An Underground Gear Review Update: Rubber Sole
Original Post:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TroutUndergroundFlyFishBlog/~3/162259268/
Not quite a year ago, I posted a gear review about my studded-rubber soled wading boots.
To recap, I went to studded rubber soles because hiking along the railroad tracks quickly wore the felt off my studded felt boots, leaving behind protruding carbide studs that skated dangerously on smooth rocks.
Life is dangerous enough without adding hazards along the river, so I tried the studded rubber Weinbrenner boots.
More than a year into their working lives, I’m happy to report they’re doing well, though the rubber sole is wearing towards the stitching at the edge of the sole.
Still, they’ve worked well under a wide variety of conditions (including freestone rivers, small streams, and while mostly sober), so I’m happy.
The footing isn’t quite a secure as it is with studded felts, but it’s probably in the 80%-90% range (it seemed to get a little better as the soles aged).
The good news? Grip on dry, riverside rocks is better than to studded felt, so when I’m rock-hopping on dry land, they’re great.
They’re also a bit stiffer laterally, so my feet are less likely to get torqued and twisted between rocks.
Worst case scenario for studded rubber? Rounded, heavily slimed rock beds. Best? Fishing small streams, where you’re hiking on dry land more than you’re in the water.
On the whole, I’d say any non-trustfunder on all but the most difficult rivers might want to give these things a try, if only in the interests of financial survival.
Of course, if you’re not fishing a lot — or aren’t wearing out your felt soles quickly –then perhaps change is overrated.
Eternity’s Boot
Sadly, when I went to Weinbrenner’s site to see about resoling these babies (they don’t need it yet), I discovered the studded rubber boot wasn’t listed, and neither was the re-soling service.
An e-mail to Weinbrenner’s wading boot e-mail address was bounced back by the server, and my e-mail to the company’s standard email address hasn’t been answered.
Bad omens, and it’s likely that Weinbrenner’s out of the studded rubber sole business. No worries — others sell studded rubber, and in a pinch, you can simply buy the plain rubber soles, screw in sheet metal screws, and viola — you’re there.
At least so I’m told.
See you on the river, Tom Chandler.
Technorati Tags: fly fishing, wading boots, fishing, gear review
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