Wading Boots

Wading boots need to be multifunctional. For small stream anglers they are more than just for wading. Hiking to the stream is frequently required, and at least some light rock-climbing ability is occassionally called for.

Non-skid soles are essential, but non-skid on riverbottom rocks and non-skid on snow or muddy streambanks is not at all the same. Felt or studded felt is the acknowledged best choice for the first but fails miserably for the second. Attempts to control the spread of invasive species, whether didymo, whirling disease or mud snails may make felt's superiority for underwater traction mute anyway. Felt sole bans are spreading and it may not be long before felt soles are not available from any manufacturer.

For now, anglers who don't venture to waters that are infected with invasives can reasonably continue to use felt. The only problem with that approach is that by the time an angler learns that a stream is infected, he might have already unwittingly already spread it to somewhere else.

Although I am certain that invasives can be transmitted on bootlaces or flies, and also by non-human means, it just makes sense to me to try to limit the spread where possible.

As indicated on my hip waders page, I recently got a pair of Dan Bailey Breathable hippers. I needed a pair of wading boots to go with them and I wanted a pair that would also serve as hiking boots for my walks to the streams (anywhere from about a half mile to four miles). I pretty much narrowed it down to the Patagonia Riverwalkers or the Simms Headwaters. Both are lightweight boots designed for anglers who will be hiking in.

Patagonia Riverwalkers

Patagonia Rock Grip Wading Boots

Patagonia has a new boot, the Rock Grip Wading Boot - Sticky/Studded,which sounds like it may be an even better boot than the Riverwalkers. I have read a number of reports that Patagonia's Riverwalkers were comfortable, light and surefooted, but that some people had problems with their durability. The wrap-around rubber covering on the new boot may be to increase the durability.

According to the Patagonia website, the new boots have a proprietary sticky rubber sole compound, aggressive star tread pattern with multiple gripping zones and removable studs. A compression-molded EVA midsole and polypropylene insole/shank combination provide rigidity and support. For comfort and protection, the Rock Grip features heavily padded ankle support and a reinforced toebox and heel counter. The full-coverage, glued rubber and abrasion-resistant toe bumper mean bomber durability. Synthetic leather uppers and the padded nylon/spandex neoprene tongue cradle your feet, dry quickly, and stay flexible.

The only problem with the boots is that the rubber soles reportedly do not seem to grip as well as the soles on the Riverwalkers did. (I had thought that the Riverwalkers had been discontinued, but it seems they've just gotten a make-over. They now come with the new, less grippy sole.) With either boot, you'll probably have to use them with studs.

Full disclosure - I do not have a pair of these boots and have not fished with them. I wish I had gotten a pair of the older Riverwalkers, but with the new soles, the boots do not seem to hold any advantages compared to my Simms Headwaters.

Simms Headwaters

I couldn't compare the sizing side by side - I'd already sent the Patagonias back by the time the Simms wading boots arrived, and in any event, the Patagonias were a size 11 and the Simms are a size 12. What's frustrating, though, is that if anything, the Simms size 12 is a bit too big. The boots are certainly quite a bit wider than the Patagonias, with much more room in the toe box. I may have to go to two pairs of thick socks inside the wader booties. With only one pair of thick socks, if I laced the boot tight enough for the width to be right, they were too tight around the ankle.

I also wish I could have tried the Patagonias in the stream to see how their "sticky" sole compared to Simms Vibram sole. All I can say is that Vibram soles are not even close to felt soles in the stream. On the streambank, on the trail, on the road they were wonderful, though. It really seems that the Simms boots are truly designed for anglers who have to hike in to small "headwaters" streams - where over the course of the day they'll spend at least as much time out of the water as in it, and where the rocks are not as algae covered as is so often the case with tailwaters. Smooth, wet rocks, whether in the stream or at the water's edge, may as well be covered with ice as water. The boots are not going to grip unless the rock surface is pretty rough. When you are in the water, my advice would be to wade slowly and carefully, and absolutely, positively, use a wading staff.

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