I’m in the market for a new set of wading boots. I’ve read REE and VEE’s reviews on the Chota’s and I’m leaning towards the STL’s. My question is about width. I need a relatively wide boot. Anyone have any experience with how the width on these boots runs? I don’t have any local places to go and try a pair so I’ll need to do this via mail order and I’m somewhat reluctant to go through the hassle of returns if these boots tend to run to the narrow side of the size range.
Any comments, thoughts or feedback would be appreciated.
I gotta vote for Simm’s. I have the Ultra Lights and have had them for 10 years. A few years ago, the sole started to come off (the whole solewas separating from the boot) sent them back with $25. and got a brand new pair.
I use the Stealth soles instead of felt and the sheet metal screws.
I do have an old pair of Chota’s however that are still going strong and good for wet wading.
I’ve gotta vote for the Russell Wading Shoes. They are customed made to the size of your foot. They’re not cheap, but if you have a problem with off the shelf sizing they may be the way to go, especially if you spend a lot of time in your waders.
My next pair of wading boots will be Russells. http://www.russellmoccasin.com/shoes_wa … ssell.html
I have a wide foot & am really happy with my Korkers. Not only do they fit right & are comfortable, but the interchangeable soles allow me to adjust to the varying conditions, including winter’s snows.
Mike
I’m barefoot or in mocs a lot, resulting in a fairly wide foot (Then again, 23 years in the infantry probably didn’t help.) The Chotas fit me just fine. Still haven’t worn my first pair out.
I guess a D width really isn’t considered wide but that’s me and Chota’s are fine although I buy mine 1-1/2 sizes larger 'cause I wear a a half size street shoe.
I found that if I just went up a half size over my street shoe; it was a bit tight with heavier socks and the neoprene bootee.
I also say the same thing for Korkers.
I’ll also ditto bamoo1963 comments on Russel’s. I have two pair and nothing fits better.
I cannot answer your question on the width of the wading boot, but, I can recommend looking at Chota wading boots. I really like mine. I have the style with the screw-in screws for added traction. I purchased mine in one size larger than my regular street shoe which gives me plenty of room for additional socks for winter fishing and they still fit good for summer fishing. Going one size larger than you normally wear probably will take care of your question.
I really like my Simms Rivertek Aquastealth studded–they are a bit on the heavy side though…I don’t think they make that model anymore but for me it’s got plenty of wiggle room for my toes. I found the Korkers to be a bit on the narrow side for me. I also have a pair of cheap Dan Bailey lightweights that I really like as well but they don’t provide nearly the support that my Simms do (but they’re wonderful wet-wading boots). I would recommend going and trying on different brands and models and then making your decision for what’s going to work best for you.
Thanks for the advice and recommendations folks. In particular those of you who focused on providing feedback on Chotas and on the width issue. I’m sure Simms?s, Korker’s and Russell’s, as well as several other manufacturers make a fine, utilitarian wading boot with feature and functions worthy of consideration. However, I’m past the preliminary research phase of the project and am working to fine tune my choices.
I’ve looked at the Korker’s and even had a chance to try them on (yes, I did go a size larger and did try them with my waders). Fine boots and yes they fit well. My only problem was with the concept of interchangeability on the soles (who’d have thought I see that as a negative). I have been known to hike 3 or 4 miles into an area to fish and the option of a hiking sole is an attractive feature. But I just don’t want to have to carry another set of soles around just to fish or hike. Maybe on a float trip where you would need to remove a studded sole before you put holes in the guide?s rubber boat might cause me to reconsider this but I just don’t do that many float trips. Nor do I want to haul one more thing in with me. Maybe not the smartest justification but fly fishing is already too gadget heavy in my humble opinion.
Simms again makes several nice boots, all worth of consideration and several pairs and various models got a test drives at one of the big box stores. A found the boots, in gerneral, just a bit heavy and stiff for my taste. Again nothing personal. I love my Simms waders and tried to give them a fair evaluation.
With no real ability to give the Chotas a test drive I’m relying on those of you on the board to help me make some judgments I can’t do in person. So please, any other comments or experiences with the Chota boots and the STL’s in particular, please don’t hesitate to chime in.
Thanks everybody, I knew I could count on FAOL. 8)
I own the Chota STL Plus with the metal removeable studs and they are really good wading boots. I do think, after they are wet, that they can be a little heavy. As far as ease of putting them on and taking them off, they are great.
I also own the Chota Abrams Creek with the metal removeable studs and have been using them for 2 years. I purchased them because I was offered a deal I could not turn down. I really like them because they are light even after wet. They have man-made material at the tops that is now starting to crack but does not affect the wading boot.
