I am getting ready to purchase some cheap waders. I’m looking at getting some with the boots instead of stocking foot. What I want to know about is the difference between felt soles and lug soles. I know how they differ, but I want to know which one is more suitable for slick rocks. The places that I wade are covered with slick rocks and I need to know if lug soles or felt soles would be better. Thanks!
I would go with felt and if possible the metal cleats or studs…I have seen some pretty sweet deals at troutlet.com check it out
flyfisher121
Felt, by all means, studded if possible.
Joe -
I would generally agree on the studded felt soles for the conditions you describe.
HOWEVER, in your case I have to say otherwise. The way I see it, if you get lugs and go slipping around on those rocks for a full day you will have some more absolutely delightful stories to tell us.
If you want to be safe - go with the studded felt. If you want to keep entertaining us the way you have been - go with the lugs ( Pleeeaaaassse !! ).
John
Joe;
Studded Felt for sure!
Of course I do like John’s idea 'cause we could hear some great stories!!
There are a few places that lugged soles will be ok but you have to find them first. 
I own both studs and felt soles. On some of my local rivers the rock are smooth, round and covered with slime.
A slip in this water during the spring run off could be a fatal swim, so I use studded felt soles for the best traction.
I also own a raft, I don’t want to mess up the boat floor with studs, but I still might wade fish when boating. So I got a light weight pair of felt sole tennis shoe style boots. Before that I would wear my vibram soleTeva sandles with the waders.
The studs definately provide better traction in the water, yet sometimes they will skid on dry hard granite rocks that are out of the water. Also the steel studs are less comfortable on long hikes over firm trail, you can feel the studs.
In my experiance the boots and the waders wear at different rates, so I see an advantage with stocking foot style waders. If I sit on a patch of cactus (don’t ask why) for lunch and put several hundered small pin holes in my butt I only have to get new waders, the boots still work fine. I’m still using the first pair of gortex waders (Hogman) I ever purchased! In over 8 years they have been patched, cut down from chest high to pant length, torn/patched and otherwise beat up, yet they still work well enough for good weather and shallow water. For cold weather or deep water I have some Simms guide weight chest highs. I’m now on my third pair of studded boots. The sharp quartz rocks in my area chew the heck out of the stitching, I had to replace these boots when the seams gave out.
Well I’m clumsy enough that if you put tree climbing spikes, super glue and sand- paper on my feet, I’d still find someway to bust my rear-end on some rocks and come up with some good bruises. I’m also a poor judge of distance, depth and good hands in poker. So there is always a possibility of me stepping off a rock into water that is deeper than the waders are tall which would make for an excellent photo.
Joe;
The next time you go fishing I want to come over with a Video Camera 'cause we all need a good laugh now and then. I’ll also bring along a deck of cards for some streamside poker. We can play some 5 card Stud so I can offset the cost of the trip!
I was wearing lugs when I fell on the slippery rocks of the Lochsa river. Broke my arm. So for entertainment value you can’t beat lugs.
And believe me the fellows and gals with me at the fish in got their entertainment moneys worth.
Now I am planning to buy some Chota STLS with felts and cleats for 2008 fish-in. Nuff said.