Wading Shoes

[eric1978]

A recent thread at RS has me once again scouring the earth for the ideal wet-wading shoe. I've been looking at a number of options, and just can't find the end-all absolutely perfect shoe...so I'm gonna have to settle.

I'm looking for something specifically for wet-wading small creeks in summer. I have felt-soled Simms sandals (thanks Wheat), which are perfect for floating and ocassionally getting out and dragging over some riffles, and even a little wading isn't bad. But they take in gravel like nobody's business and they're not all that protective around boulders and other tricky footings. I also have my good ol' wading boots and wet socks, which are very protective, but are like having anchors strapped to your feet all day. I want something light, well draining and supportive. They HAVE to have some kind of at least decent barrier around the ankle to keep out the gravel, and felt soles are preferable.

I think I've got the search narrowed down to three options. Any of you guys have opinions or experiences with these?

Korkers Torrents...$100. These come with interchangable felt and lug soles, which I like. But the cuff around the ankle looks like it wouldn't be very good at keeping out small gravel, which is a big problem. There are some gray ones that otherwise look the same on sale at Cabela's for $60, but they don't come with the felt, although I believe you can buy the felt soles for $20, so that would be 80 bucks...not bad.

Simms Pursuits...$120. The ankle cuffs look much better on these, but they don't come with felt soles...if they did my search would be over. Hard to go wrong with Simms.

Keen Cimarron II...$100. They look closer to the Korkers to me, probably a little better at keeping gravel out, but not as good as the Simms. No felt soles.

I went to BPS the other day hoping to try on at least two of these three shoes, and they had exactly ZERO models of wet-wading shoes in stock. Good job BPS.

[RSBreth]

I feel your pain, I've looked high and low, and we are going to have to get one of the companies to make the perfect shoe. I have a cheap pair similar to all three of those, and then I put a pair of gravel guards on over the top to help keep gravel out. Ideal? Nope. But better then boots.

I think a pair of shoes with a zip or velcro top made out of thin neoprene would work, but there really isn't such a thing.

Flats boots are close, but have ZERO support, you might as well be wearing scuba slippers.

[FishinCricket]

Hmmm.. My last search for the "perfect pair of wading shoes" brought me to the back of my closet to my last pair of tennis shoes..

You don't recycle, Eric? $80 buys allot of pacifiers/rattles/baby food....

[hank franklin]

+1 to fishincricket. I tried in vain for perfect wading shoes and wound up with old running shoes. Drawback is they don't drain well nor dry out fast but in all other regards they're fine. Will never look for / nor buy "wading shoes" again.

[eric1978]

The problem with tennis shoes is that they let gravel in. So I might as well wear my sandals, since it's a lot easier to get gravel OUT of those. Plus tennis shoes get waterlogged and uncomfortable...to me anyway. I do have gravel guards, and I've slapped them on over tennies before, but at that point I might as well be wearing my wading boots, because that's about how they feel.

If they just put a significant neoprene cuff around the ankle, any of the three shoes above could be vastly superior to tennis shoes. As they are, they are only better for drainage and toe protection, slightly improved gravel protection, and one of them has felt.

[Smalliebigs]

A recent thread at RS has me once again scouring the earth for the ideal wet-wading shoe. I've been looking at a number of options, and just can't find the end-all absolutely perfect shoe...so I'm gonna have to settle.

I'm looking for something specifically for wet-wading small creeks in summer. I have felt-soled Simms sandals (thanks Wheat), which are perfect for floating and ocassionally getting out and dragging over some riffles, and even a little wading isn't bad. But they take in gravel like nobody's business and they're not all that protective around boulders and other tricky footings. I also have my good ol' wading boots and wet socks, which are very protective, but are like having anchors strapped to your feet all day. I want something light, well draining and supportive. They HAVE to have some kind of at least decent barrier around the ankle to keep out the gravel, and felt soles are preferable.

I think I've got the search narrowed down to three options. Any of you guys have opinions or experiences with these?

Korkers Torrents...$100. These come with interchangable felt and lug soles, which I like. But the cuff around the ankle looks like it wouldn't be very good at keeping out small gravel, which is a big problem. There are some gray ones that otherwise look the same on sale at Cabela's for $60, but they don't come with the felt, although I believe you can buy the felt soles for $20, so that would be 80 bucks...not bad.

Simms Pursuits...$120. The ankle cuffs look much better on these, but they don't come with felt soles...if they did my search would be over. Hard to go wrong with Simms.

