Boots
Hello Everyone!
As the steelhead season approaches, I am in need of some gear like everyone else. I purchased a decent set of breathable waders with attached stocking booties but I wanted to check with the Erie Pro's on boot decisions. I normally do not get out in the winter months but I normally fish from now until heavy snow fall and then again in the spring. My number one concern is safety and warmth. I have read past post on this site and unfortunately, I am still at a lost as the post were made over a year ago. Do any of you have any opinions of a good safe (non-slippery), warm durable wading boot that I could purchase from either FishUsa or else where? What is better rubber soles or felt bottoms? I really do not want to pay the price for Simm's as I do not fish as often as I would like for the price of those. Thanks everyone and good luck this season!
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D-nymph
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Warmth has to come from wearing the proper socks, not the wading boots. Only polypropylene sock liners and a quality pair of wool or smart wool blend socks will do the job. Also make sure your boots are not too tight, that will make your feet colder. Many manufaturers recommend buyin ga boot that is one size larger than your normal boot size if you plan to wear them in cold weather.
Bottoms are a personal preference these days.
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indsguiz
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Get a good rubber soled boot and put studs in it. 5/16 x 3/8 hex head stainless screws work great. Call the guys at fishusa and see what they can do. Expensive is usually better but you really should try the boots on (with your waders and socks to be sure they will be comfortable all day long). I have three pairs that I've had on my feet once and they were too narrow and hurt. So try some on. I have some old, canvas, Prolines that I like the best of all my boots and they were cheap!
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Porktown
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ORIGINAL: D-nymph
Warmth has to come from wearing the proper socks, not the wading boots. Only polypropylene sock liners and a quality pair of wool or smart wool blend socks will do the job. Also make sure your boots are not too tight, that will make your feet colder. Many manufaturers recommend buyin ga boot that is one size larger than your normal boot size if you plan to wear them in cold weather.
Bottoms are a personal preference these days.
Polypropylene sock liners make a huge difference. I grabbed a few pairs a few years ago. Even when just outside in really cold weather, they are nice to have. If I were to get a new pair of boots, I'd look for something that is a bit stiffer, to keep the water from constricting the stocking foot a bit. Not too stiff, that makes hiking a pain.
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dano
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My winter boots are two sizes larger. My feet are much warmer now that I have some wiggle room.
I also have what Jack recommended, rubber lug soles with studs. Lug soles give better traction in mud and snow. Studs come in handy for ice and creek snot.
Felt gives better grip on the stream bottom, especially studded felt. But, the Erie streams aren't too slippery.
Felt gives no traction on muddy banks. It also freezes and collects snow during the winter.
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ifishway2much
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I agree with the correct sock selection and boot size makes a big difference. I know Simms and Korkers (Predator) make screw-in cleats for rubber bottom boots. My choice is wearing boot foot neoprene waders for cold weather fishing. You can also put boot warmers in the boot foot waders and your toes will likely get toasty. I've never had any luck using boot warms with a stocking foot wader. Neoprene waders are a little bulky and heavy but I've found it is the only way I can stay warm if I want to fish one spot all day in frigid temps. I find that moving around is required to stay warm in stocking-foot breatheables during cold weather fishing; however, breatheables are more comfortable.
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FiveMilePete
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ORIGINAL: indsguiz
Get a good rubber soled boot and put studs in it. 5/16 x 3/8 hex head stainless screws work great. Call the guys at fishusa and see what they can do. Expensive is usually better but you really should try the boots on (with your waders and socks to be sure they will be comfortable all day long). I have three pairs that I've had on my feet once and they were too narrow and hurt. So try some on. I have some old, canvas, Prolines that I like the best of all my boots and they were cheap!
Jack, you ever have trouble keeping the 3/8 inch in? May not be a problem in rubber, but in felt I have to use 1/2 to 5/8 or they don't go through the felt into the rubber sole.
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indsguiz
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Pete, sometimes I have to go to 1/2 but I always carry a bunch of spares and a nut driver with me so it averages out. Most I ever lost in one day was 3, in felt, on middle elk. Replaced them with 1/2. I'm really heavy and i smash my boots down more so I like to be careful with the 1st studs in any new pair of boots.
post edited by indsguiz - 2011/09/20 22:14:41
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SilverKype
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Take the poly and wool advice. I don't even tie my laces in winter. The tighter the fit, the colder yer feet will get.
My reports and advice are for everyone to enjoy, not just the paying customers.
