Remember, trucks and boats can only take you just so far; the rest of the way is on foot
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]y friend of a dozen or more years and I do a lot of walk-in fishing here in South Florida. My agility greatly diminished over the years due to a prior fascination with football USA style (HS, college and then heavy duty combat in the NFL). My one knee got so damaged that I opted for a knee replacement a year ago. Although the replacement was successful, my wariness afoot has limited my access to some of my ‘hot spot’ fishin’ holes. Alex, my fishin’ bud, noticed my tepidness and she finally said: “Why don’t you spring for a decent pair of wading boots and ditch those worn out tennis shoes that are like ice skates on slopes and dried out grass beds?” She added: “I’m getting a little creaky myself and I’m not happy to have a 200 pound man lean on my 100-pound frame while treading slip-sliding turf,” She’d made a point and, as always, bluntly.
Looking for a Winner
I started Googling, calling trout fishing buds del norte who are into wading boots big time, asking around shoe department “pros” at outdoor hiking-camping stores and at big box stores. I wanted to stay under a hundred bucks, but you get what you pay for and $100 didn’t turn-up any decent boots.
Finding a Winner
“Sticky” sole version.
Eventually, I found Patagonia’s Ultralight Wading Boots (sticky version). Although they only weighed in at 2-pounds, 6-ounces, which is almost tennis shoe light, they carried a hefty price tag of $180. All I can say is I’m glad I pulled the trigger. Although I remain super-cautious while fly fishing canal banks, spillways, ponds and lakes I can now manage ‘slippery slopes’ and access what was verboten with a titanium knee and worn-out tennis shoes. I also use these as hiking boots when slogging through the swamp in Big Cypress.
When the trail gets long the Ultralight Wading Boots keeps a spring in your step all the way there and back. They’re made of lightweight, quick-drying synthetic leather – upper is flexible yet tough enough to handle hard use. Patagonia uses what they call Venergy mesh with Bionix yarns, which drains the footbed while keeping sand and silt out. The Rock Grip sticky rubber soles hold fin straps and is long-wearing. The Ultralight is designed to be a fishing boot, but its other uses are why we like them.
NOTE: The sole accepts studs (sold separately) and boots can be resoled for extended life.
Specs:
- Quick-drying synthetic leather is lightweight and comfortable; extremely durable Venergy mesh with Bionix yarns drain quickly and keeps sand out
- Long-wearing Rock Grip soles; all outsoles can be resoled; sole designed to hold fin straps; sole also accept studs, which are sold separately
- Internal upper support and reinforced toe box resists water pressure when deep wading
- Winner of the 2012 ‘Best Footwear’ award at EFFTEX and the European Fly Fishing Show
- Upper: Synthetic leather with monofilament mesh and polypropylene insole board. Full-length molded EVA midsole 1077 g (2-pounds, 6-ounces)
Made in China.
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