Guys, I’ve gotta say, I don’t know if it’s all the hype or what, but I orderd a pair of the new Cloudveil boots in that Vibram aqua stealth or whatever the heck it is sole. I feel that if I can help a little, at least I’ll feel better. Anyone else jumping on this or am I the only one? Maybe I’m just a sucker for hype.
Well, I’ve had the aquastealth from Bean and liked them, just ok so let us know how the vibrams work Hoochman…I’ll be interested to hear…
Oh, also, I had a pair of work boots I used for wading in a pinch and they were supposedly non-skid for use in auto/industrial shops. They worked fine so I won’t be surprised if the vibram works too…wonder why no on thought of it before really. Ok, looking forward to hearing back on this !
Cheers,
MontanaMoose
I think it is a good idea. It won’t cure the whole problem (didymo) but I’ll bet it will certainly help.
Felt soles get pretty nasty too. If the vibram grips decently I’m all for it.
Greg
If stud-less they grip as good or better than plain felt WITHOUT studs in the places I fish I’m all for them.
Call me skeptical but I have tried other rubber options and NONE are worth a dang in many places unless they have studs and studs are NOT the answer on certain stream bottoms. For me it’s all about not breaking my neck.
As far as Didymo protection that one has been beaten to death but if you choose to fish where Didymo lives you better continue to scrub EVERYTHING you use or you are STILL part of the problem, rubber soles or not.
Like 'em or hate 'em, we’re all going to be learning to love the rubber soles and I think felt is going a thing of the past soon. New Zealand outlawed felt soles at the beginning of this season. Several US states are considering doing the same.
I won’t be replacing any more wading boots with felt soles. I have one pair of Aquastealth
Simms with studs and I use these for my winter boots. The primary advantage I’ve found is you don’t get ice buildup on the soles as you did with felt. This was a huge problem in the winter and stepping on ice with frozen felt soles is absolutely leathal.
On slippery rocks where traction CAN be had (so not including that obsidian out west in places like the Umpqua and forth) I’ve found AS and stunds works fine. Maybe not a good as studded felt, but acceptable. I’m not looking forward to trying AS with no studs, but that day will come. Hope it works.
Grouse
Thanks Grouse, informative post. I din’t want to get too deep into the AS non-studded boots but now I feel a responsibility to do so. Much as I like Bean stuff I’ll have to toss in my experience with their AS boots…and if I remember correctly, Bean came up with the AS boots first. I called them bots dots because that’s what the pair I have looks like on the bottom.
Great for hiking to the fishing, great on dry rocks, great on river bottoms that don’t have any slime on them early in the season, but in my experience that’s the end of their usefulness.
My opinion is that once there is slime/moss/silt etc. on a rocky bottom, one is risking one’s life wearing the AS non-studded boots. Mind please, this is my opinion…stressing that because I don’t know anyone else that has a pair to compare notes with.
Again, they’re great early season and post run off when things are still clean but not for much longer after that anywhere I’ve worn them.
Ok, I think that’s about all I’ve got on the soles of my AS boots…they have other issues that are just as bad though not life threatening that I won’t go into. I took all of this up with my rep at Bean back when and I got another model of wading boot for pratically nothing even considering I’d used (still using too) the AS boots. I felt the service was more than reasonable but won’t buy another pair of any brand of AS non-studded wadding boots.
So that’s why I’m anxious to hear more about the Vibram soled wadding boots.
Cheers,
MontanaMoose
I’ve had the Simms Guide boots (the old leather upper style) carbide studded AS since Simms came out with them. I haven’t had any problem in the west- Id. Wyoming, Utah, Montana. I do like the studs and AS better than felt. My opinion only. Originally they were 5-10 sticky soles mountain climbers used on climbing boots.
I don’t know how they would work without studs, and I don’t know if I’d get a pair unstudded. I have a few years left in mine, and when I need a replacement, I’ll again look for studded Aqua Stealth sole boots. I guess I should check out Cloud Veil for studded ones.
A Simms rep did a presentation at the local fly shop last Saturday. He explained that the Vibram soles are very different from the Aquastealth. The sticky rubber used in Aquastealth is the same thing they use for rock climbing shoes. The Vibram is harder, longer lasting, and provides a better grip with a tread pattern that looks like rubber studs. It is supposed to last 7 times as long as felt.
The rep said that Simms wouldn’t be discontinuing their felt soles by 2010 if the new soles didn’t work. He claimed they worked as well as felt in most situations, and they gave better traction on muddy banks and in the snow.
I figure it is worth a try. Simms should take them back if they really don’t work.
Call me crazy but when Simms discontinued one style of guide boot a couple of years ago, I decided to buy and label individual pairs for the different rivers that I fish most often.
One example, since I still prefer felt for some situations, I have a “Truckee River Only” pair with felts. I also have one pair of studded aqua stealth’s that I use for " other " locations that I don’t frequent.
The thing is, regardless of which sole you go with, crud and critters can still hitch a ride inside the boot and those removable inserts that so many boots have in them today, offer a long term moist environment if left untreated and throughly dried.
Luckily, it was 112 degrees here yesterday. So after rinsing out my river specific boots and placing them in the sun all afternoon, those little organisms are " probably " crispy critters! ;^)
By the way, years ago I fished a series of private pay to play lakes that mandated everyone gear up and then go take a long dip in their disinfecting tub filed with a milky looking solution before entering their waters. Everything was saturated ( waders, booties, fins, and the entire float tube. ).
Wondering now what that solution was and whether or not a similar idea wouldn’t be applicable for public access areas on our rivers and streams on a voluntary or honor system basis.
Seems to me, most anglers try to do what’s right for the environment when given the information and opportunity. Making it easier or more convenient for anglers to do so, just makes sense.
Best, Dave
I have a pair of Simms with the new Vibram soles. To say the least I was skeptical. I don’t have studs in them, yet. I will though, if I am to wade in certain waters in my area. For the most part I was highly impressed. In rivers that are easy to wade, they’re great. I did notice less grip than studded felt boots but I don’t think you’re gonna get that same grip unless you’re wearing studded felt boots. I’m curious to see how much better they are with the studs that are available. They’re better for hiking thats for sure. If you get in and out of your vehicle to switch fishing spots they are much easier too. Not nearly the mess inside my truck and much easeir to use the pedals. In conjunction with a wading staff and taking my time I found them to be an acceptable substitute. I haven’t worn them in any really slick rivers yet though.
I switched to the Simms Guide Boot with the Vibrams Stream Thread this year. I added the studs (note: the studs for the rubber aren’t the same as those for Simms felt) The Didy isn’t an issue for me as I only fish one river.
I have also the Chota STL with studs (felt).
The river here is not a difficult river to wade. No algae to speak of. The rocks are bare or lightly covered with a film of muck and occassionally a tiny layer of green.
So far, on CLEAN rocks, wet, they perform quite well. If I had to rate them, … I’d say they grip on clean, wet rocks at least 80% as well as felt. Studs help.
I went to the Simms cause I walk a lot in my boots. I was looking for a sole that would last longer than felt. As mentioned, the Vibram rubber isn’t sticky rubber. They rely on the tread pattern to get the job done.
I was also looking for a high boot for ankle support. Found it in the Guide Boot. My girlfriend is using “Stream Born” by Korkers and she has the best of all worlds as she has normal rubber, felt, studded felt and studded Kling-on rubber soles.