Sand in wading boots

Stonedfish

Stonedfish

Known Pluviophile
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Just a quick question for those that wear Patagonia RiverSalt wading boots and fish Puget Sound in particular. Do you have any issue with getting sand in these boots while fishing?
I’ve worn these boots for about two years now. I really like the boots but I’ve never had any boot that gotten more sand in them.
When I first started wearing them, I was wearing Redington waders. In less than a year, the outside bootie tape was worn out and the waders were leaking. Redington waders weren’t top of the line, but I’d usually get 3-4 years out of them before they’d leak.
Fast forward to my current pair of Patagonia waders which are also about a year old. The tape on the booties has also worn and they are now leaking.
In both cases, I’m wearing waders with similar size booties. I have size 13 feet and always buy size 14 boots.
I’ve even tried adding another additional gravel guard but by the end of the day I feel like I’m walking on sand dunes inside my boots.
I also got extra long laces which I wrap around the top of the boots before tying.
I have to believe the sand is doing a number on the bootie tape.

I really like these boots. Besides buying different boots, I’m just curious if anyone else has had this issue and how did you solve it?
Here are some pics of my booties and my boots this morning after rinsing them off after fishing yesterday.
SF

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Stonedfish said:
Just a quick question for those that wear Patagonia RiverSalt wading boots and fish Puget Sound in particular. Do you have any issue with getting sand in these boots while fishing?
I’ve worn these boots for about two years now. I really like the boots but I’ve never had any boot that gotten more sand in them.
When I first started wearing them, I was wearing Redington waders. In less than a year, the outside bootie tape was worn out and the waders were leaking. Redington waders weren’t top of the line, but I’d usually get 3-4 years out of them before they’d leak.
Fast forward to my current pair of Patagonia waders which are also about a year old. The tape on the booties has also worn and they are now leaking.
In both cases, I’m wearing waders with similar size booties. I have size 13 feet and always buy size 14 boots.
I’ve even tried adding another additional gravel guard but by the end of the day I feel like I’m walking on sand dunes inside my boots.
I also got extra long laces which I wrap around the top of the boots before tying.
I have to believe the sand is doing a number on the bootie tape.

I really like these boots. Besides buying different boots, I’m just curious if anyone else has had this issue and how did you solve it?
Here are some pics of my booties and my boots this morning after rinsing them off after fishing yesterday.
SF

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Damn! That is problematic. I bought a pair on discount, but haven't worn them yet. Seeing your experience I will only use them for tropical flats wade fishing. "Danner Sand Dune Arch Supports" 😂
 
Sand is just the way it is. I use simms salt boot fishing the beaches about 2-3x/week walking and stalking. I'm using the cheapest breathable amazon wader pants by china company Paramount. I'm on set 2 of these waders lasting about 3years each with no seam failures. This second set is starting on year 4. The simms salt is designed without drain holes but the sand still gets in. Yeah walking on sand dune is how I feel too even with tight gaiters over the boot top because the chinese waders are narrow!!! You might try a second velcro gaiter over your wader to boot top interface and see if that helps.
 
Do you have the original RiverSalts or the RiverSalt II ? I was looking online at them and it looks like the original version has a large pattern of drain holes on each side, that I’m guessing with each step the hydraulic action sucks sand in through those holes.

The RiverSalt II boots don’t appear to have the same drain holes. I wonder if you could try blocking the holes temporarily and see if that helps. Then if it does do something more permanent.

I really have no idea though, as I don’t have them. I just use an old beater pair of non-felt Simms for the salt. But I don’t get out fishing the beaches anywhere near as much as you guys do.
 
Sandy Bootitosis sounds serious...
If you, or a loved one has been affected by sand, you may be entitled to compensation.
 
Merle said:
Do you have the original RiverSalts or the RiverSalt II ? I was looking online at them and it looks like the original version has a large pattern of drain holes on each side, that I’m guessing with each step the hydraulic action sucks sand in through those holes.

The RiverSalt II boots don’t appear to have the same drain holes. I wonder if you could try blocking the holes temporarily and see if that helps. Then if it does do something more permanent.

I really have no idea though, as I don’t have them. I just use an old beater pair of non-felt Simms for the salt. But I don’t get out fishing the beaches anywhere near as much as you guys do.
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I have the original model. The new model are more like flats boots rather than wading boots. The Patagonia rep said I likely wouldn’t be happy with them for wearing with wader use.

Pink Nighty said:
Have you tried a wool sock outside your booties? Won't keep the sand out of your boot, but might reduce the damage it causes?
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I might try that but it might be a bit tight fit.
SF
 
Stonedfish said:
I have the original model. The new model are more like flats boots rather than wading boots. The Patagonia rep said I likely wouldn’t be happy with them for wearing with wader use.



I might try that but it might be a bit tight fit.
SF
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What about trying the old vapor barrier liner trick with a plastic bag between your bootie and the boot?
 
Have you tried fishing areas with a significantly higher rock:sand ratio?

All kidding aside, the same thing happens to me with my foot tractor boots when I fish sandy areas. I think the old neoprene gaiter might help. Maybe some extra long custom ones that cover as much boot as possible and go a good ways above the top of the boot, too.
 
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