wading boots AND vest vs. waist pack

[christotheashto]

hi everyone,

1.) so i bought some new waders recently, and the Simms just don't look good with my dogwood canyon lug boots. in fact it looks downright ridiculous LOL
but really, i find myself often getting sore lower back and legs after a full day of fishing, and am positive it's because of the cheapo boots i own. i just don't like them, period.

alas, i arrive at my decision. NEW BOOTS! so, let's hear who's got experience with what. is it worth it to spend $250 on good wading boots? for you korkers guys, i've heard awful things about the interchangeable soles coming loose or unfastened in thick mud, etc. considering i fish probably 50/50 between mud/clay bottom and rock bottom, this is important for me. i cant be re-fastening soles and digging in mud underwater to retrieve parts of my boot. have you experienced anything like this? what about the base model, the redsides or whatever they're called?

i'm also interested in the simms rivertek boa, althoug i've heard that sand and grit can get into the boa system and really seize it up.

should i just get some basic simms blackfoot or freestone boots? a little more affordable and trusty old lace system with a solid integrated sole, or look into some of the more high tech stuff? budget not so much an option but for a $250.00 boot there has to be some sort of value added.


2.) vest is too bulky, i carry way too much crap in it. the loops with zinger on my right chest pocket always manages to catch my line at the most inopportune times. i want to buy a waist pack. for those of you who rock a waist pack, do you like it? i've been looking at the fishpond blue river. now that i've seen the zip down fly becnh/work area, its a MUST HAVE for me. i also like the idea that the blue river can be used as a chest pack OR sling pack, as well as the waist pack. thoughts??

 

[rocheleauc]

1) I picked up the simms freestone back in august and love em. Added some screws in the bottom for extra grip. Another brand would be Korkers. Have heard good things about them.

2) They're nice to have, extra storage is always good. Try to find one that's waterproof/resistant. Biggest issue I have with mine is that when it rains everything inside gets damp/wet.

 

[buck]

.

 

[jigjig]

korkers are awesome nvr had any problems with them!! had them for over a year now and the interchangeable soles are great you can change it based on where your fishing and not buy a new boot when something happens to the soles. the boa system is so quick to get in and out just awesome plus it can take it apart to clean wiht the key that is provided. I have to agree with the william joseph waste pack no zippers and not have to worry about loosing things from your pack if yo u forget to zip up in the cold!

 

[christotheashto]

thanks for the help everyone! i did buy a fishpond blue river pack, but returned it. just wasn't happy with how it fit and i guess i never realized how deep i wade, as it was getting soaked regularly. might try one of the fishpond vests or even one of the chest pack/backpack hybrids.

i DID get some new boots! i decided i didn't have the $200 plus to spend on boots after buying the new waders, xmas coming, etc. so decided to go with the korkers redside. very reasonably priced at around $100, theyve got the swappable soles, and although they lack the boa lacing system, they do have a nice drawcord feature for the laces that makes it way easier than tying and untying in the cold. just loosen the drawcord and slip off the boot. can't recommend these boots enough!

 

[AKnook]

Korkers all the way. Never had any issues with the soles coming off. Perhaps the people this happened to were not putting the soles on correctly? I have had mine for three seasons without fail. The boa cable system is great for fishing in winter. No more frozen laces!

 

[buck]

thanks for the help everyone! i did buy a fishpond blue river pack, but returned it. just wasn't happy with how it fit and i guess i never realized how deep i wade, as it was getting soaked regularly. might try one of the fishpond vests or even one of the chest pack/backpack hybrids.

i DID get some new boots! i decided i didn't have the $200 plus to spend on boots after buying the new waders, xmas coming, etc. so decided to go with the korkers redside. very reasonably priced at around $100, theyve got the swappable soles, and although they lack the boa lacing system, they do have a nice drawcord feature for the laces that makes it way easier than tying and untying in the cold. just loosen the drawcord and slip off the boot. can't recommend these boots enough!

.

 

[buck]

Korkers all the way. Never had any issues with the soles coming off. Perhaps the people this happened to were not putting the soles on correctly? I have had mine for three seasons without fail. The boa cable system is great for fishing in winter. No more frozen laces!

.

 

[AKnook]

which Korkers do you have AK?

I have the Korkers guide k8700. These take a "Key" to insert the soles. The newer ones don't require this, they just snap on. Much better than having to rely on the key. Still a great pair of boots. I won't be replacing them until I have to. No complaints yet.

 

[schnip]

korker metalheads---i might wear them for dayhikes---they are awesome.

 

[christotheashto]

That's a nice looking boot, what soles did you get?

hey buck,

it comes with two sets of soles. the one on the boot at time of purchase were the kling-on rubber, and they come with a set of felt soles in the box. the boots are far more comfortable than my previous ones, and as AK says, so far i can't see any issues with the soles coming off. i got stuck in a foot of mud/clay last weekend and got a little worried, but the boots put up with that all day and never a problem. the only thing i could see is debris getting in between the clip on sole and the actual boot bottom, but can't see that causing any real 'problems' per se.

so far, im very happy with the purchase. i walk/waded for 10 hours this past saturday and my lower back wasnt in NEARLY the rough shape it usually is after that long on the water. korkers FTW

 

[ChaseChrome]

On the fly, I can't have stuff like a waist pack...prefer the vest and keep fly boxes tucked into the front of my waiders. I keep my kit to a minimum, I HATE VELCRO...I pull it all off. The guy who invented it was obviously bored...

cc

 

[NADO]

On the fly, I can't have stuff like a waist pack...prefer the vest and keep fly boxes tucked into the front of my waiders. I keep my kit to a minimum, I HATE VELCRO...I pull it all off. The guy who invented it was obviously bored...

cc

Velcro is the main complaint I have with my wading jacket. If a pocket is open its messing with my casts and retrieves. One velcro patch on my jacket is already stuffed full of white fabric from my cotton gloves.

