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Wading boots have come a long way since the advent of stocking foot neoprene waders in the 1980s and the breathable waders of the early ’90s. Today’s wading boots have kept up with advances in modern materials to provide a great balance of durability and comfort.
Name | Average price | Sole type | Upper material | Closure | Purchase |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orvis Pro | $229 | Michelin rubber sole | Polyurethane | Lace | Shop at Orvis |
Orvis Boa Pivot | $198 | Available in rubber or felt | Synthetic microfiber | Boa | Shop at Orvis |
Simms G3 Guide | $230 | Available in rubber or felt | Nubuck leather | Lace | Shop at Backcountry |
Patagonia Ultralight Sticky | $189 | Rubber sole with sticky technology | Synthetic leather and Venergy mesh | Lace | Shop at Patagonia |
Korkers Wraptr Omni Trax Klingon Sole | $200 | Interchangeable sole system | Wraptr tech construction with ultra abrasion resistance | Lace | Shop at Sportsman's Warehouse |
L.L. Bean Emerger | $149 | Rubber | Closed-cell padding and EVA foam | Lace | Shop at L.L Bean |
Reddington Skagit River | $120 | Rubber | Mesh paneling | Lace | Shop at Sportsman's Warehouse |
Cabela’s Ultralight | $80 | Rubber | Nylon/synthetic | Lace | Shop at Cabela's |
Most differences between wading boots lie within the sole, which are generally felt or rubber. In some regions of the country, felt is frowned upon or even banned. Invasive microscopic aquatic organisms can become trapped in the woven structures of the felt, allowing them to be transported from one watershed to another.
The right type of sole depends largely on where you’ll be fishing and what you’re looking for in a wading boot.
Type | Best for | Pros | Cons |
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Felt soles | Anglers who fish slippery, rock-covered riverbeds |
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Rubber soles | Anglers looking for a durable, long-lasting boot or those who fish areas where felt soles are not allowed |
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Titanium and other metallic studs are available for both felt- and rubber-soled boots to help with traction. While some boots come with studs already attached, you can also buy screw-in versions and install them yourself with a screw gun.
Consider these important features when shopping for wading boots:
Wading boots have long been viewed as necessary, yet unspectacular, purchases for the fly angler. While we can get excited about the latest features and styles on fishing vests, rods, reels and even waders, wading boots, to me, have always been a matter of picking a brand and model and getting the size right. Not so with the purchase of the Orvis Pivot Wading Boot with Boa Closures!
If you’ve never worn boots with the Boa closures, you’re in for a treat of convenience! Putting boots on without re-lacing the uppers and then doing it in reverse when done with fishing saves time and many grunts and groans while tying laces and then untying the wet knots.
But that isn’t the only great thing about the Pivot boot. The injection-molded insole is as comfortable as I’ve found in a wading boot, and the materials and construction used in the upper make it a durable product. My Orvis Pivot boots are three years old, and I log more than 50 days a year on rocky-bottomed freestone streams.
The only negative is that the outer Vibram sole is still very slippery when wet, despite the proprietary lug pattern and Orvis’s claims of stellar traction. However, the addition of Posi-Grip Screw-in Studs remedies the slickness fairly well.
I’ve had many pairs of wading boots, but never the same brand/model twice. That’ll change whenever I finally wear out my Orvis Pivots!
When wading in high or fast-moving water, always practice good safety habits.
Wading boots come in a variety of types, styles and price ranges. Look for durable materials and a sole type that’s a match for your style of fly fishing — whether on slippery river rocks or in the sand or mud.
Ready to buy? Compare top wading boots
Need a pair of waders to go with your new wading boots? Compare some of the best fishing waders to find the perfect match.
To compile our list of the best wading boots, we considered the sole type, upper material, lace system, price and extra features of some of the most popular boot brands. We also considered third-party online reviews, as well as our own personal experiences with these products.
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