I found a pretty good deal on a pair of Korkers Wetlands wading boots. i like the concept of being able to change and replace the soles. I went and tried a pair on today. The first thing i noticed was how thick the sole was and how it seemed to be pretty stiff. I am slightly concerned about how comfortable they will be for a long day of fishing.
Any opinions on the quality or comfort of the boots will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Joe
I got a pair with felt soles (& rubber lugs) about 3 years ago. I like the fit, felt like nice hiking/walking boots.
After a car wreck, & nearly a year of recovery, I got to use them. There’s a particularly steep incline down to the Middle DesChutes river… I walk down with the rubber lugs, fish with the felt & walk back up with the rubber lugs. That’s a GREAT option.
However, I did eventually find them tight. I could only wear the boots with a liner sock & waders (or neo booties). NEVER had a problem with soles coming loose. Also found their customer service MOST helpful… I wanted a third sole (they recommended one) & had another minor issue, they dealt with it immediately.
IF they fit, I’d recommend them whole heartedly.
Later,
Peter
I have a pair and they are very comfortable! I don’t think they have the support of my LL Bean River Treds but they are definitely easier to wear.
Dan
Have had a pair for a few years now and don’t know how I got along without them. I find them very comfortable for 4-6 hours of standing in a stream.
I’ve had the Korkers for one season, and I love 'em!! Got the lug sole, the felt, and the studded felt. They’re comfortable, support the ankles, and change out easily. Best of all worlds!!
I have a pair and I like them so far BUT…
…be advised that the sole attachment method with the web strap and Velcro is going away in 2007. The new design for 2007 is a rubber strap with a hole and a button on the back of the shoe that you pull it over. That may be why you are getting a deal.
It isn’t a big problem IF you get yourself extra pairs of the soles of your choice which is what I did. Lots of places are selling the older style replacement soles at a discount right now. Korkers told me the old style of soles would still be available for 2-3 years depending on demand but if you like the shoes I’d get the deal and buy extra soles NOW 'cause I have a feeling you won’t find them in a year or so.
That being said; I have most of the sole options and find the shoes rugged, comfortable and having the ability to swap shoes is awesome if you hike in to remote locations or fish in new spots all the time like I do and are never sure what you will encounter. I have other shoes so there are not my only pair but I?ve had mine for about 5 months and I?ve used them over 35 times and so far so good in all conditions and situations.
Which sole works best on the Arkansas River in Colorado?
i’ve got a pair. they’re great!!
Well, seems everyone here loves their Korkers. Let me be a dissenting voice. I have had to soles come loose twice. First time happened while wading a particularly swift run and at the time I didn?t think much of it other then a minor annoyance. After thinking about the situation I realized I was in a very dangerous place to have a boot failure. If I would have tripped on the loose sole I could have easily been swept down river. The second time a sole came loose I was loading my boat. I was climbing into the boat just after loading on the trailer and pulling it from the river. As I was entering the boat the sole came loose and tripped me. I went head over heals into the boat. The opportunity for severe injury was very high. The Korkers are now retired and I have purchased another pair with permanently attached soles.
I’ve had my Korker’s wading boots for just over 2 years now and LOVE them. Being able to swap from one sole to another is fantastic. I have the standard rubber lug soles, the rubber with studs and the felt with studs. It’s great being able to wer the lug soles while in the drift boat and then quickly swapping them for the rubber studded ones when hopping out for some wading.
I have hikes miles and miles in thse books. Some farily level walks but many very steep hikes back east here and out in BC, CO and MT and have never had a sole come off. Some of the places we fish require some near rock climbing to get to with very steep grades and poor footing and I’m very happy with the boots.
I would highly recommend them (and have). Buddies who have purchased them were very happy as well. I could not imagine going back to standard boots where you are locked into on sole configuration.
They are coming out with a new system in early 2007. Both a change in how the soles attach and a fantastic system that replaces laces for an easy on and off.
I bought a pair a couple of months ago with the studded rubber lugs for my trip to Idaho. Great boots, glad I had them for the salmon and clearwater rivers.
They are next on my list when the ol’ Simms Ultra Lites kiss it.
I love the idea of the interchangeable soles. I would get like an aqua stealth with and without studs (for my flippers). I don’t use felt, but then I have never had them to use, the aqua stealth works great.
I love my Korkers for comfort, but have to admit that i have lost my soul, uh sole, on two pair. When I complained they sent me another pair with great customer service, but the sole came off them too. And that was a new sole. What I wonder, has anyone ever put a screw into the bottom of these or any other boot? I think if I just added one little screw through the sole they did stay on.
I have added many a screw to wading boats…never to Korker boots but I have added screws to the Korker soles when replacing them on other boots.
You mean the korker replacement felt soles?
I have owned several Korkers products.
Unfortunately, I have not been pleased with their customer service and doubt I will ever purchase a Korkers product again.
Yes, and they can be had [or could have] with the carbide spikes…I glued them on and screwed them on…even supplimented with more “traction screws”.
For those that have experienced a “sole popping off” I have a question:
Did the sole pop out while the strap was still attached or did the strap come undone and then the sole popped out?
The reason I ask is because I did have a slight issue with the strap Velcro coming loose so I modified my straps to eliminate the problem. I can report that no soles ever came loose before or after my modification so I HAVE NOT ever had a sole pop out.
Very odd indeed. I’ve never had a strap come loose or a sole pop off. One suggestion is to be very sure that all the dirt/mud/debris is cleaned out of the channel that the sole slides into up at the toe. This area fills with dirt and such and unless it’s cleaned out, the next sole you slide in will not go in far enough to lock it down and prevent it from popping out.
When Steelhead fishing on a couple of my favorite I’m literally running and jumping from rock to rock so I’m putting a great deal of stress on the boots and soles and flexing them much more as well and still no issues. When a chrome bright Steelhead decides to leave the pool, it does not wait for you so either you run after it or you lose it and I sure hate losing them. : )
I have lost some of the studs from my rubber soles with the studs but that was operator error (duh). Need to check the studs every so often to be sure they don’t loosen as I jump from rock to rock like a Mountain Goat : )
the only thing i do not like is they are too narrow and come 1 size too small. always order atleast 1 size larger if you plan on cold water/winter fishing.