Felt Sole Vs New Generation Rubber

[Greg]

Anyone else catch the recent Fly Fish America article about a head to head test of felt soles vs the new generation rubber? It was an interesting article and a good read. It was encouraging to me too given that felt will be outlawed at some point.

To sum up the article all of the testers preferred the new generation rubber soles. The testers found them superior in all respects: walking, durability, and safety. I think the test was done pretty fairly too although none of those types of things are perfect - there is always some subjectivity and bias.

Greg

[drew03cmc]

I will fish felt until they are outlawed completely (or I wear my boots out). I prefer the felt soles for traction on rocks, gravel and in sand to be honest. Oh well, each person has their preference.

[ohmz138]

I will fish felt until they are outlawed completely (or I wear my boots out). I prefer the felt soles for traction on rocks, gravel and in sand to be honest. Oh well, each person has their preference.

I agree, I feel comfortable with felt and will be reluctant to switch unless forced too. For traction it has to be hard to beat Chota's felt with cleats. What they need is 1 ft spikes to shoot out of your sole at the right moment for when you slip on one of those slick mud banks. I did that down at Taneycomo this year, my dad caught my arm just in time. Thanks Pop!

[laker67]

I will fish felt until they are outlawed completely (or I wear my boots out). I prefer the felt soles for traction on rocks, gravel and in sand to be honest. Oh well, each person has their preference.

I read a forum, not sure where. One person stated that felt would not be the only issue with invasive ditymo or snails or whatever. One drop of water will transmit ditymo. Boot eyelets, gussiting, and laces could also transmit. The ventilation chamber on waders, wading belts, landing nets, and even flies could be added to the list. If these items are truly an issue, then we are screwed. If it's mostly a marketing ploy, then we have a choice.

[drew03cmc]

I read a forum, not sure where. One person stated that felt would not be the only issue with invasive ditymo or snails or whatever. One drop of water will transmit ditymo. Boot eyelets, gussiting, and laces could also transmit. The ventilation chamber on waders, wading belts, landing nets, and even flies could be added to the list. If these items are truly an issue, then we are screwed. If it's mostly a marketing ploy, then we have a choice.

I have read that as long as the boots, waders and gear dry completely, they are safe, but you can use a 409 bath to be safe. I feel that most of what is being said as far as aquatic invasive species being transported between watersheds is hype and fear-mongering.

[John Berry]

When my old felt soled boots wore out, I replaced them with top of the line rubber soled Simms boots. I have waded in them and they do about as well as my old felts. In addition, I can add studs. Didymo is real and we have it here on the White and Norfork. I do not want to be the guy that infected some stream in Missouri or else where.

[Zach Bearden]

When we got our boots for Team USA before worlds we had to drive studs into the bottoms of them just so we could have some traction and not be falling all the time in our sessions.

Of course we didn't go spend 20$ on 20 studs. We went to someones garage, bummed a grinder and about 120 studs! Oh, and a powerdrill. We ground down the sharp end of each and every one and drove em' straight into the bottoms. While they were still a bit slippery we had a bit more traction. Quick Fix.

[eric1978]

I simply can't see any rubber having as much traction as felt, although I've never tried the new generation rubber. I don't mind rubber until you get on super-slick flat rock or greased cannonballs, when anything short of felt, in my experience, just doesn't work. If they outlaw felt, I sure hope the new rubber works well, or there's gonna be a lot more injuries.

I didn't read the Fly Fish America article, but I'd be hesitant to believe the results of anyone's test who might have some alterior motive to give a better grade than is justified...I'm not saying they are necessarily full of it, but you never know...

[troutchaser]

I have read that as long as the boots, waders and gear dry completely, they are safe, but you can use a 409 bath to be safe. I feel that most of what is being said as far as aquatic invasive species being transported between watersheds is hype and fear-mongering.

Hype and fear mongering? Seriously?

They used to say that about zebra mussels, too. Now look at the situation.

Didymo, aka rock snot, will not spread if the contaminated item, such as your felt soles, are:

1) allowed to dry completely and remain dry for a minimum of 48 hours, to kill all diatoms, or

2) soaked with a 2% bleach to water solution, a 5% salt to water solution, or dishwashing soap.

I don't recommend dishwashing soap or 409. There are enough chemicals in the water already.

[drew03cmc]

Hype and fear mongering? Seriously?

They used to say that about zebra mussels, too. Now look at the situation.

Didymo, aka rock snot, will not spread if the contaminated item, such as your felt soles, are:

1) allowed to dry completely and remain dry for a minimum of 48 hours, to kill all diatoms, or

2) soaked with a 2% bleach to water solution, a 5% salt to water solution, or dishwashing soap.

I don't recommend dishwashing soap or 409. There are enough chemicals in the water already.

Hype and fearmongering? Yes, this is a bunch of neo-nazis wanting to control everything. Show me an IMPARTIAL test as to the effectiveness of these new rubber soles compared to felt. I do not want to see a Fly Fish America article, as they are not impartial. How about something from a university testing this issue? Are they getting away from boot laces too as they are porous enough to transmit didymo also. How about your gravel guards? What about your nylon net? I guess the boot soles are the only culprit. What can you say other than the same party line that TU tells people. Felt soles are the most effective sole on slick rocks, yet, some bleeding heart group wants to prohibit felt. Why don't they spend their millions on developing a felt material that does not transmit these types of invasive species.