I'm hoping to get in some fly fishing next week. I finally need to take the plunge and get some felt nazi approved wading boots. What's good and what's not?

Sounds like you need a new pair fairly quickly. Personally, if I were to buy a new pair and I needed them quickly, it would probably be the Simms Headwater Pro Boot, which seems to be well-made, but I'm leery of Imported footwear, unless made in Italy. I am not sure where Simms wading boots are made. Years ago I had a pair of Cabela's store brand felt boots and they worked well enough, but I don't think they would be a good choice for hard use. I've been looking for a new pair, but none of the usual suspects seem to have made in USA boots. Definitely stay away from boots made in China if you expect to use them more than a few times.

Simms headwaters are good. I've had a pair of freestones for quite a few years and have been happy with them. Whichever kind you get don't forget to get the studs or star cleats for them, you'll want them.

I don't think you can even use felt soled waders in AK anymore. Better check with ADF&G before shelling out any $$. Pretty sure you have to use rubber soles nowadays?

Jeff

You are correct.

I'm assuming with the "felt nazi approved" comment he's got that figured out. None of the new treads are as good as felt on the snot slime, but with studs/cleats they work pretty well. OTOH vibram soles are much better for the hike in than the felts.

Yes that's why I made the felt nazi approved comment and why I need to replace my felt soled boots.

Felt can have so many meanings!

I felt the same way reading this.

My feelers are getting hurt

If anyone is ever in need of unlawful equipment for the state they're in go to Cabelas. You can get 209 muzzleloaders and battery powered decoys for full bore price down here so I'm sure Cabelas will have felt sole wading boots for MSRP or slightly more. 😉

"Officer, they're feel soles. I removed the felt ones yesterday."

I am liking my Patagonia's a lot for a non feeler boot. I put aluminum and hard steel studs both on mine and I haven't taken a spill yet. But I have not been in any big water with them yet nothing bigger than the San Juan. But snot covered rocks we got around here.

Mine ran a little narrow so if possible try them on with neoprene booties or the actual waders your going to wear. You can't beat the Patagonia guarantee I traded in a pair of flats boots and got 100% off on the new boots.

Sims and Korkers are good too.

Big thing about wading safely is the size of the rocks... rivers with smallish, nearly identical stones are a joy to wade... rivers with great big rocks down to sand with lots of everything between suck!

there's something to be said for a semi regular walking surface. whether hauling a sheep out or fishing.

I feel like a moron, having missed the obvious innuendo on felt! Now I'm feeling the pain from you smart azzes!

Jeff

I thought I had waded slick rivers in PA ... then I went to Alaska. That shidt is slicker than ice. I use cleats/screws now. Still slick, but better.

I'll not suggest a specific brand, but suggest looking for simplistic assembly. Boots with great numbers of fabric cutouts and areas for drainage have a lot of stitching. Those exposed threads get rapidly abraded as one moves along mindlessly wading by feel. The KISS principle applies when it comes to putting boots together.

These:
Boots link
or something of similar construction should be quite durable.

Ditto

Simms G3 boots with the hardbite star cleats have performed very well for me this year on rocky and gravely streams/rivers.

I bought mine 1 size large to accommodate for the wader footie and I'm glad I did.

Might I ask a stupid question - why aren't you allowed to use felt soled boots? Surely you jest.......

Uhhhh... should not have to point this out... but you do seem a tad slow...

When discussing slick wading boot soles it is not innuendo... it is onyouendo.

It was a ridiculous attempt at stopping the importation and transportation of invasive species in wet soles. It was based on poor science in a non-peer-reviewed study. After the panics it was reviewed and crushed for being horrible science.

I know two older guys that broke hips in falls. ADF&G employees were ballsy enough to suggest only the unwashed had to wear them because THEY spend too much time in theirs to rely on slick soles... they got shot down on that one.

Simply WOW.

Trout Unlimited pushed it and continue to...

Nothing is as effective nor easy to sell to the masses as 'fear-science'.