wading boots

[rbaileydav]

i have worn out my previous pair of wading boots and would like to hear some recomendations. I fish the rocky smaller faster mountain streams both with waders and without and i like a lighter weight shoe even if it does not have wuite as much support. I am definitely a felt sole fan. what would you recomend.

[BUDMAN]

In the warm summer months I like to wade wet but I have and old pair of running shoes with felt glued to the bottom they work great and are not as heavy as regular wading boots.

[Loren]

Like Budman, I have glued felt (some industrial grade polypro felt that is thinner than most wading felt) to inexpensive running shoes I picked up at Walmart. They work suprisingly well. My experience with N.GA streams is that I don't do much wading there. For the Hootch and other big streams, I have waders with felt soled shoes built in.

Loren

[Ken Smith]

rbaileydav,
I'm new at this sport, but I just purchesed a pair of "Orvis Clearwater Pack & Travel Wading shoe". I like to hike, and these are the lightest boots I've seen. They have felt soles, and I'm pleased with them so far.

ken

[edwin]

Why give up support for light weight when you can get both? Fish with Danner wading boots. They are a little pricey ($125.00, and don't pay more) but they are definitely worth it. I hike in them all the time and have not worn them out yet. (I've taken several trips to Western NC where I hiked 8 miles on each round trip). They are also very light weight. If you fish extremely slick small mountain streams or even the Hooch, go with the felt with a few small metal cleats that are built in the sole. Email me for more info.

[osprey]

danner wading boots?
i have had two pairs of these boots and i have been disappointed. i am pretty rough on the boots but for the price they should hold up better. on both pairs the stitching came loose and had to be totaly re - sewn.
my friends also have had the same problem. also the boots get very stiff after they dry out and it is a pain to get them on when they are dry.on the upside support is excellent in the stream, i may put a gel insole in mine to make them have a little more cush.
if you want a pair i know a place that sells them for $99.00 ( the last time i checked)

later

osprey

[Drifter]

For the tightwads out there like me ;)
Go to Kmart and by a pair of Texas Steer, Brahma, boots (the name brand changes often) for about $30 bucks. Order a "felt sole kit" from Hook and Hackle for $15 bucks ($20 at Fishhawk). Now for less than $50 dollars you have a rugged pair of wading boots. Although they don't have Orvis stitched on them.

Or you can go to the clearance rack in the shoe store and find a pair of canvas "Chuck Taylor" Converse canvas basketball shoes. Am I showing my age here? These are good for wet wading/backpacking trips because they're lightweight and drain quickly.

[Bird Dog]

I've got a pair of Danners and have had the same problem as Osprey. I've probably put 100+ days of wear on them and the stiching has totally come apart. I also agree that they are almost impossible to put on when they are dry. They also have zero cushioning and will really tire out your feet if you don't add insoles.
Only good thing about these shoes is that with proper insoles they are very comfortable and can worn like hiking boots. Next pair I buy will probably be Simms. I've heard good things about them.

[Ken Smith]

Hey tightwad (Drifter)
If you spent $45 on your boots, then you spent $2.50 more than I spent on my Orvis boots. I know most of everthing Orvis sells is over priced, but these seem to be a pretty good deal. I've only worn them about 1/2 dozen times, so I'm not sure how they will last.

ken

[The Drifter]

Ken,
You must be talking about the Orvis "Pack and Travel" wading shoes. If this is the case, I believe your boots are canvas (or some material other than leather. The pack-and-travel boots are lightweight and dry quickly. A concept that was no doubt stolen from the Chuck Taylor design ;) Let me know how they hold up.

If you go the Kmart route, you have boots with leather uppers. A style that will approach $100 a pair with some manufacturers. I like the leather when wading rivers such as the Hiwassee with its razor sharp ledges which tend to bite into your ankles when you slip.

Anyway, the idea has worked well for me over time and I hope it helps others who want a boot that works without spending a lot..... My dos pesos.

The Drifter

[edwin]

Man, I feel like I have to defend my choice/recommendation in wading boots now. To paraphrase Sammy Sosa, my Danner boots been very, very good to me. I have heard some complaints, but mine have been excellent, and I too have spent many days on the water. If you think Danners are no good, take a trip out West and see what most of the guides out there wear. Anyway, they are very light, comfortable, and in my experience, durable. A good choice all around and they provide excellent support that is required on Mountain streams while not pinching your toes and keeping you from moving your feet at the same time (because they are not near as bulky as the others).

[Fishface]

In defense of Danner Boots. I have had a pair for about a year and a half. They have about 50 days of fishing and one season of hunting on them. When I bought them, I soaked them in neatsfoot oil. Since then I have had no problem with stiching and when the boots dry out, they don't shrink and are easy to put on next time. While they are expensive, I've found the weight, support, and durability of these boots to be excellent.

[Bird Dog]

I should have mentioned in my earlier post that I am a big fan of the Danner Boot Company. I've had numerous pairs of their regular hunting boots and have never had anything but praise for their products. This is the reason I bought a pair of their wading boots. Unfortunately, in my experience, the stiching of their wading boots was far below what I expect from a $125 pair of shoes. It is possible that the company now uses a different stiching process or stiching material (my boots were bought in June 1997). If I knew for a fact that this was true, I would buy another pair in a minute.

[osprey]

hey fishface,
what type of danner boots are you talking about. you mentioned hunting in them?
i am reffering to the danner river boots
felt soles leather/nylon uppers. if this is what you have i would like to find out what kind of oil your putting on them. sounds like a good solution to the drying out problem.

later

osprey

[Mr T1]

Like Drifter, I'm pretty much of a tightwad when it comes to equipment and I like to improvise too. However, Cabela's sells a pair of lace up canvas boots for $29.95 in standard boot soles and $36.95 in with felt soles and velcro closures. They also have felt sole kits for $10.95.

Sportsman's Guide periodically has overstocks of canvas boots at between $12.95 and $18.95. I've ordered some of these for myself and friends and have been extremely pleased.

I've gotten three different types but all have been perfect as stream boots and could easily be converted to felt soles. So far, $14.95 is the most I've paid.

All three were better quality than the Cabela's boots I've been using and which I just converted to felt soles.

One excellent pair was made by the Georgia Boot Company. They were beige canvas with a steel toe and good arch support. They had stitched vibram soles. Unfortunately, I wear a 9, ordered a 10 1/2 so they'd fit over my waders and they were still too small. I sold them to a friend who has been very happy with them. He wear an 8.

The next pair I ordered ( they were out of the Georgia boots), I ordered a size 11 1/2. They work fine with my waders but won't handle my neoprene booties for cold water. Probably should have ordered a 12.

Size seems to be a problem and probably why the price is so low.

Both Cabela's and Sportsman's Guide have websites.

Mr. T