Wet wading: sandal question

[JT]

When wet wading, I normally throw on a pair of heavy wool socks and my
wading boots. It would seem as though a pair of sandals would be much more
comfortable on hot summer days, while bolder hopping and even much more so
when float fishing.

Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with either of the following
wading sandals? I like the way the toes are completely covered on the Simms
brand, however like the way you can switch the sole on the Korkers and wear
them as a daily pair of sandals.
Any others that you would suggest?

Simms Keen river:
http://tinyurl.com/fpm5n

Korkers Convertible Sandal:
http://tinyurl.com/ejubg

What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?

TIA,
JT

[Kevin Vang]

In article <dQp8g.12$***@news.uswest.net>, ***@airjunky.com
says...

Post by JT
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?

Boots -- more ankle support, and I don't get gravel under my feet,
as much.

Kevin

[Ken Fortenberry]

Post by JT
...
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?

From the skin out: silk socks, SmartWool hiking socks, Simms
Guard Socks, Chota STL wading boots.

I tried wet wading in Teva sandals, once barefoot and once
while wearing neoprene socks. I'll stick with wading boots.

[mr rapidan]

Post by JT
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?

My buddies and I love the Cabela's wading booties - they're about $30,
they have real good durability for the price. We beat the crap out of
them in high gradient mtn streams - so, lots of bouldering and climbing
over logs, and just general hiking in them back and forth from camp or
trailhead to where we start/end on the stream.

I like to wear a pair of 200 weight fleece socks with them to add just
a little warmth and it also keeps crap from getting in.

They're light, they dry fast, and they don't take up much room when
backpacking.

[Tom Nakashima]

Post by mr rapidan

Post by JT
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?

My buddies and I love the Cabela's wading booties - they're about $30,
they have real good durability for the price. We beat the crap out of
them in high gradient mtn streams - so, lots of bouldering and climbing
over logs, and just general hiking in them back and forth from camp or
trailhead to where we start/end on the stream.
I like to wear a pair of 200 weight fleece socks with them to add just
a little warmth and it also keeps crap from getting in.
They're light, they dry fast, and they don't take up much room when
backpacking.

I'll ditto the fleece socks!
-tom

[Steve]

Post by JT
When wet wading, I normally throw on a pair of heavy wool socks and my
wading boots. It would seem as though a pair of sandals would be much more
comfortable on hot summer days, while bolder hopping and even much more so
when float fishing.
Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with either of the following
wading sandals? I like the way the toes are completely covered on the Simms
brand, however like the way you can switch the sole on the Korkers and wear
them as a daily pair of sandals.
Any others that you would suggest?
http://tinyurl.com/fpm5n
http://tinyurl.com/ejubg
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?
TIA,
JT

I have a pair of Keen sandals almost just like the Simms, except that
mine aren't adjustable and they don't have felt, but they are the same
footbed. They are the most comfortable shoes I own. I've worn them on a
jetty, and while not ideal, they were much more comfortable than wading
socks and my wading boots. They're nice for canoeing. I take a pair
when I'm going somewhere but not necessarily fishing, along with a
travel rod and a small chest pack, just in case.

Still, I'd rather use my wading boots and wading socks if I'm most
certainly going fishing. More support, though not as comfy.

[n***@gmail.com]

I wear a pair of water sport sneakers. They're made for day hikers,
rafters, or anyone else that encounters dry land and water in their
activity. They look just like sneakers, but a have heavy mesh outer
that lets water flow in and out. They offer decent support and do a
pretty good job at keeping gravel out as well. You can find them at
any outdoor's store.

http://www.salomonsports.com/

[mr rapidan]

Let me add that the Cabela's wading booties do have felt on the bottom,
they zip up snugly and fairly high above the ankle, but they provide
pretty much no ankle support at all. The sizes also run weirdly, so
it's best to try them on before buying online.

[MajorOz]

I can't give you brand names, but I have found these to work well:
1. Tevas (yeah, it's a brand name, but I mean it in the generic sense)
2. Reef walkers -- like the booties worn under diving fins, but with
soles; usually with a zip up the side.
3. Old tennis shoes -- what's the big deal here?

Use your gravel guards with any of the above and they work just fine.
Of course, wool socks are needed.

cheers

oz

[briansfly]

Post by JT
When wet wading, I normally throw on a pair of heavy wool socks and my
wading boots. It would seem as though a pair of sandals would be much more
comfortable on hot summer days, while bolder hopping and even much more so
when float fishing.
Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with either of the following
wading sandals? I like the way the toes are completely covered on the Simms
brand, however like the way you can switch the sole on the Korkers and wear
them as a daily pair of sandals.
Any others that you would suggest?
http://tinyurl.com/fpm5n
http://tinyurl.com/ejubg
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?
TIA,
JT

I use wading boots with neoprene wading socks. I've contemplated buying
wading sandals, but my ankles would be a mess at the end of the day. Not
only do I have to have the support of the boot, on the local freestone
rivers, I need protection from the meat grinder cobble. Any initial
comfort I would have with the sandals would, quickly diminish after the
first twisted or scraped ankle.

brians

[Charlie Wilson]

I have a pair of the Chota sandals, which I've worn twice. The first time
out I lost a toe nail; the second time I got a pretty good gash in the side
of my foot. I'll stick to boots with Simms neoprene socks.