Of the 2 that I have described, I prefer the Abrams Creek due to them being very light and a very comfortable wading boot. I just checked Cabela’s web site and the Chota STL Plus are $124.95 and the Chota Abrams Creek are $49.95. The only thing I did not see was the Abrams Creek with the steel removeable screws. I hope they have not stopped making them because they usually ran around $80 and I think you would like them.
I purchased both of them in a size 9 and my street shoe is size 8. They do not seem too tight even in winter when I may wear thicker socks.
If you can find the Abrams Creek with the steel studs, they would be a good wading/hiking boot for you.
After answering your initial post I checked the size of my Chotas. They are a size 10 and I normally wear a size 9. I have enough room for heavy socks when wading during winter steelhead fishing and they work just fine with lighter socks for summer trout and steelhead fishing.
Just the kind of info I’m looking for ! I’ll take a look at the Abrams Creek Model. I didn’t know the metal studded versions were removable? Is that very easy to do? Is it a feature worth bothering with?
I fished some pretty slick places were studds would be nice but I don’t want to be locked into metal studded boots only. Although I can continue to use my current boot for those situations (rubber boats) where studs would be inappropriate.
Thanks again, that’s helpful insight and feedback.
Thanks! My regular shoe size is a 13 and I’ve always bought a 14 for wading boots. I can wear a pair of thermax liners, a light wool pair and fleece socks for cold weather steelhead fishing and generally get away with a couple of thin sock during warm weather without uncomfortably sloshing around in the boots.
Based on what I’ve been hearing no one seems unhappy with Chota’s so I’ll look around hard within my area and see if I can locate a pair of Abrams Creek and STL’s to try on. I’ve really had no luck with mail order shoes. There’s a couple of fly shops in the Northern Kentucky and the Columbus area. I’ll have to check the Chota WEB site and see if they have any local dealer (and then see if anybody carries a set of gun boat sizes in stock :? ).
The metal studs in the Chota wading boots screw into pre-molded holes in the bottom of the shoes. The screws look just like hex-head sheet metal screws and some people have replaced them with regular sheet metal screws when the heads wear down. I would recommend that you use the screws provided by Chota. You can purchase extra screws for about $7.00. I think the screws Chota provides are hardened to last longer and they should not rust. You should replace them before the head gets worn down too low to grip with a hex-head screw driver. I have only replaced one set of screws. I hope you can find a pair of the Abrams Creek that have the studs. Since Cabela’s did not list them, I am wondering if they stopped making them with the studs. I will do a search for them because I would like to purchase another pair just to have in case they do stop making them with the studs. I like them that much. If I do find a retailer that has them, I will let you know. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Forgot to answer your other question…Yes, I think the studs are worth it for me because my knees are wore out, according to the Doctor, and the studs provide added traction for me. When my feet slip on rocks, etc. it really puts a strain on my knees. I use my studs all the time no matter what the river bottom is made up with. I even hike through the woods from hole to hole and I feel the Chota Abrams Creek boots are really comfortable for walking. I have been told that in North Carolina some of the streams have granite rock and the studs need to be removed or you will slip and slide all over the place. Felt bottoms for granite rock.
Just after I finished my last post when I returned to the BB the sponsor listed was, strangely enough, Chota. So I went to checked out their web site. They didn’t list the Abrams Creek with a studded sole but they have a boot called the “Citico Creek” that looks like the STL and the Abrams Creek boot mated. Looks exactly like the Abrams boot with a STL Plus sole. The price is $75.00 which is also in between the two.
I did find a dealer listed in Cincinnati but their web site only show a listing for the STL plus. I did find some other shops along my regular travel routes through PA and WVA that are Chota dealers. I’m going to call around and see who has what. I’m not in a hurry, as long as I can be in new boots before the fall steelhead run I’ll be okay. I appreciate the help and assistance. Let me know if you find out anything I haven’t.
According to Bass Pro Web site, they have the Citico Creek wading boots for $74.95, so, if you are anywhere close to a Bass Pro Shop you might check them out.
I own Chotas and Korkers and have fished extensively with both. The Korkers are lighter and the change up on the soles is handy for hiking and wading. However, the Chotas provide more ankle support and are easier to get on and off. Recently, it was time to get my son into some wading boots so I took advantage of the situation by giving him my old boots and bought some new Chotas.
Instead of the STLs, I bought the plain Chotas. The STLs are great but I wade and fish from a boat. STLs are great for wading but one misplace step on your line can ruin it. I also found that removing the studs and fishing without them provided far less traction than I preferred. So, I went with the plain Chotas. They work great with a wading staff. The combination gives me all of the traction I need and I don’t have to worry about the studs doing damage to fly lines or my boat.
! I’ll take a look at the Abrams Creek Model. I didn’t know the metal studded versions were removable? Is that very easy to do? Is it a feature worth bothering with?