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2003 Wading Boots Review
We had the fortunate opportunity to "test drive" a couple different styles of wading boots this past season...Chota's STL and the "Guide" series by Simms. Chek out what we found out!
Chota STL - $99.95
These boots are just plain comfortable. They have the right amount of support for casual wading, and are great for hiking river banks and as a "boat" boot. The design is sharp-looknig, and we especially liked the black felt soles...good traction and and a nice muted coloration. These boots were nearly as comfortable to walk around in as your old mountain boots kicking around in your closet. The one negative we found in this product was a non-durable lacing system. While at first glance the "no-tie" system looks slick and easy, the ability to really snug the boots up tight is not great, and the strecthy laces in the boots we test-drove wore out and snapped within less than a dozen trips. If you're looking for a nice, light, comfortable boot for the boat, or easy to moderate wading, the Chota's are worth taking a second look at, provided you replace the factory shipped lacing system with regular old tie-em yourselves!
More info at chotaoutdoorgear.com
Simms "Guide" - $139.00
Hands down the best boot our testers have ever worn. The only complaints were that folks wanted to get these in the non-studded "Aqua Stealth" sole style like is offered by L.L. Bean. The comfort of these boots is great, a nice snug fit for all foot styles we tested. Durability is excellent...these boots have stood up very well to a season's worth of beatings, and are still going strong. While not the most "flexible" boot in the world, in this case that is a good thing, as the stability of these shoes will leave you feeling confident and safe as you wade even the most demanding of streams. We'll be picking up a pair of these for ourselves very soon...and promise if you do too, you won't be dissapointed. As for negatives go...we couldn't find any....maybe they aren't they most snazzy looking?!?! Who cares...if you're looking for the best all around wading boot out there, for all conditions, look no further! These boots are sure to become the workhorses!
of your wading arsenal.
More info at simmsfishing.com
-FFIM Testing Team
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