Best Wading Shoe(not Boots)?

[Ham]

I have yet to find the perfect wet-wading shoe for Ozark streams. I've come close--the ones I have now are quick-drying, mesh draining, rubber outside soles with a felt sole insert. Biggest problem with them is that they wrap around your ankles with velcro, and have straps across the top, but the velcro comes undone too easy with hard wading.

I could design the perfect wading shoe. I'd start out with, of all things, Crocs. Cover the holes in them with fine mesh. Put a couple inch high piece of solid neoprene around the ankle. Make the soles sticky rubber with a felt insert. Make them in half-sizes. You'd have something very lightweight, totally waterproof and quick-draining, stable soles, protection from gravel getting into them around the tops.

Anybody who thinks sandals of any kind are good for wading Ozark streams hasn't waded Ozark streams in sandals. Gravel getting in makes every other step agony.

Hey Al:

I hae combined some neoprene socks (I have the 2 mm variety) with a pair of the Keens felt bottom sandals. I've been pretty satisfied so far. The "quicksand" gravel requires a cleanout, but with the quick clip on the sandals it isn't too bad.

[Danoinark]

I have these. Inexpensive, no gravel issues, and work great. Very light.

Dano

http://www.discountfishinginc.com/order/Pr...gorySystemId=19

[Jeremy Hunt]

I have yet to find the perfect wet-wading shoe for Ozark streams. I've come close--the ones I have now are quick-drying, mesh draining, rubber outside soles with a felt sole insert. Biggest problem with them is that they wrap around your ankles with velcro, and have straps across the top, but the velcro comes undone too easy with hard wading.

I could design the perfect wading shoe. I'd start out with, of all things, Crocs. Cover the holes in them with fine mesh. Put a couple inch high piece of solid neoprene around the ankle. Make the soles sticky rubber with a felt insert. Make them in half-sizes. You'd have something very lightweight, totally waterproof and quick-draining, stable soles, protection from gravel getting into them around the tops.

Anybody who thinks sandals of any kind are good for wading Ozark streams hasn't waded Ozark streams in sandals. Gravel getting in makes every other step agony.

In the summer that's all I wear and I wet wade all the time. No problems here, but there's better ways to do it for sure.

[Guest]

Simm's Keen river sandals,

they are felt soled and have a nice toe guard.

Ive used them twice and they already outperformed anything else that Ive tried,

As for the gravel that Al mentioned,

That's all part of it.

I've waded thousands of miles in the Ozarks and always kick out those pesky pieces of gravel.

Its worth the trade off to keep from wearing heavy wading boots.

[OzarkKid07]

For my money the best shoe I've ever worn, maybe ever is called a Mion. Go to www.mionfootwwear.com.

They have a great selection and it's high quality.

[Robert]

I bought a pair of Chota STL wading boots four years ago. They are a bit pricey, but they hold up really well.

The only problem I have noticed is in tailwater they are a perfect fit. In warmer water they tighten up a bit.

Overall a good boot. The new Simms Freestone is a good looking boot. They did a good job when they

upgraded them. The price is the same as on the old ones. The old boots could be judged by shoe size. The new ones

need to be bought a size larger(made in China).

[3wt]

I second the Merrill water shoes. I have the same ones and I love them. They do tend to get a little fine gravel in them. More of a problem on the Meremac than the Current. I don't fish much big water with big stones, so they might not be perfect for that. The soles are hard enought to keep you from feeling every sharp rock, and they're soft enough to grip pretty well. Best part, you won't know that you have them on once you get out.

I wouldn't touch sandals...unless you are in a zero gravel situation. Maybe for in and out of boats, not for wading and walking.

[HeavyC]

3wt, I can help with the rocky river part since that is all I have to 'angle in'! Also, when I wrote that original post I had just got the shoes and now can confirm what I assumed then.

Yes, these are great shoes so far. I guess I would have to say I have ~8 trips in then, but most of those were the all day type (like 3am-11pm) They were comfortable all day on all trips. I had one that was a 14mile round trip and elevation changes from 8500 - 13,100'. That particular day my ®-leg was sorer than on the others, but I am blaming that on the fact that I have 100 COMPLETELY EXTRA pounds I am carrying around and I have a bum right leg! I just have to get ready for big game season somehow, so I make excuses to go scouting/fishing at the same time (No need to really convince myself of either, just makes me feel better to double-up while spending so much darn gas! Plus, on two occasions I have had my huntin buddy pay for half the gas! No body tell him until AFTER hunting season, ok? )

So, back to the shoes; most of the rivers I have been wading are really rocky, have large or extremely large rocks that tend to be very slick when wet. I also like to go hiking to get away from the crowds so I am usually hiking into canyons and or over mountains to get to the access points, so I am adding on quite a few miles in just plain hiking. I have not had much trouble with them at all slipping on those rocks, so I have to give them another thumbs-up there. I also have no wear-n-tear spots yet and/or anything else going wrong with them for that matter, so they get a another double thumbs-up there too!

... And lastly; I also must agree w/ you, that a little of the finer sand does get in every once in a while. I have helped control that when fishing rivers w/ more fine sand or when on the sandy beach of a lake, by wearing the neoprene socks. I haven't been doing that as much either, since it has been so gosh dang HOT!!! That neoprene is NOT warm weather friendly, no sir, not friendly at all! Been making my eyeballs sweat! .........love it in the winter though!

[denjac]

Guys Iguess I am going to hillbilly this up. For our ozark streams I use leather sandals. They have a good bite and if you pick up a rock , a quick swish and its gone. Cold water streams is a diferrant story.

[jjtroutbum]

Browsing another forum look at what I found ....Some may like them but I personally find them very odd to say the least.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_Flow.cfm