, They are JUNK on the coast flows without studs!
All it takes is just ONE.
Besides, I don't see why it is so difficult to add studs to Vibram soles (especially if it something we can do to help our fishing environment)....
-
Thanks for all the tips guys. I've decided to get the Simms guide boots (felt soles). They fit my foot better than the Freestones and other boots I tried on. And, according to the staff most of whom have tried all the Simms boots and other boots they stock, the Guides are the way to go, the warmest, although they're a bit heavy (doesn't bother me).
I'm wondering, should I go with the size 10 or 11? I wear a 9.5 street shoe. I'm leaning towards the 10 as it fit fine with my waders on and a regular sock. I'm going to go back and try them on once more with what I usually wear which is a liner sock and a heavy wool sock.
On a related note...I had a spey lesson yesterday and was standing in the water for 2-3 hours at a time (between shore breaks to pee, eat, etc). My feet F-R-O-Z-E. I normally don't stand it in the water in the winter for this long and this is why. Maybe it would have helped if we weren't standing stationary for so long. I had my thin liner socks on and heavy wools over. I also had "little hottie" adhesive toe warmers on the top of each foot between the liner and wool sock. The warmer pack definitely heated up in my boot before entering the water, but once in the water it didn't seem to do a damn thing. Anyone have any tips? I know Simms etc makes a wading sock...worth the $30? Perhaps my new boots will make a difference over the crap Cabela's ones I currently have ???
-
Thanks for all the tips guys. I've decided to get the Simms guide boots (felt soles). They fit my foot better than the Freestones and other boots I tried on. And, according to the staff most of whom have tried all the Simms boots and other boots they stock, the Guides are the way to go, the warmest, although they're a bit heavy (doesn't bother me).
I'm wondering, should I go with the size 10 or 11? I wear a 9.5 street shoe. I'm leaning towards the 10 as it fit fine with my waders on and a regular sock. I'm going to go back and try them on once more with what I usually wear which is a liner sock and a heavy wool sock.
On a related note...I had a spey lesson yesterday and was standing in the water for 2-3 hours at a time (between shore breaks to pee, eat, etc). My feet F-R-O-Z-E. I normally don't stand it in the water in the winter for this long and this is why. Maybe it would have helped if we weren't standing stationary for so long. I had my thin liner socks on and heavy wools over. I also had "little hottie" adhesive toe warmers on the top of each foot between the liner and wool sock. The warmer pack definitely heated up in my boot before entering the water, but once in the water it didn't seem to do a damn thing. Anyone have any tips? I know Simms etc makes a wading sock...worth the $30? Perhaps my new boots will make a difference over the crap Cabela's ones I currently have ???
My size 10 simms guides fit a tiny bit too big for me so what I do is wear a wool sock, then put on my g3 waders and then find the biggest sock you can find and put that over the neoprene stocking foot before putting the boot on. Helps with the wear and tear on the neoprene and was noticeably warmer when I was wading knee deep in the chehalis.
-
I like to use Vibram with stud. I found it grippy for any condition except for on the boat or indoor.
For Stud, I found a cheaper alternative to simms stud.
I use Kold Kutter Traction Screws. they coming in many different size and are usually found in racing motor bike/ATV on snow ground.
250 studs = $19, or 1000 studs = $58 which work out to be no more than $0.076 for a stud. so that is less than $2 if 10 studs on each boots. Nothing to loose
Hey there Fishing4salmon,
I was wondering if you had some of the studs to spare and sell. I'm leaving for a trip on the 2nd and don't have time to order them.
Would I be able to swing by and purchase some off of you.
Feel free to email me.
Thanks, Michael
-
Here is quite an interesting article on how to turn a pair of old rubber soled boots into Patagonia aluminum bar rock grip comparables.
http://www.yellowstoneangler.com/staff-articles/slick-to-stick-add-aluminum-bars-to-your-wading-boots
-
tburns, interesting link! A bit more bite than I need right now, but a good idea to keep in mind.
