I need something to wear while wet wading. I’m not as concerned about falling as the stream I normally fish is not really slick. I think I like the looks of some of the sandals I’ve seen. Especially those that have covering over the toes. It seems to me that sandals would be much lighter in weight but I’ve never owned a pair and was wondering what you guys might think? So, what or which do you prefer? Oh, and by the way, which ever I buy I am on a very tight budget as I am financially embarrassed
If slipping is not an issue, I’m a old tennis shoes kind of a guy. I still have shoes from several years back when my knees would allow me to jog that I use for cutting the grass and fishing, etc.
I’ve actually got some booties that I use with my felt sole wading boots that work great, but I have to hike a pretty long way to get to the creek. I’m afraid it’ll tear up the felt soles or worse the boots themselves. I’m really getting interested in some small stream fishing and it takes quite a bit of hiking to get there.
I used to use old tennis shoes, but I bought a pair of Columbia “Drainmaker II” water/boating/wear anywhere shoes this year and I absolutely love 'em. Traction is fantastic, and they dry very quickly on top of being lightweight and comfortable enough to walk around in all day. Caught them on sale at the website for $60 or so, but I saw them in the Columbia outlet store when we were in Pigeon Forge in May for $39. I would highly recommend them if this is in your price range. I don’t work for or have any interest in Columbia, just a very happy customer.
I have used sandals in the past and didn’t like it a bit. Constant gravel/sand problems.
For wet wading I wear a pair of Simms wading sandals. I thought I would look up a link for you but I now see that again I am a dinosaur, they don’t make my style anymore. Mine have Velcro straps but now they use a lace system. Anyway, they work great. I bought mine because they did have the toe guard and I really hate stubbing my toes.
I’ve used tennis shoes, sandals and water shoes for wet wading. If you have to hike a little ways, I’d recommend a sturdy pair of tennis shoes. Sandals and water shoes (imo) aren’t ideal for moving any amount of distance.
Since you stated that it is a long hike in, I have to assume you will be pretty much alone in the small creeks, so, why not have a pair of hiking shoes of some sort plus something to wade the water in. Once you have hiked in, remove hiking shoes and hide them and put on whatever you want to wade in and when finished fishing, put hiking shoes back on and hike out. Just a thought…
The wading sandals are great if you don’t stick a branch into one of the holes on the sides and rip your foot up - heavy socks might prevent this. If you don’t need the traction of the wading shoes, hands down would be old tennies.
I was going to suggest what Warren said. Wear hiking shoes on the walk in then switch to wading shoes. It’s nicer to walk out in dry socks and comfortable shoes. Carry what you wade in in a rucksack. And what Herefishy says about sticks and sandals, I still have a scab across my toes and foot top from the last time I went fishing. I like sandals for wet wading but there are problems which have already been discussed. If you have a Big 5 Sporting Goods store nearby check their shoe sales. They have good affordable footwear. Jim
I have Keen wading shoes for wading and Keen sandals for paddling. I wear Keen boots almost every day… (I neither work for or have stock in Keen. I do get a discount as an outdoor recreation professional…)
I’d go with some sort of trail shoe. I picked up a pair for a Colorado trip off Cabela’s clearance page for under $40. Sierra Trading Post might be a good place to start. Sandals work, but are very uncomfortable when rocks get trapped under your feet.
I have pairs of both Keen and Simms wading sandals. Both of mine are about 4-6 years old, and were designed for wading (both have faults in that regard that may have been addressed in newer style changes - for example my Simms sandals have crappy Velcro that does not stay closed all of the time when wading) and neither were designed for hiking, although I hiked in to a remote river with a friend once who wore Simms wading sandals, apparently without a major problem. I believe if you want to hike, you should get footwear designed for hiking, not wading. And if you want to wade, get footwear designed for wading.
So, in my opinion, I would take 2 pairs with me, as already recommended. Otherwise, you open yourself up to problems.
That being said, when I was a kid I often rode my bike several miles to go fishing, wet waded most of the day in a small mountain trout stream with rubber soled tennis shoes, wore these wet shoes home, dried them out over night (more or less) and probably played baseball with these same shoes the next day. But, that was the only pair of shoes I had at the time. Then, as an adult I fished for many years wearing inadequate footwear (winter steelhead fishing at 18 below zero, for example - but that’s another story). Now, some 50-60 years later, my feet are suffering from years upon years of such abuse! Don’t be penny-wise and pound foolish.
In the summertime it is Keen H2’s. Great sole, great foot pad and enough upper to give decent foot protection. I have hiked in them, waded small streams in them, waded saltwater flats in them, walked the beach in them, kayaked in them, had se… oh wait, haven’t done that in them. They are in such demand that you will rarely find them on sale, but it is the only footwear I will pay full price for.
