As you may know New Zealand has a ban on felt sole waders to help try and prevent the further spread of Didymo (or Rock Snot).
Felt soles biggest advantage is that they just do not slip on wet, or slimy rocks and boulders. When wading they are the safest boot to wear, no argument. But felt soles do have disadvantages; they are slippery on the shore, on grass, dry smooth and hard boulders, mud or clay, and I am lead to believe, on snow.
So I was keen to try the new Simms Vibram soled boots, touted to be as good as felts in the water, without the slipping and sliding when out of it. So I bought myself a pair and last week I wore them for a week long fishing trip.
Grip in the water?
Yes it is pretty good, I would say about 85% as good as felts.
On ‘clean boulders and rocks’ the grip was solid. On slime covered rocks not quite as good, you have to be ready for the occasional boot slip. I had cheated a bit – I placed 9 studs around the edges of the sole. (Don’t put studs in the centre of the sole, it stops the sole from ‘sticking’.) But I did this with felt soles, so my comparisons are valid.
Grip out of the water?
Very good indeed indeed! Way ahead of felt soles. Made walking from one pool to another a breeze. This is really important to me. I am now 60 something, and have a bionic hip, so balance is getting steadily worse – I really felt secure in these boots.
General fit and comfort?
Very good – best I have felt in wading boots for a very long time. I really covered a lot of ground during the week, over all kinds of terrain, and the boots were comfortable at all times.
Overall Rating?
I have to say, despite some pre-use misgivings I was very pleasantly surprised. I can live with the small shortcomings in grip compared to felts in the water – just take a little more care and a wading staff if you are creeping toward my age.
But on land these boots really shine – comfort and grip – just what you want. Count me converted.
(I bought these boots myself and have no association with Simms)
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How was the sizing? I have heard that Simms boots fit true to size, and that if you normally wear a size 12 shoe that you should purchase a size 12 wading boot. Is this correct with the Rivershed? I want to buy a pair now, and they are not in stores around here yet.
I believe that you are right about sizing in that a pair of US size 10 wading boots will be correct for someone who usually wears a US size 10 shoe.
It is a shame that Simms who sell boots all over the world do not include the European size info for us who live outside the US, and do not use US sizing.
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