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moooooo4me
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i use a pair of my old work boots. the only thing ive done was screwed a few short screws in the front and back, chotas and simms have really nice wading boots but theyll cost ya a pretty penny
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freshwaterdrumR
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kylerloveshotdogs 
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ORIGINAL: ifishway2much
I find that moving around is required to stay warm in stocking-foot breatheables during cold weather fishing; however, breatheables are more comfortable.
this has never been an issue with me. building on what others have said, imo, keeping not only your feet, but your hands and head warm as well, is all it takes. Invest the money in a solid pair of wool gloves and socks. Also, patagonia's layering is unbeatable. Scoop up some capilene 3 shirts if you can afford it. Best investment I've ever made. Even when fishing in the 20's, all I wear is a capilene long sleeve, a shirt over it, and my wading jacket. glove wise, I love sheffield wool and I'm pretty sure fishusa carries it.  staying warm with little on.. pic via Kreamy on his first fingerling adventure 
MMM hotdogs in my belly make me happy guy. My wife says no no kyler, you stop eating you getting bigger you will need new waders
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350Z&Steelheads
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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day. 
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Thanks everyone for your advice again. I am leaning toward the Simms or the Korkers Redside's. But I am still a little concerned on drilling my own screws into a $100 pair of boots. Why don't they just sell wading boots with pre-drilled screws/studs already mounted. I have been researching and many people are saying that felt bottoms have much more better grip and slip resistance then the "sticky" rubber soled boots. Anyone notice a difference between the two?
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CKM
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Beast,
Just a heads up. Felt soles are now illegal in Maryland and Vermont due to the prospect of spreading didymo (aka "rock snot"). Other states may follow suit. Some manufacturers are discontinuing these soles, and the retailers are offering bargains on these items. They're only a bargain if you can use them.
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KJH807
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if you are seriously looking at Korkers... get the metalheads
the ones linked are either boa or replaceable sole... if you go with Korkers, you want both
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kylerloveshotdogs
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I am not a fan of vibram unless it's studded as well. I heard some nasty reports about the freestone vibram system; not to mention skated down meadow run in high water (good thing I can snowboard). I would def. put some studs on those.
if you don't like them, send them back, and in the future, make your simms purchases through ll bean if you can. their warranty is better.
Kev,
I am still rocking those cloudveil 8x's... they seem to have held up better than the few pairs you went through. I got lucky i suppose. Any word on if they are jumping back into the industry or not?
MMM hotdogs in my belly make me happy guy. My wife says no no kyler, you stop eating you getting bigger you will need new waders
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KJH807
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those CVs were like a cross between running shoes and broken in hiking boots
haven't heard sh*t about them since they cut my check
i'll be sad when the jacket needs replaced... then its off to simms
the korkers are solid... super light
except the boa issues on the chromes
metalheads are in the mail
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HCsteel
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Looking like metalheads will be replacing the Chotas this year, they are just worn out.
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Loomis
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As a long time Simms user and advocate of their products, I must confess that the G4 wading boot is god awful.
Getting Korker metalheads next month and probably never deviate from that company again. Outstanding product in the water boot department.
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ShutUpNFish
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I could never understand what the issue or debate ever was over soles. IMO, nothing really can beat a rubber sole with carbide spikes. I have the old Korkers with the cleats and never had a problem. I also have the orvis boots with felt and carbide spike combos. Those who swear by felt soles, obviously don't fish much in the deep winter months or trek through snow much because they are a PIA in snow. If you want the best all around sole, I'd say a rubber sole with spikes is the only way to go. Haven't tried the new rubber aqua soles I hear people raving about, but am skeptical. As far as comfort....I have yet to own a pair of wading boots that I felt were as comfortable as, lets say, my Rocky Lynx or Corn Stalkers. They probably offer them now a days, but I haven't had to buy a new pair in quite some time.
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bigbear2010
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yea i fish all of them depending on the conditions
i prefer felts as long as there is not ice or mud
then the rubber with cleats is the ticket
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Porktown
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How do the rubber with cleats perform in the average WPA "slippery" bottom streams?
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ShutUpNFish
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Porktown
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Cool, thanks. I should probably replace mine soon. They're at the point, where they'd make a good back up. Another year of good use, and they're probably garbage.
I like the new avatar BTW.
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D-nymph
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I have Simmms freestones with rubber soles that I bought this year. I have fished Meadow Run with them. I bought their studs and decided to wait and try out the rubber without studs to see how they performed. I have not felt the need to put the studs in yet, they have been that good. But then again, I have perfect balance, all the time. 
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Accountant
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i bought a pair of korkers a few weeks back and plan on using them for the first time this weekend. ill be sure to post a highly analytical, insightful post about my experience.
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