Wading boot help

Creatch’r

Creatch’r

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My dad struggles with arthritis and we’ve discovered wading boots are a real problem for his toe on one foot. He gets one day in his wading boots before his big toe essentially locks up and walking becomes difficult and painful after that. He has Simms G3 and yes they fit correctly. He has discovered the key to not aggravating this is a sole with some flex, boots with stiff soles are the issue. Does anyone have a recommendation for a wading boot that has some flexibility so I can keep him fishing for a few days at a time comfortably? He needs felt bottoms for the rivers we fish together. These don’t need to be heavy duty boots, he’s always in my drift boat and walking is limited to wading when I park the boat. Thanks
 
No experience, but as I read this I'm looking down at my work boots, which are quite flexible and comfortable....thinking why not start with a good comfortable boot and add the felt? I'd imagine it won't last as long, but if comfortability is the key driver, Id think about starting there (find what is comfy) and add the felt.
 
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Yeah I think wading boots in general go for the stiffest soles possible. I'd experiment with some comfy work boots and added felt.
 
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Go up a 1/2 size and get some nice gel inserts. I do that for my work boots.
 
As mentioned, wading boots all seem to have pretty stiff soles.
Though they don’t offer the ankle support of wading boot, there are dive bootie with felt soles that are pretty flexible and not overly expensive.
If he isn’t doing a lot of wading, those might be an option.
SF
 
Having somewhat the same problem , having had an ankle fusion ,so I too need some flex in any shoe I wear . Which is not an issue for everyday shoes ,but wading thats a different story . I have had a couple pair of Korkers , and one pair nearly new were like ski boots ,gave them away to a friend . The other old pair of Korkers are very flexible in the upper ,and lower which are comfortable . I am thinking a cheaper pair of wading boots that would have some flex in them , that lack the quality , and stiffness . I do see most of the newer name brands now are built like a ski boot ,very stiff .

I am thinking about a pair of the low tops like the Korker All Axis shoe ,with the interchangeable soles . They look like they would have some flex in the toe area , they are a pair I will give a try . They have any type sole , felt ,felt with studs ,rubber etc you would need . Orvis , Simms , possibly other brands sell the lower tops ,designed for hiking , and wading . I wouldn't think they have that stiffness in the toe area .
 
Evan B said:
I may be taking the national sales rep from Korkers out fishin' tomorrow. If he goes, I'll pick his brain to see if they have anything that'd fit the bill.
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Yeah dude see what he says I’d be curious what he suggests.


It sucks watching my dad be in so much pain when I know he just wants to fish. Arthritic joints are brutal. His hands are much worse but if he leaves the knot tying to me it’s actually pretty manageable once he gets moving in the morning. But the toe is not manageable once it’s aggravated. It doesn’t go away so long as he is wearing those wading boots.
 
The mountainous regions of Japan have super steep & deep gorges bordered by knife edge ridges. The extreme sport of "shower climbing" or "waterfall climbing" (sawanabori) up faint hiking and game trails and offtrail high angle wet rock, and wet brush and into Japan headwaters regions is apparently pretty popular in Japan. I've heard that at least some the shoes they use for it are lightweight, soft, flexible, with non-(synthetic?) felt soles or studded rubber and must have some real good traction on dirt, mud, slick wet rock, and in fast flowing streams to do what they do. I personally prefer something with greater support and protection for my feet but then I'm not doing anything like these Japanese expert T-anglers do; not even close!

This article mentions that "Sawanobori shoes have pure felt on the sole – about 1cm thick, and they are quite stiff. Some had rubber on the bottom, and they were lethal 😮 on wet moss. The felt ones had a much better grip, and were more comfortable". Also, that two types of shoes are often carried
www.redbull.com

A guide to Sawanobori: the art of climbing up flowing waterfalls

You don't need an ice axe and the frozen cloak of winter to scale a waterfall. Brit James Pearson recently went to climb some gushing waterfalls in Japan and reveals all...
www.redbull.com www.redbull.com

A rough equivalent in the US is "Canyoneering".
Here is an article that lists some different styles of boots for it.
canyonmag.net

Shoe Review - Canyon Magazine

Testing Japanese sawanobori shoes and FiveTen...
canyonmag.net canyonmag.net

*adding
The anglers in the video are using these lace-up shoes. Might be worth a look.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0CXMXW...5S4H63WM9M1?linkCode=ml1&tag=genryuizakaya-22
 
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I bought the inexpensive Korkers Greenbacks as a backup and they have become my go to. I've found them to be the most comfortable boots I own. That said, I don't need a lot of ankle support in a boot.
 
Old406Kid said:
I bought the inexpensive Korkers Greenbacks as a backup and they have become my go to. I've found them to be the most comfortable boots I own. That said, I don't need a lot of ankle support in a boot.
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I have similar korkers , I agree very comfortable. I’m thinking of giving those Greenbacks a shot . These new models of wading boots built like ski boots escapes me why they have to be that rigid . I don’t need that kind of support either , and I wade the Madison a fair amount , traction is all I’m concerned with .
 
Creatch’r said:
Yeah dude see what he says I’d be curious what he suggests.


It sucks watching my dad be in so much pain when I know he just wants to fish. Arthritic joints are brutal. His hands are much worse but if he leaves the knot tying to me it’s actually pretty manageable once he gets moving in the morning. But the toe is not manageable once it’s aggravated. It doesn’t go away so long as he is wearing those wading boots.
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I’m an early arthritis sufferer and my mother was incapacitated by it, so it’s in my family and my future. Imo the key to fishing longer is mental growth in the fishing game and the willingness to learn the physical part but modify it for the disabilities. An example is weakness of the shoulder in overhead casting that prevents a full day on the water. The solution might be fishing half a day or learning casts that take pressure off the shoulder like a scandi underhand cast. If the feet hurt just fish from the boat. You can overhead cast and 2 hand or singlehand speycast from the boat and even access places where you just can’t wade especially as we age and wading ability falls. If the fingers are not great use thicker lines and thicker running lines. 80ft casts really just are not needed and those thin as a hair mega shooting mono lines aren’t either. You might get a better boot fit with custom waders that simms will make to idealize the stocking foot. Use a quality wool sock like smart wool we use for ski boots. Use a custom footbed to balance pressures over the entire footbed. If I know I’m going to have a demanding day I’ll take some advil before I start my day to keep the inflammation down. It is easier to prevent t inflammation than reduce it once it has taken hold.
 
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