wading screws?
- Thread starter SurfnFish
- Start date
Mostly I've used Kold Kutter screws, but I tried the Simms carbide screws on a couple pair of wading boots. The Simms have slightly better grip on the N. Umpqua, but otherwise not a particularly good value. They wear out surprisingly fast I think. So even though the Kold Kutters wear out faster than the Simms, they are a way better value.
G_Smolt
Legend
I'm a HUGE fan of aluminum star cleats.
I had a set of boots with the simms carbides, I couldn't wear them on airplanes / in boats but I used to like them for a couple of super-snotty wades on our road system...
Until I tried the aluminum stars. IMO, so much better than carbides or other tiny cleats, pretty much night and day. As a bonus, I can wear them in planes/boats! They don't last anywhere near as long as carbide studs (I go thru 16 stars/boot/season), but I've got a couple hundred spares and that's a small price to pay for confidence and peace of mind while at work.
I had a set of boots with the simms carbides, I couldn't wear them on airplanes / in boats but I used to like them for a couple of super-snotty wades on our road system...
Until I tried the aluminum stars. IMO, so much better than carbides or other tiny cleats, pretty much night and day. As a bonus, I can wear them in planes/boats! They don't last anywhere near as long as carbide studs (I go thru 16 stars/boot/season), but I've got a couple hundred spares and that's a small price to pay for confidence and peace of mind while at work.
Outside of kold kutters, I like the grip provided by the Orvis ones. That said, I bought a bag of 250 kold kutters several years ago and just swap them out periodically as they do wear quicker, but they also grip very well. Shoot, they're only $30 for a bag of 250 so it's still a bargain.
BEST traction? always going to be aluminum something....bars or stars
BEST traction? always going to be aluminum something....bars or stars
Last edited:
Kold Kutters
3/8 inch
#8
1/4 inch head
16/boot Simms Freestones with the pre drilled insert/holes.
IMHO, Ive not found anything as grippy as the old Weinbrenner/Gary Borger felt sole/studded boots but the Kold Kutters are close.
If you have felt on your boots and you go with the Kold Kuttters, you may have to play with the screw shaft length, if there arent already any pre drilled holes/inserts.
3/8 inch
#8
1/4 inch head
16/boot Simms Freestones with the pre drilled insert/holes.
IMHO, Ive not found anything as grippy as the old Weinbrenner/Gary Borger felt sole/studded boots but the Kold Kutters are close.
If you have felt on your boots and you go with the Kold Kuttters, you may have to play with the screw shaft length, if there arent already any pre drilled holes/inserts.
Last edited:
I looked up kold kutters, the price is 4 times the cost from when I bought them.
Someone is even selling a bag of 30 for 7 dollars. the wading boot companies used to sell felt with the studs
that lasted longer than the boots. They stopped that so they can sell us screws for a dollar apiece
Someone is even selling a bag of 30 for 7 dollars. the wading boot companies used to sell felt with the studs
that lasted longer than the boots. They stopped that so they can sell us screws for a dollar apiece
Brian in OR.
Life of the Party
Dont think those are aluminum...
You are correct. Linked to the wrong product.
These are the ones I bought. Confirmed aluminum.
Pescaphile
Steelhead
I've used the aluminum screws that are used for screen doors. They provide a superior grip to tungsten carbide or steel but their durability isn't too great.
The absolute best traction was from the galoshes with the aluminum bars. I used to use them in the Thompson River which has the most challenging wading conditions I know of. I'm not sure if they're even available anymore.
The absolute best traction was from the galoshes with the aluminum bars. I used to use them in the Thompson River which has the most challenging wading conditions I know of. I'm not sure if they're even available anymore.
What I used up there also. They literally fell apart due to old age.
Another vote for Kold Kutters. I did not notice the Kold Kutters wearing down faster than the Simms screws but I have been using them for so long I really do not remember. The nice thing about the Kold Kutters is they are so cheap it is easy to add extras and change them more often
Dan Bailey's Stream Cleats. They don't make them anymore.
You were lucky if you got 1 season out of them.
I've still got my DB Stream Cleats. They are stored on my Borger plain felt sole boots.
Pescaphile
Steelhead
I had both the Dan Bailey's version which had felt and aluminum bars and a Canadian version that I don't remember the name of. The Canadian models didn't have any felt which didn't seem to matter traction-wise.
Not with the Canadian versions. They were superior to the DB version.