Has anyone tried the new Stealth soles? If so, how do they compare to felt and can you replace them? Thanks,
raw69:
I guess I’ll pick this post to respond to…
First of all when you say new, is there a NEW Aquastealth out there because Aquastealth has been around for quite a few years now. My experience is with the only Aquastealth I am aware of.
I have both studded and regular Aquastealth on wading shoes. They work great…
…in some places with the studded working best in most places. They definitely don’t work as good as felt or studded felt respectively in my opinion. They are not so great on really slippery rocks but again the studded have the advantage here.
I use them most on a stream I fish regularly where the bottom is a combination of small rocks, gravel, sand and silt. I don’t use them on really rocky streams and if I do, I would opt for the studded variety ONLY!
A big advantage to them is your shoes dry out quickly and you don’t carry waterborne pest from location to location. They wear well, are great for hiking in and out and can be replaced as easy as felt.
Hope this helps.
I’ve been using Aqua Stealth soles for the last 3 years, and wouldn’t use anything else. The soles don’t pickup NZ mud snails, although the boot may. They don’t freeze and pack up with snow like felt does when winter fishing. They provide excellent traction on stream side rocks and boulders, and generally hold well on most wet surfaces. They’re good on trails when walking, and you can add cleats to them if needed. You can’t replace them like felt, and they do wear over time.
Dear raw,
I agree with the posts from Bamboozle and Grizzly Wulff about the performance and other advantages of Aqua Stealth.
I only have a studded pair of Aqua Stealth wading shoes and for the rivers I fish it’s the only way to go, non-studded Aqua Stealth boots would be ankle breaking misery. I will echo Bamboozle’s comment that they do not grip as well as studded felt on the streams around here.
Best Wishes,
Avalon 
I have also used the Aquastealth and agree with previous posts. They also have the added traction and durability for the hike or approach to the fishing waters. I have not used studs and have not found a problem with traction yet (not fishing on ice). I am fishing sandy/bouldered, and muddy/silty stream beds rivers and lakes.
If I was younger and fished more, and more varied waters, I would use a boot with several soles available. Such as one for trekking in, then options for in the water. If my choices of fishing places were limited I might choose a single sole type for the waters I fished most.
I use Aquastealth. I’ve added a few studs (screw-in type) that have helped traction on slimy/mossy rocks. I’ve found that about 6 studs in each sole is about right.
I wade rocky streams, and often hike a bit to get into the fishing spot. The Aquastealth has worked well while wading, and is much better than felt for hiking in and out.
GW:
Not trying to be contradict you but what is the problem with replacing Aquastealth? I’ve added it to shoes and replaced it on others. Barge Cement did the trick in both cases and was easier than felt to replace.
Ya mean like Korkers Konvertables? That’s why I got them, not 'cause I’m younger, but the second part…about fishing varied waters. ;).
Bamboozle, I know you are going to say you have had no problems with the Korkers and I know they are a SPONSER, but I have close friends and met others that say when squatting to let fish go, the soles pop out of the craddle. Anything on that?
FG:
I can honestly say this hasn’t happened to me. I fish a lot of small creeks and typically wade as shallow as possible so I do the squat/bending thing a lot. It sounds like POSSIBLY the strap on the back isn’t tight enough. I cinch mine up pretty tight. There is a re-design coming next year although I THINK it only involves the strap system.
First, thanks for all the info on Stealth soles. I bought the Korkers just so I could have the choice of soles. I have fished and hiked them hard. I use the felt 90% of the time. I have never had any problem with the soles popping out. Do they have a Syealth sole?
Yes, both regular and studded Aquastealth are available for the Korkers. I have the studded variety for mine. I got them from [url=http://www.theflyshop.com/38.htm:4e1de]The Fly Shop[/url:4e1de] which happens to have them on closeout, probably because of the new version coming in 2007.
Aquawhat? I use a pair of converse sneakers.
FG
For the last several months everytime I go fishing I have had a sole come off one shoe while in the river. Just once during the trip. I have come to the conclusion it is because I initially put the sole on when every thing is dry. Then after they get wet things stretch a little. It happens when I am wearing the hard rubber sole with the big individually replaceable cleat which grip excellently thus there is a lot of torque put on the sole plate at times. After putting it back on it has never come off again for the rest of the day.
I have been told by a local fly shop that Korkers has changed the sole in their products for this coming year but he did not know specifically how.
The aquastealth soles themselves will not pickup water born pests (great for WD and Rock Snot) but the crevises and creases can. A California DF&G study showed that it is easy to get NZ Mudsnails inside of your boots.
see the picture and caption on this page
http://www.westdenvertu.org/snails.htm#soles
Scruffy:
I was told by Korkers that they are going to the rubber strap and button system they use on their [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/prorevw/korkers.html:c04cf]Swift Sandal[/url:c04cf]. I THINK that only the strap is changing not the actual sole. I was also told that the old web strap type soles would still be available from Korkers for at least 2-3 years, possibly longer. I doubt the fly shops will have both types in stock so down the road you may have to special order the old sole type.
Yesterday I went fishing and I squat down when I put on my wading shoes which has a tendency to really flex the soles. In both instances when putting them on dry before fishing, and when taking them off wet after fishing; nothing popped out.
Scruffy:
I was told by Korkers that they are going to the rubber strap and button system they use on their [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/prorevw/korkers.html:60c2a]Swift Sandal[/url:60c2a]. I THINK that only the strap is changing not the actual sole. I was also told that the old web strap type soles would still be available from Korkers for at least 2-3 years, possibly longer. I doubt the fly shops will have both types in stock so down the road you may have to special order the old sole type.
Yesterday I went fishing and I squat down when I put on my wading shoes which has a tendency to really flex the soles. In both instances when putting them on dry before fishing, and when taking them off wet after fishing; nothing popped out.[/quote]
Bamboozle, TKU. for the info on how long they are going to support the old sole. My boots probably will have been torn up by then and need replacing. However, my rubber soles with the large replaceable cleats have been discontinued I understand. I just ordered another set of replaceable cleats. I just installed a complete new set. They wear out kinda quickly but since they grip all surfaces like a Mountain goat on rock cliffs I don’t mind.
Scrufy:
Check out [url=http://www.theflyshop.com/38.htm:ac970]The Fly Shop’s[/url:ac970] inventory. They still show the soles you mentioned and they also list the replacement soles as closeout so they MAY be less $$$.