When I was told I was getting a pair of Chota
Kick Boat Booties I almost said no. I mean, c'mon,
a bootie? Just another flimsy, usless piece of
fishing gear that will sit in the back of my
closet, right? Wrong! Very wrong! These Chota
"Booties" are some serious footgear.
Last year my wife, Vickie, dragged me, kicking
and screaming all the way, into the world of
float tubes and pontoon boats. After realizing
that I didn't have to quit wading I sort of gave
in. Just a couple of immediate complaints. I'm
not in as good a shape as when I was much younger.
As light weight as my wading boots are, kicking
around a lake wearing both fins and wading boots
wore me out. If I left the boots ashore, then I
took a chance of puncturing the neoprene stocking
foot or, slipping on some moss covered rock during
a launch or take out and taking a soaking.
These Chota Booties solved the problems for me.
Extremely light weight, so no more tired legs.
Okay, not as tired legs. With the ribbed rubber
sole and felt inserts embedded under the ball of
the foot and heel, I am assured of a good footing
on almost any surface. That includes a freshly
waxed kitchen floor with wet booties. Great footing,
mad wife.
After 23 years in the Infantry, I appreciate good
foot gear. When I first slipped into the Chota
Kick Boat Booties, I noticed a couple of things.
First, I slipped into them, like putting on a pair
of slippers. No fighting, stomping or pushing. The
fully gusseted zipper on the inside of the ankle
assures easy entry and exit from the bootie. Secondly,
the footbeds cradled my feet like good running shoes.
No side to side movement and most importantly, they
were comfortable to wear.
Over the toe and arch of the bootie there is a
rubber coating that will resist the wear and tear
of the hardest fin material over many seasons of
fishing. The velcro straps over the instep and back
of the ankle give more than adequate support for
the wade in and out when launching, and provide
that extra measure of security from kicking your
way out of your booties.
I realize that not everyone has nice gravel beaches
or boat ramps to launch from. Some of us have to
contend with mud banks. I slipped into my Chotas
and headed for the nearest bog to do some wading.
Clambering up and down steep mud banks I still
slipped when the booties were wet from the bog,
but not nearly as bad as when wearing felt sole
boots. In places where we would normally launch
our tubes or boats, this did not present a problem.
There was no tendancy to step out of the bootie
when mud was sucking at my feet with each step,
again, thanks to a good fit and those velcro straps.
I also noticed that the booties drained quickly,
faster than my normal wading boots, so you aren't
lugging around a quart of water on each foot.
At a little under $60.00 I expect these booties
to last. To be sure I had to wear them for a while
and generally abuse them. I abraded them against
rocks and concrete boat launches, slogged through
mud and sand, and even drove my Ford F-250 over
them a time or two. Hey, if you can slam a truck
door on your rod tip, it's possible to drive over
your boots. Aside from some slightly discolored
felt in the soles from the mud, after a quick rinse
the boots looked and fit like they were new.
After seeing these boots and trying them out for
herself, my wife, Vickie, just made one comment.
"I gotta get me some of those!" So Chota, the
check is in the mail. ~ Ron Eagle Elk (REE)
Chota Outdoor Gear
P.O. Box 31137
Knoxville, TN 37930
Phone (865) 690-1814
Fax (865) 690-5605
Email link: info@chotaoutdoorgear.com
Website: Chota Outdoor Gear
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