The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Happy '09 all.
I'm looking at these new boots (thinking of Spring)and wondering if they are better than felt?
Has anyone tried them?
With or without Studs?
Thanks all.
MK

I've got Simms with Aquatread, and they're fine. I fall over in them just as often as I did with felt soles. I think that Simms is the industry leader in moving out of felt because of New Zealand mud snails--felt is worse than rubber.

MK,

I have had the LL Bean Aqua Stealth soles for awhile now. They are based on rock climbing rubber soles, and I really like them.

No experience w the new Simms material, and I think it is new this year, so the only experience is apt to be 'pro staff' if that.

For the past month I've been fishing 3-4 times a week with felt on one boot and Streamtread on the other (exact same boot style and neither sole had cleats). The new rubber tread is amazingly grippy. Almost as good as felt on slimy bedrock and MUCH better than felt for walking stability, general streambed conditions and on snow and subfreezing temps. I'll be testing some cleats that might take these soles over the top for slick, slimy rock. Have not tried the new Patago or Cloudveil rubber soles but hear good reports.

Great info.....thanks to you all who responded.
MK

My wife bought me the new Simms G4 boots with the Vibram "Streamtread" soles (I know, she is definitely a keeper). I used then, sans studs, on the Lower Stan on Jan 2. I previously owned Simms Guide and Wienbrenner boots with the AquaStealth sole. I much preferred the AS sole over felt because of all the hiking I did while fishing. AS was great for that, but not so good in the water w/o studs. The Vibram soles were much better in the water than the AS soles w/o studs, but to me were still much too slippery to be completely effective. Out of the water the Vibram seemed harder than the AS, but still hiked well. I will be getting the new Simms studs as soon as they are available. One gripe on the Simms studs. I much preferred the older style 'embedded in the sole' carbide studs. Simms has gone for a stud that must be driven into the sole. They are not as grippy as the carbide studs and wear out pretty quick. Hopefully the new ones are better.
BTW, Lower Stan fished low and slow. Rain and cold did not help. Lost a nice 18"+ fish right at the bottom of the hill riffle at 2 Mle Bar, though.

tHANKS ffm.....

Thanks FFMike..
This was just the kind of info I needed.

Great help.....great board.

MMike