New Technology

Simms to Stop Using Felt by 2010:
Vibram to be "Sole Sole" of Wading Boot Line

DENVER, Colorado (Sept. 14, 2008) – Simms® president K.C. Walsh announced that Simms would stop using felt as a material for soles on its wading boots effective with the launch of the 2010 line.
Walsh made the announcement at a news conference held at the Flyfishing Retailer Expo. He said Simms’ decision to do away with felt is a result of the material being implicated in the spread of aquatic nuisance species and fish-killing disease. Walsh noted that anglers have always been among the nation’s first wave of conservationists, and with options to felt now on the market, anglers had a responsibility to both the resource and the tradition of angling to cease their use of felt.
“We know felt is not the only material that has spread invasive species and disease,” Walsh said, “but felt is surely part of the problem. At Simms, we’ve decided to be part of the solution.”
Late last week, national conservation leader Trout Unlimited asked at its annual meeting that wading boot manufacturers phase out felt by 2011. Simms is eager to lead the charge.
Walsh’s announcement comes as Simms unveils the world’s first fishing-specific Vibram-soled wading boots. For 2009, Simms will offer six boot models, a wading sandal and a wading shoe with soles featuring Vibram® Streamtread™ soles. Additionally, Simms boots and waders are designed with “CleanStream™ technology,” a design philosophy that uses materials and production techniques making it more difficult for microorganisms to attach and makes wading gear easier to properly clean.
Simms and Vibram have worked together to produce an ultra-grippy, super-sticky rubber sole that works as well as felt in virtually all wet and aquatic conditions. The partnership between Vibram and Simms has resulted in a boot that combines the best performance features of felt with the environmental benefits of rubber. The new soles have been field tested extensively.
New Zealand has placed a ban on felt boots for the upcoming 2008 season. A number of U.S. states where aquatic nuisance species are found have reportedly discussed the possibility of outlawing felt-soles.
Additionally, Simms has agreed to work with conservation organizations and other companies within the fishing industry to develop a certification process to highlight gear designed to help prevent the spread of ANS and disease.
More Than 80 New Products Debut at FFR





DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 14, 2008) – If you’ve stumbled down a stream bank in the pre-dawn hours and knew – just knew – that the pulsating river at your feet was full of big, hungry fish then you can relate to the electric feeling running through Simms® these days.
Simms is wading into extraordinary territory at the FlyFishing Retailer Expo, introducing more than 80 new products – from boots and waders to sportswear, outerwear, vests and packs – in the most aggressive product expansion in the 28-year history of the Montana-based company.Highlights of the revamped 2009 product line include:

• The world’s first Vibram® soled wading boots with exclusive Simms StreamTread™ grip sole. Simms will offer eight footwear models with sure-footed, easy-to-clean Vibram soles including wading boots designed especially for women anglers, sandals and wading shoes. These boots have been extensively field-tested and in virtually every fishing situation have preformed as well as felt-soled boots.
• A new finish process for the expanded sportswear collection. Simms’ exclusive COR3 Technology™ fabric finish has a UPF rating of 30+, anti-microbial properties to minimize odor and outstanding wicking performance. The rallying cry for CORE3 is “No sun, no stink, no sweat, no iron,” all of which are big benefits to those who want to do more fishing than laundry. Additionally, there are new pants, shorts and stylish, functional shirts for all types and sizes of anglers.



I thought this was a cool read that I just found. This might be the solution to ivasive species issues.

DuUd,
 
Three months of YOUR fishing, is comparable to FIVE YEARS of "normal" fishing. They can only do so much.

While every little bit helps, I dbout in the end we can control the invasives in todays world......
 
Stillhead, for a while there I was working in my waders 8 hours a day and fishing in them for another 10 or so a week.   I destroyed every pair in a month or so.  The last pair I bought were Redheads  and they have held up very well comparatively speaking.  Just my 2 cents.
 

Slick compare them to studded snow tires on a car. The tread gives you the grip while the studs prevent the slip.

ORIGINAL: MuskyMastr

While every little bit helps, I dbout in the end we can control the invasives in todays world......

 
I agree with you. I'm sure this will help a little bit,you just have to remind people to "clean" their waders.

Didn't L L Bean sell a shoe with a sole like that a few years ago?  I'm sure someone did , think it was them.

ORIGINAL: go-n-fishn

Didn't L L Bean sell a shoe with a sole like that a few years ago?  I'm sure someone did , think it was them.

 
Yes, Bean sells studded ruber soles that are awesome. Mud, stone, shale, whatever, I've never slipped.
 
Believe they stopped making them, and the "next generation" are due out in February.

DudD
old news
old technology

NZ banned felt
MD has had wash stations with salt water you are supposed to stand in and then scrub waders
all major companies are losing felt product lines

There will be a wave of states banning felt in the next few years... PA will be on the list

ORIGINAL: razmatazz05

so if a water based microorganism gets into my felt in erie.  will it survive sitting over my heater vents for two weeks before i use them again in a local river?  it would seem anything would die pretty quickly once out of water...?  smart moove my sime to get a jump on the competition and another reason to add $$$$$$$ to their product line.

i have used the same felt sandals in 3 states in the same day... WV MD PA
and that is not out of the norm for summer

hell
my felts can stay damp for up to 3 days sometimes and i always (try to) store my gear inside

Damm I was just looking at their Extreme Waders, the Boots are from the muck boot company, but the rubber sole bottoms don't come with cleats???   since they will be phasing out the felt I wonder if cleats can be installed into the rubber?????

jrb327,looked into the same waders,cannot get them with cleats,but was told by a simms salesman they can be studded.i have a problum buying a $400 pair of bootfoot waders and putting screws in the bottom of them.a buddy of mine bought them and we fished two weeks ago on the salmon river and they do keep your feet warm,but they are slippery on the rocks.Put some corkers on them and slip proof.I also could not get a straight answer out of him if they leaked because of putting studs on the bottom,would they still warrenty them if they leak?I e-mailed simms a week ago and still have no answer from them.

Soap and water....

ORIGINAL: Uncle Kevin

For those of us with studded felt soles that are still in good condition...what is the best practice in order to prevent spreading these harmful pests?

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2008/052808.html


a salt water solution works

i used these stations on a different waterway in MD a few times this summer
there is a bucket of rocksalt in the left of the pic
salt in the water and scrub

i like the idea of wader wash stations, but i would think those would only be placed at the larger parking areas.  and possibly only the parking areas owned by the state...  i guess better to wash some versus none.
 
i put my felt soles over a vent in my entryway to dry, those micro's are probably growing like wildfire.