I emailed Simms and asked them what length screw one would buy for the felt soles if not buying Simms studs. There reply was "...the length of the threaded portion of a Hardbite Felt Stud is 5/8..." So for anyone looking to get the Kold Cutte studs for their felt waders, go for the 5/8 screws.
After a hot of humming and hawing today I bought the guideboots in size 11. The 10 fit fine with a regular sock on and the wader bootie. However with a thicker sock they were a bit snug. I decided I would rather have them fit right in the winter and be a tad big in the summer than fit right in the summer and be tight in the winter, likely leading to restricted blood flow and colder feet.
I also bought a pair of Simms "Extream wading socks." They are THICK and apparently quite warm/good. They better be for $30 plus tax! Thanks again for all the tips on this guys :)
-
You will also notice that once the Guide boots get worn a few times the leather will shrink some when it dries. This leads to a tighter fit when they are dry but once they get damp or wet they loosen again. I also own those Simms socks and love them paired with my liner socks, if I'm standing still in the river for hours my feet get cold however it doesn't happen much over the winter because I am always moving downstream every few casts
I wear size 12 guide boots but I'm going to grab another set of boots in a 13 for winter fishing because I need a bit more space
-
What liner socks do you wear HOOK? Shop where I bought the socks had them for about 20 bucks but I figured okay...although these Simms socks look awesome I'm sure I can get liner socks much cheaper from MEC, REI etc that are just as good but way less $.
-
Simms liner socks have something called "CoolMax" technology. I went into Wholesale Sports and got the exact same type of liner socks for $10, they also had a different kind that were a dark green that didn't have the CoolMax which I didn't buy because I figured they would be warmer and I don't want my feet to sweat. I have been battling this cold feet issue for many many years trying everything and this is the best sock combo I have found so far and have been using it a few years now without complaint. I may go buy the other liner socks to try them out though
when my feet get too cold to tolerate while standing in the water then I just get out for a bit and they warm up pretty quickly with a little movement. Make sure your liner socks AND heavier socks will wick away moisture, this is what keeps your feet staying warmer longer. I have taken off my waders many times to have my heavy socks feel pretty wet from sweat and my liner socks are bone dry.
Making sure you have enough room to wiggle your toes in your wading boots is crucial. If your boots are too tight then there is no sock combo that will work like it should. Proper layering to keep your legs and body warm also helps to keep your hands/feet warmer
-
Cool thanks for that. I have a few old pair of liner socks from MEC... BUT someone on this site commented that a longer liner sock is desirable as it wicks the moisture up and out of your sock...or something like that. The ones I have are short. I need a few new pairs anyway they are getting pretty thin. I'll check out WSS, REI, MEC or wherever I end up first. I think Wigwam makes a Coolmax liner sock sold at MEC.
Something like these:
http://www.mec.ca/product/4003-526/wigwam-ultimate-liner-pro-socks-unisex/?No=0&h=10&f=10&q=liner%2Bsock
I'm also gonna pick up a pair or two of the thick wool BAMA socks from Marks that was reccomended on another thread.
-
I took my new Simms Guide boots out yesterday and WOW what a difference compared to my bagged out old Cabela's boots. The old boots felt like worn out slippers, whereas these new boots acually feel like proper hiking or work boots. Lots of support, very comfortable.
I notice the boots do not come with any insoles. I think I might stick a pair of insoles in them with good arch support, like Superfeet or something like that. That being said the boots have pretty good arch support considering there are no insoles in them. I noticed with my work boots I swapped out the factory junk insoles for good arch support insoles and noticed a big difference in how sore my feet were at the end of the day and less of a sore back if I stand in one spot for a long time.
So far I'm just running the straight felt soles, if I think I need them I'll buy the studs. Thanks everyone I apreciate the help in decideing on these boots. Night and day difference from the old ones :)
-
Mark's sells a Merino wool sock called Smart Wool. They are pretty warm and wick away the moisture and sweat well. Get the longest ones you can and hike them up or else they will scrunch down and into your boot.
-
If you tuck your pants UNDER your socks they shouldn't slide down.
I do this in winter
liner socks over my long johns and then thick socks over my pants. never any slippage