My New Eco Friendly Boot Review.

[jdmidwest]

After seeing the MDC report a few weeks back about Missouri banning felt soles in certain trout waters next spring, I picked up the phone and called in an order to Orvis for a pair of boots that would meet the need. I ordered a pair of River Guard Streamline Boots. This weekend was one of our trips to the Spring River in Arkansas, a fitting place to try out new boots on slick rocks. The river has a bunch of them. From shelves to boulders, there are plenty of places to slip and slide and bust your butt.

First impressions of the boots were good, well made. Quick lacing system that works well. Small permanent studs that did the job, unlike some of the "high heel" jobs that I have used with felts in the past. The boots were actually the first ones that fit my Orvis Pro Guide formed booties well, other boots in the past have been really tight, so tight that I even upsized to 1 size larger than normal foot size. The boot is constructed of cordura nylon with neoprene that dried out fast on the porch of the cabin overnight. The rubber soles cleaned off good too and I did not have a pile of sand in the floorboard of the truck. My only upgrade would be a better insole with some arch support.

Friday was spent fishing on a normal gravel bottom, no problems. Actually better to walk in to and from the fishing hole. They handled the slick mud banks well.

Saturday was floating and wading from Dam 3 to Riverside. Boots performed well, but most of time was spent in the yak. The soles did not seem to scuff up the footholds too bad as most of the studs are located toward the inside of the boot. Walking on Rip Rap rocks was a little tricky, the studs were a little slick.

Sunday was all wading and all rocks. Started out at Lasseter's and had to tromp around all of those big boulders and moss beds. I had to be careful not to put my foot down on a flat rock or it would slide. The slime covered ramp was like wearing a pair of ice skates. Then came Dam 3 below the Island and the big flat rocks. I had to pick and choose my footing and be more careful than usual to avoid loosing my footing. I actually have less problems with my Croc river shoes than the new boots. More than one time did I get the feeling that I was about to do a search for what was on the bottom of the river.

All in all, they work fair. You just have to be more careful and slow.

Orvis River Guard Streamline Boots.