Product Reviews

 Product Review:  Simms Guide Wading Boot

 Made By:  Simms

I've always felt that the flaw with some product reviews is that they focus on brand new products.  Field testing is great, but the long term life of a product, particularly a fly fishing product,  is generally guess work.  I've always thought that a follow up further down the road would be a more reliable testament to the quality and longevity of a product.

Now, I am pretty thrifty.  I like a good deal and it has been a hard lesson to learn that the less expensive product may cost you more money in the long run.  In terms of wading boots, is the immediate savings of an inexpensive pair really a better value than a pair that is twice as expensive but lasts twice as long?  Here is a great fly fishing lesson.

So, here is my two cents about these boots.  I bought mine in 2002.  Should I continue?  They are scuffed up really well and the ankle padding is a little stiff from where it melted from my campfire (Nothing is worse than frozen wading boots in the morning).  But, they continue to serve me well.  I can't say enough about the quality of the construction.  The only thing I've replaced is the laces.  You can see from the pictures that the studds have started to rust and they've been worn down quite a bit, but I still feel sure footed and well protected in all conditions...  except steep, grassy, muddy hillsides (long story).  At the end of the day, my feet are always tired, but that's from fishing all day, not from the boots.  Since day one, these puppies have kept me blister free.

Now, I do have an older model.  They are a little heavy, but I like how they feel when I'm in the water.  Also, until they get wet they are very stiff.  Simms has made some changes since I purchased mine and I think those changes will help reduce stiffness and weight, greatly improving comfort.

Here are the specs from Simms:

 So, these boots really have stood the test of time for me.  A quality product that will carry you through many seasons on the stream.

The boot retails for $159 for the felt sole, $179 for the felt studded sole, and $189 for the feltless, streamtread (new clean technology to help reduce transit of invasive species), rubber sole.

Simms goal is to be feltless by 2010, so if you have to have felt and you have to have Simms, Please visit our sponsors.  RiverBum and Leland both have a great selection of Simms Wading Boots. 

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