Any recommendations on your favourite wading boot? I hike in to get away from it all so no felt. Just a boot that will take a beating in and out of the water. I'm leaning towards Aqua Stealth soles, I understand they are made by a climbing shoe company, sometimes you have to rock climb through those gorges! Anyway I'd appreciate any suggestions.

By the way, I only just joined, what an awesome community you have! I found this forum the other day, and found myself coming back, looking through old posts, it was like when I was a kid in the tackle section of the local hardware store listening to the fellows shoot the shite, stories, jokes, even haiku!, I laughed, I cried, I decided to join.

Best,

samuel rowlett

I have the LL Bean version with AS and I love them. The only thing they don't work well on is slimy algae. Other than that, they easily beat felt in my experience. And they're great on rocks like you mention. The new ones seem to need more breaking in than my last pair. Whatever boots you get, definitely get Aquastealth.

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hey f58,
glad to have you aboard, you might look into korkers they have interchangeable soles, so you can have a hiking boot and wading boot(felt sole with or with out studs) pretty interesting idea

I also have the LL Bean Aquastealth. Been wearing them for a few years and make some serious hikes into out of the way places on my annual jaunts to yellowstone area.I end up wet wading a lot out there and take a pair of gore-tex socks to wear on the way out so my feet don't get blisters.
best,
Steve

Hi Sam,
First of all, welcome to this site! It's nice to have you aboard. I concur with the other posts on using aquastealth bottoms for hiking/fishing. I've been using the LL Bean Aquastealth approach wading boots for years. But they've discontinued this model and have replaced it with the LLBean Ultralight Wading Shoes. They now have the aquastealths in 3 models, Ultralight Wading Shoes, River Tread Wading Shoes, & West Branch Wading Shoes. Of the three I'd recommend the medium-Ultralight Wading Shoes or the heavy-River Tread Wading Shoes. Just my $0.02 worth. Good-luck!

For me, nothing beats the Chota's with the stud system. They are very light, very comfortable and very safe on rocks. I may hike up to 8 miles a day on some rivers. These boots feel like sneakers compaired to others that I have tried.

Hello all,

Thanks for the info. Although I don't know if it made my decision easier. Ahh the choices... I think something lightweight, drains well, w/ Aqua Stealth will serve me well. I like the sneaker analogy. I once met a guy on the Long Trail who was hiking it in a pair of sneakers. Real lightweight.

Aqua Stealth sounds so ninja...

Here's a question though. Do studs scare fish?

I know clumsy wading, stumbling over rocks, etc. can. Like the "do not tap on glass" signs on aquariums. You know, those noises underwater, like farting in your waders. Do studs spook trout?

cheers,

samuel

I don't think that studs spook fish. I do not fish without them. It only takes one fall to ruin your equipment, or worse, part of your body. Safety first. The stud/felt sole combo really grips an otherwise difficult bottom.

One thing I found was a pair of Dr. Scholls gel pads help on treks. Still havent found a good compromise between rubber and felt. I used to use low top sneakers for years which tended to be a touch iffy in the water but they were good hiking, using felt works in water but they dont wear well when hiking...

D.