Keen Cimarron II...$100. They look closer to the Korkers to me, probably a little better at keeping gravel out, but not as good as the Simms. No felt soles.

I went to BPS the other day hoping to try on at least two of these three shoes, and they had exactly ZERO models of wet-wading shoes in stock. Good job BPS.

Eric, you left off Keen Hood River boots, a little pricey but I can tell you from buying several different wading shoes and spending a ton of $$$, I personally will never buy another shoe again for wading unless they quit making them.I am so paranoid of Keen quit making them I have three back up pairs, this kills my wife!!!The Cimaron II's are not bad, I have a pair of 11 1/2's only used twice if you want them, The Simms pursuits are a waste of $100 + dollars.Why do you need felt soles???? Do not get the Korkers!!!! big waste of time if you don't like gravel in your shoes.I will admit the Keen Hood Rivers look a little like Jeremy Wade should be wearing them, a little gay looking but you will not get gravel at least I never do and they have a great support in the soul of the shoe, but they are not felt like you want. Hey if you wear an 11 or 11 1/2 call me you can a pair of Cimarons, I hate those pieces of dung, once again a big waste of my money for me personally.They sit in my garage in my kayak corner unused. That is just my opinion , which on this forum is getting very low at this point. If I could just get my nephew to get his butt back here so we can get on the river I could quit trolling on this forum. I'm sitting here on my iphone waiting to hit the Jacks Fork, way up on the Jacks Fork and it's not as shallow as I thought it was going to be but we have gone anywhere yet so who knows.

[Gavin]

Those Keen Hood Rivers look like there worth a shot....I have an old pair of Simms Flats boots that have worked pretty well for floating and wading on gravel bottom streams...toss on a pair of old cotton socks tie em on and off you go...No felt on them though. You definitely want something to protect your ankles.. I tend prefer neoprene socks and my Chota felt bottoms if I'm floating/wading a stream with a significant amount of slippery bedrock.

[eric1978]

The Cimaron II's are not bad, I have a pair of 11 1/2's only used twice if you want them, The Simms pursuits are a waste of $100 + dollars.Why do you need felt soles???? Do not get the Korkers!!!!

Hey, thanks for the offer, but 11 & 1/2s would look like clown shoes on me...I wear a 9. What's your problem with Korkers? They've gotten some good reviews on RS.

The Keen Hood Rivers do look like they'd be great for keeping out gravel...they don't look all that light or comfortable to me though. How well do they drain?

I tend prefer neoprene socks and my Chota felt bottoms if I'm floating/wading a stream with a significant amount of slippery bedrock.

Chota boots? Or do they make a shoe, too?

[Smalliebigs]

Hey, thanks for the offer, but 11 & 1/2s would look like clown shoes on me...I wear a 9. What's your problem with Korkers? They've gotten some good reviews on RS.

The Keen Hood Rivers do look like they'd be great for keeping out gravel...they don't look all that light or comfortable to me though. How well do they drain?

Chota boots? Or do they make a shoe, too?

Korkers will not keep the gravel out at all!!! I guess I don't slip as much as you guys, I don't think I am hitting as many trout streams that have the minerals that produce the moss and veg build up to make the rocks slippery.The Keen Hood River has three holes on the botton of the soul on the outside with a tight wire mesh screen that allows for great drainage.Like I said E, my buddy thinks they look gay but he is always stopping and removing gravel from his shoes while I walk ahead.I will leave you with this as my stupid young, punk nephew has just arrived, the Keen Hood rivers don't provide as good of support as the shoes you are looking at.They do have a hundred times more support that an aqua sock, they are simmular to a tennis shoe in tha respect, but I walk for miles up and down creeks with these on and have no problems.I am a river and creek walking freak though!!!!!I tend to agee with Gavin the Korkers would actually be great if you wear a neoprene sock of some sort to keep the gravel out, I am just not willing to do that, it would be tough to size them to do that I think. For me it's all about keeping the gravel outof shoes and keeping my old feet comfortable....p.s. I also found a guy in Tennessee who was selling the Keen Hood Rivers for $39.99, I couldn't help myself!!!!! they were to cheap

[Chief Grey Bear]

My preference is a pair of old fashioned Adidas Chuck Taylor high tops. You can get at most places for about $40. I learned from experience to by a size larger than you wear. After a few trip and drying, they will shrink a little. But for the money they offer awesome protection for not only your feet but ankles too. I have been bouncing back and forth between them and sandles depending on the wade trip. My current pair I have had for 3 years and I don't a rip, tear or anything. I know they are not fancy looking or cost a lot of money, but by golly they work and work good.