 

[christotheashto]

On the fly, I can't have stuff like a waist pack...prefer the vest and keep fly boxes tucked into the front of my waiders. I keep my kit to a minimum, I HATE VELCRO...I pull it all off. The guy who invented it was obviously bored...

cc

i think that's where i'll start keeping my fly boxes, they take up too much vest room and i never even use the front pocket on my waders. is it the velcro on the front wader pocket that drives you mad Chase? id never thought of taking the velcro off but that actually sounds like a pretty solid plan. would make it much easier to get stuff out of that darn pocket. come to think of it that's probably the reason i never use the pocket to begin with.

 

[buck]

hey buck,

it comes with two sets of soles. the one on the boot at time of purchase were the kling-on rubber, and they come with a set of felt soles in the box. the boots are far more comfortable than my previous ones, and as AK says, so far i can't see any issues with the soles coming off. i got stuck in a foot of mud/clay last weekend and got a little worried, but the boots put up with that all day and never a problem. the only thing i could see is debris getting in between the clip on sole and the actual boot bottom, but can't see that causing any real 'problems' per se.

so far, im very happy with the purchase. i walk/waded for 10 hours this past saturday and my lower back wasnt in NEARLY the rough shape it usually is after that long on the water. korkers FTW

.

 

[Brian]

1) I picked up the simms freestone back in august and love em. Added some screws in the bottom for extra grip. Another brand would be Korkers. Have heard good things about them.

2) They're nice to have, extra storage is always good. Try to find one that's waterproof/resistant. Biggest issue I have with mine is that when it rains everything inside gets damp/wet.

I have the Simms Freestones as well and I have no complaints about them...Great boots and the price isn't bad...
Haven't had any reason to yet, but I may have to put some studs in when the river ices up...

 

[hightechdecks]

yup gotta hate when the line catches a zipper, ii turn my belt to the back when its windy to reduce line catches

 

[christotheashto]

thought i'd throw in an update here. loving the korkers boots, have been putting them through the ringer and still no complaints. the kling-on soles are surprisingly reliable even on rocks, was fishing a freestone GB trib this past weekend and thought i might be slipping and sliding, but not the case! i've been very pleased. love how quick and clean they dry when i bring them inside after a day's fishing. i took the soles off last night and was surprised at how little dirt and grit got in between them and the bottom of the boot.

i took a trip down to vaughan saturday evening to check out what BPS / Sail had to offer for vests / chest packs (lost another pair of pliers due to my crappy vest design currently). i had my heart set on a fishpond, love the white colouring on the "sagebrush" vest. got there, tried it on, thought... meh. for $150.00 i wanted to fall in love with the thing, but i didn't. to be honest, it didn't offer a whole lot that my current vest didn't have, aside from looking better and being a fishpond lol.

that's when i saw the william joseph surge pack. i remembered buck saying it had no zippers. NO ZIPPERS?! sounded gimmicky at first, but wow, this thing is incredible. the zip-no technology is awesome, super strong, and after 2 weeks ago spending 10 agonizing minutes trying to open my zipper to get my car keys with frozen numb hands, i know i will WHOLLY appreciate the easy to open magnet closures. it sits super comfortable on my waist, and has the neck sling to help take the weight off. it holds WAY more crap than my vest did. now i can keep things like my camera, water bottle, headlamp, etc. in my pack instead of in jacket pockets, wader pockets, etc. SUPER happy with my purchase and recommend this pack to anyone looking for a better storage solution for on the water.
will definitely use this in the winter for run and gun ice fishing to hold my plano boxes of lures, hand warmers, etc.

 

[Spinninreel]

I used to get a sore back when I went fishing, but the waders I own now have a built in back support and I don't have any more issues, so it may not be the boots.

 

[OCDComputing]

thought i'd throw in an update here. loving the korkers boots, have been putting them through the ringer and still no complaints. the kling-on soles are surprisingly reliable even on rocks, was fishing a freestone GB trib this past weekend and thought i might be slipping and sliding, but not the case! i've been very pleased. love how quick and clean they dry when i bring them inside after a day's fishing. i took the soles off last night and was surprised at how little dirt and grit got in between them and the bottom of the boot.

i took a trip down to vaughan saturday evening to check out what BPS / Sail had to offer for vests / chest packs (lost another pair of pliers due to my crappy vest design currently). i had my heart set on a fishpond, love the white colouring on the "sagebrush" vest. got there, tried it on, thought... meh. for $150.00 i wanted to fall in love with the thing, but i didn't. to be honest, it didn't offer a whole lot that my current vest didn't have, aside from looking better and being a fishpond lol.

that's when i saw the william joseph surge pack. i remembered buck saying it had no zippers. NO ZIPPERS?! sounded gimmicky at first, but wow, this thing is incredible. the zip-no technology is awesome, super strong, and after 2 weeks ago spending 10 agonizing minutes trying to open my zipper to get my car keys with frozen numb hands, i know i will WHOLLY appreciate the easy to open magnet closures. it sits super comfortable on my waist, and has the neck sling to help take the weight off. it holds WAY more crap than my vest did. now i can keep things like my camera, water bottle, headlamp, etc. in my pack instead of in jacket pockets, wader pockets, etc. SUPER happy with my purchase and recommend this pack to anyone looking for a better storage solution for on the water.
will definitely use this in the winter for run and gun ice fishing to hold my plano boxes of lures, hand warmers, etc.

Now that you've had the William Joseph surge pack for a while, how are you finding it? I've got a BP gift card just waiting to be spent on *stuff* :lol: