well, LLBean has done it again. i need new wading boots. want aquastealth, not felt. went to several large fishing gear manufacturers’ websites and found out that ladies’ aquastealth boots are rare: if your dainty foot is sized less than abaout a woman’s 10, you’re outta luck because men’s 7 is the smallest size.
so i call up LLBean to suggest politely that they consider making these nice boots in my size. the order lady (Hope) passed me to customer service (Ryan), who said i needed to talk to a Hunting/Fishing specialist. H/F specialist (Paul) listens to my rant and says, “Actually we do have aquastealth in women’s sizes: 6,7,8,9. They don’t seem to be on the web site, though. I’ll take the order and send them, and if you don’t like them, or you need another size, send them back.”
don’t you just love it when you take a deep breath to complain and someone just solves the problem before you get going?
now we know that if the order taker can’t help, ask for a specialist!
Hi Casey - What model boots did you get? If the boots you bought are the River Treads model, I’d like to pass along something I discovered about them.
First, I work for LL Bean. I bought their River Treads model wading boot just before I started working for them. Mine are the studded aquastealth version, and I believe I’ve found the perfect wading boot! I’ll never buy another pair of felt sole boots again (in fact, I just bought another pair of the River Treads today in the unstudded version).
The only thing I don’t like about these boots is that the laces are too thick for the upper lace hooks, and the hooks quickly cut through the outer woven covering. Before you destroy a really nice pair of laces that would last for years on a pair of hiking boots, replace them with something thinner. I used parachute cord, and its perfect. Flat laces would also work well, but that parachute cord slides through the lace eyes like butter, and makes lacing up the boots a breeze.
Hope you enjoy your new boots as much as I do - they wear like iron, so you won’t be needing a new pair for a LONG time.
Looking forward to meeting you at the PA Fish-In. Bring your appetite! :shock: …Ed
It’s great to hear all the good “stuff” about LL Bean. They just opened a new store in my area, walking distance from Cabela’s. It’ll be great to comparison shop at both of these highly reputable outdoor equipment retailers.
Mark
PS: HA, you about sold ME on the boots. I’ll take a look at them later today when I take the Jeep out for a wintery spin. I enjoy pain.
For the last year, my wading boots have been LL Bean Aquastealth ultralights. I got a pair of size 13’s as a gift last year, and only after throwing out the box and wearing them once I found out they were too small. LL Bean’s customer service was top notch, and they had a pair of 14’s out to me in no time, even picking up the shipping cost on the 13’s. I’ve worn them probably 50 times in the past year, and really, really like them. I don’t miss felt at all, and the boots are so light that you hardly know you’ve got them on.
I also own a pair of Bean Bison hunting boots that I would like to be buried in.
West Branch II Wading Shoeis what it says in the confirmatory e-mail. i wasn’t able to read anything about them because they weren’t on the web site, so that is why (Paul) was kind enough to remind me to send them back if they didn’t please.
tune in next week for our next exciting episode! i’m hoping they get here in time for my steelhead trip, 'cause all you knowledgeable folk have told me that felt is no good in snow, sleet, and so on, and also that the steelhead don’t run if it’s not s…leeting.
The Hunting and Fishing specialists at Beans are the best. See something in the catalog but want to be sure it is what you really need, give them a call. Want something you don’t see in the catalog they’ll be happy to help. I bought a Double L Mid Arbor reel earlier this year and wanted it spooled with backing. Gave their H/F specialsits a call, they put the order together, and I had it in the same amount of time had I just ordered the reel from them. Absolutely wonderful service. I also know from conversations with them they will customize any rod/reel combos to your specifications and only charge the price difference (if applicable) when making changes.
so the boots arrive today, as promised. i rush upstairs and don sox and waders, unpack the boots–
and discover why they were removed from the website: they’re cut like hiking boots, so there’s no room for wader feet, only socks.
which is okay in the summer for wet wading, but not okay in the winter…
my two old pairs of boots were cut so a size 8 allowed for wader feet. looks like a mix-up between Freeport and Shanghai.
so, LLBean’s service remains top of my list, and the search for good women’s boots with rubber soles goes on…:rolleyes: there’s a Simms event at the local fly shop tomorrow…stay tuned!
Casey - I was afraid of this happening. In my experience, Bean’s wading boots run one size smaller than normal. I wear a size 11 in every other brand boot I’ve tried, but I take a size 12 in Bean’s boots. Call them A.S.A.P and tell them what happened - they’ll take care of you. Make sure you tell them you need those boots for this weekend!..Ed
H.A., leaving tomorrow night, but will call the store–who knows what might be lurking in the corner behind the children’s parkas and bookbags, ladies’ lounging pajamas, gentlemen’s cold weather shirts, and items of home decor that form the majority of the stuff LL has on sale in our large suburban mall. there is a pretty good fly bin. thanks for the tip.
snow, sleet, freezing rain, blown-out streams covered in ice…oh, well, it’ll give me time to solve the boot thing. thanks for the help and advice; can’t have too much of that!