Wader Boots

[JoeD]

I need new wader boots. Choice is down to Cabelas Master Guide $69.95 or Simms Freestone $79.95. Opinions and experience ?? Please speak up as I am retiring Aug 1st and intend to spend most of Aug and Sept in Colorado trying out the Dan Craft one weight I just built. Thanks for youe input. Joe

Sounds like a textbook application for rock-paper-scissor.

I think you'd do well with either boot. Any chance you can try them both on?

JB

I have the Cabela's Master Guide and would recommend them to anyone else.

[fcch]

Joe,

Do you need ALL that ankle support?

I like my Chotas STL like in the sponsor page [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/cgi-bin/clickcount.pl?url=flyanglersonline.com/about/chota/:a24b6]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/cgi-bin/clickcount.pl?url=flyanglersonline.com/about/chota/[/url:a24b6]

Like 'em quite a bit. Medium support, but not too heavy either.

They've stood up well after 2 or 3 seasons, ... no problems so far. I use the cleats, but then I don't use a boat either

------------------
Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:a24b6]http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/[/url:a24b6]

[JoeD]

Ilike to hike in sometimes several miles. Ankle support ranks fairly high on scale. Closest fly shop is a long way off so I am buying sight unseen

[Norm]

JoeD, I use the Freestones and love them. I have hiked a lot in them and they hold up well.


Norm

[flyfisherjoe]

I have the Simms L2. They are made a lot sturdier and felt like it gave a lot more support. They are also lighter. A bit more money but the difference was worth it to me.

------------------
Joe

[fcch]

JoeD,

IC, ... Good point, .. Back when I was fit, I'd hike in too. There is also a couple beats here that take 45-60 minutes to walk in. On those days, I prefer to put the waders 'n stuff in a good pack and walk in with real hiking boots.

My feet are pretty beat up from too many years in the bush, so I take care of 'em with appropriate foot wear at all time (else I can hardly walk on them the next morning).

Old school habits ... The horse, the saddle, the soldier

------------------
Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:320bf]http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/[/url:320bf]




[This message has been edited by fcch (edited 28 May 2005).]

JoeD,
I would recommend the Cabela's boots highly. I owned a pair that lasted 3 1/2 yrs of solid use and quite a bit of abuse. During the time that I had them, I used to fish with bait alot, and a buddy and I would usually gather our own. More often than not that involved standing in riffles and doing a mega super san juan shuffle while the other guy held the net below. I was generally the shuffler. If the boots held up that well to the kind of use I put them through, I would imagine they would serve you fine. They are fairly comfy for hiking in, I did that alot too. Ankle support is outstanding. Better than some alot of the dry land boots I've owned. For the money, they can't be beat.

Jeff

------------------
dead fish don't make reel music

[BigFlatBrook]

I have the Simms Freestone and a pair of Chota STL. I have studs on the Chotas and wear them on streams that are especially tough to wade. The Freestons have great ankle and foot support, which I like a lot. Maybe they are a shade heavy compared to some others, but I like them.