How well do the rubber soles work now, a year later? I'm thinking of buying these for a buddy. I had a pair of $100 Simms rubber soled wading boots and they were the WORSE. I was slipping so much in easy conditions i felt unsafe and returned them immediately. (more expensive Simms boots apparently use better rubber, my Headwaters were fantastic)
Hmm…in terms of stickiness I don’t really have a perspective to offer unfortunately. The rivers I wade in don’t require much stickiness so it hasn’t been put to the test…Shallow spring creeks where there’s not really enough flow to make me feel unsafe, or a bigger river around here that has more flow but loose gravely bottom, not slick rocks, so again you could stick to the bottom in any kind of shoe there. Sorry about that! The boot has held up otherwise just fine if that’s any testament to it. But i recognize the stickiness could be gone. Not sure where you’re located but If I were fishing a Tailwater or somewhere with really slick rock snot, like the chattahoochee in Georgia, I’d probably try adding metal cleats to the rubber sole. You can get those cheap metal screws they use for dirt biking and that works apparently. I used felt when I was in Georgia because it was allowed and it was grippier than the rubber on the slick rocks we had.
@@flyfishingphotoproject Thanks for the quick reply! Yeah, sandy/gravelly bottoms with sections of clean smooth granite up in my Sierra, it's a moot need, but a tailwater i'm thinking of nearby does have snotty near-bowling ball size rocks in the bottom... making it challenging. I might have to experiment for the first time with cleats.
Fantastic! Thanks for the longer term review update. I’ve been enjoying mine as well and will have to do an update video maybe next year to discuss how they’re treating me!
They fit great! I would say they fit true to size. I wear a 10.5 in most shoes, so I ordered an 11 in these boots and they fit just right/as expected with waders on. Also, in terms of width, the material is so “light duty” that they are pretty malleable and could be tightened to the foot a lot, or worn pretty loose.
They are doing great! I'm About to take them out today. I will say I've noticed that the light, thin-ness of the uppers is very different from strapping into a normal wading boot or even a hiking boot. They "give" alot and kinda overlap each other if you really need to cinch them down or something. I imagine this would make them much easier for packing as well...they really roll up and compress alot. The bottoms definitely still act like a wading boot in many ways..they feel stuck to the rocks and whatever you're standing on in a somewhat clunky way ya know? I think it's because the bottom is such a wide platform...in other words, they don't feel so lightweight that its like you're just wet wading in your tennis shoes. but they are still lighter and more nimble compared to heavy traditional wading boots.
@@flyfishingphotoproject Hmm interesting. I appreciate the comments! I'm also looking at some others, especially since I tend to beat up my boots pretty badly haha. Appreciate it!
How well do the rubber soles work now, a year later? I'm thinking of buying these for a buddy. I had a pair of $100 Simms rubber soled wading boots and they were the WORSE. I was slipping so much in easy conditions i felt unsafe and returned them immediately. (more expensive Simms boots apparently use better rubber, my Headwaters were fantastic)
Hmm…in terms of stickiness I don’t really have a perspective to offer unfortunately. The rivers I wade in don’t require much stickiness so it hasn’t been put to the test…Shallow spring creeks where there’s not really enough flow to make me feel unsafe, or a bigger river around here that has more flow but loose gravely bottom, not slick rocks, so again you could stick to the bottom in any kind of shoe there. Sorry about that! The boot has held up otherwise just fine if that’s any testament to it. But i recognize the stickiness could be gone.
Not sure where you’re located but If I were fishing a Tailwater or somewhere with really slick rock snot, like the chattahoochee in Georgia, I’d probably try adding metal cleats to the rubber sole. You can get those cheap metal screws they use for dirt biking and that works apparently.
I used felt when I was in Georgia because it was allowed and it was grippier than the rubber on the slick rocks we had.
@@flyfishingphotoproject Thanks for the quick reply! Yeah, sandy/gravelly bottoms with sections of clean smooth granite up in my Sierra, it's a moot need, but a tailwater i'm thinking of nearby does have snotty near-bowling ball size rocks in the bottom... making it challenging. I might have to experiment for the first time with cleats.
Owned these in size 10 since 2020 fall so far 2021 fall good so far. No tears and felt is still on the bottom 😁
Fantastic! Thanks for the longer term review update. I’ve been enjoying mine as well and will have to do an update video maybe next year to discuss how they’re treating me!
@@flyfishingphotoproject def do one! Best priced boot so far imo
How did they fit? True to size, or did they run small/large? I'm considering these boots but sizing for me is always tricky. Thanks
They fit great! I would say they fit true to size. I wear a 10.5 in most shoes, so I ordered an 11 in these boots and they fit just right/as expected with waders on.
Also, in terms of width, the material is so “light duty” that they are pretty malleable and could be tightened to the foot a lot, or worn pretty loose.
@@flyfishingphotoproject Awesome, thank you for replying. Coincidentally, that's the size I wear and would be ordering. Thanks again!
Nice! Hope you enjoy them
How have they held up so far in the water?
Thinking of getting these as well!
They are doing great! I'm About to take them out today.
I will say I've noticed that the light, thin-ness of the uppers is very different from strapping into a normal wading boot or even a hiking boot. They "give" alot and kinda overlap each other if you really need to cinch them down or something. I imagine this would make them much easier for packing as well...they really roll up and compress alot.
The bottoms definitely still act like a wading boot in many ways..they feel stuck to the rocks and whatever you're standing on in a somewhat clunky way ya know? I think it's because the bottom is such a wide platform...in other words, they don't feel so lightweight that its like you're just wet wading in your tennis shoes. but they are still lighter and more nimble compared to heavy traditional wading boots.
@@flyfishingphotoproject Hmm interesting. I appreciate the comments! I'm also looking at some others, especially since I tend to beat up my boots pretty badly haha. Appreciate it!
Why do people do unboxing review videos? We know what they look like? Very silly.