[Wayne Knight]

Post by JT
Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with either of the following
wading sandals? I like the way the toes are completely covered on the
Simms brand, however like the way you can switch the sole on the Korkers
and wear them as a daily pair of sandals.
Any others that you would suggest?
http://tinyurl.com/fpm5n

I use the Simms, best wading purchase I've made since buying goretex waders.
And I do not wear a bootie with them. Very comfortable and had no problem
with the felt. The new Orvis wet wading shoes/sandals look interesting but I
am happy with what I have. I have also used Teva's before I got the simms,
the spider rubber soles are definitely *grippier* than the regular rubber
soled tevas.

I would not use them in very boulder strewn areas, because of the ankle
support boots offer that the others have mentioned. .

[Bob Patton]

Post by JT
When wet wading, I normally throw on a pair of heavy wool socks and my
wading boots. It would seem as though a pair of sandals would be much more
comfortable on hot summer days, while bolder hopping and even much more so
when float fishing.
Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with either of the following
wading sandals? I like the way the toes are completely covered on the
Simms brand, however like the way you can switch the sole on the Korkers
and wear them as a daily pair of sandals.
Any others that you would suggest?
http://tinyurl.com/fpm5n
http://tinyurl.com/ejubg
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?
TIA,
JT

Tried sandals; detest them. Stubbed toes, scraped ankles. I like the ankle
support of a good pair of wading boots. I'll save the sandals to wear around
the camp or the house after I take off the boots.

To me, the danger of a sprained ankle or injured foot while out on the
stream makes the risk/reward ratio pretty unfavorable to sandals.

Bob

[Don Phillipson]

Post by JT
When wet wading, I normally throw on a pair of heavy wool socks and my
wading boots. It would seem as though a pair of sandals would be much more
comfortable on hot summer days, while bolder hopping and even much more so
when float fishing.

The best boat shoes are moccasins, of traditional make
viz. a single piece of (thick) leather, with no external sole
or tread (and no socks.) They dry fast and mould to your foot
as they dry. The same moccasin is best for warm-water wading
because the raw leather grips rock as well as felt. (But
they will not protect your toes if you stub them on a rock.)

[Charles Crolley]

On Wed, 10 May 2006 10:57:28 -0700, "JT" <***@airjunky.com> wrote:

<snip>

Post by JT
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?

I wear the Orvis "Wet Wading Shoes". They have felt soles, provide
great arch support, are lighweight, and come with a neoprene bootie.

Best $89 I've spent in a long time.

[Joe McIntosh]

Post by Charles Crolley
<snip>

Post by JT
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?

McIntosh replies--paid too much money for Choda sandals with felt
soles----banged up toes and ankles and went back to boots for rocky streams.

[JT]

Appreciate all the response to my question. After hearing others
experiences, I think I will stick with the wool socks/wading boots for wet
wading. For float fishing, I think a pair of Teva type sandals would do the
trick. I do like the Simms Keen River though, might have to splurge... ;)

Thanks again,
JT

[Mike McGuire]

Post by JT
When wet wading, I normally throw on a pair of heavy wool socks and my
wading boots. It would seem as though a pair of sandals would be much more
comfortable on hot summer days, while bolder hopping and even much more so
when float fishing.
Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with either of the following
wading sandals? I like the way the toes are completely covered on the Simms
brand, however like the way you can switch the sole on the Korkers and wear
them as a daily pair of sandals.
Any others that you would suggest?
http://tinyurl.com/fpm5n
http://tinyurl.com/ejubg
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?
TIA,
JT

I go with the Teva's and neoprene socks approach when I am backpacking
because the weight of a pair of wading shoes especially west would by
unconscionable. I make sure I have a wading staff with me. which
alleviates a lot of the ankle support problem. I have written up a whole
thing about it at
http://www.peninsulaflyfishers.org/Fishing_How-To/backpackEssentials/BackpackFlyFisher.html
Mike

[[e-mail]]

Post by Mike McGuire
I go with the Teva's and neoprene socks approach when I am backpacking
because the weight of a pair of wading shoes especially west would by
unconscionable. I make sure I have a wading staff with me. which
alleviates a lot of the ankle support problem. I have written up a whole
thing about it at
http://www.peninsulaflyfishers.org/Fishing_How-To/backpackEssentials/BackpackFlyFisher.html
Mike

Thanks for that... I also fish the backcountry, though I always bring my
flyfishing gear, I end up fishing with spinning gear more often because
it's most often lake fishing.

[Willi]

Post by JT
When wet wading, I normally throw on a pair of heavy wool socks and my
wading boots. It would seem as though a pair of sandals would be much more
comfortable on hot summer days, while bolder hopping and even much more so
when float fishing.
Has anyone had any good or bad experiences with either of the following
wading sandals? I like the way the toes are completely covered on the Simms
brand, however like the way you can switch the sole on the Korkers and wear
them as a daily pair of sandals.
Any others that you would suggest?
http://tinyurl.com/fpm5n
http://tinyurl.com/ejubg
What do you wear (on your feet) while wet wading in the summer?
TIA,
JT

Like many of the other posters, I don't think that sandals provide
enough protection when wading most freestone rivers or streams (and I
wear sandals year round). However, they work fine in gravel, sand, small
stone sections of rivers and streams. If you're going to put on a
special pair of shoes to fish, I don't see much advantage in putting on
sandals, but there are some serious disadvantages.

That said, I do probably about a third of my Summer fishing in sandals.
I live about a mile from a section of river I often fish for short
periods of time like an hour, either to get away or to fish a hatch
or..... The pools are all gravel bottomed and sandals work just fine. So
I just walk into the river with the sandals I have on my feet.
Personally, if I was going to change shoes, I'd put on a pair of wading
shoes rather than another pair of sandals.

Willi