Wading is simple… in theory. You stay upright and you stay dry. Don’t go too deep and don’t go in fast water. In warm weather you wear sandals or lightweight shoes. The rest of the year you wear waders and boots.
As with everything else in fly fishing, wading footwear has been designed, redesigned, and re-redesigned to accommodate the demands of anglers. Sandals are precision molded to keep debris away from tender soles. Wading boots have been constructed to provide sturdy support for the most extreme, demanding conditions.
But what about most fly fishing situations? And what about most fly fishers?
Less is more when you need to move. While they have a place, over-engineered boots have become the standard. The only problem is that they don’t fit the needs of the active angler. Four hours here or there on local water doesn’t require something built for week long Alaskan expeditions. Furthermore, big and clunky is not ideal for hitting the trail and hopping on rocks.
On the other end of the spectrum, ultralight wading footwear is meant to be used by itself. Wet wading is fantastic. But sometimes the water is cold. Sometimes a little more ankle support or toe protection would be helpful. Sometimes getting wet isn’t ideal, or even just not preferred.
There is an option that splits the difference and really is the best of both worlds: a lightweight wading boot. One example of this solution is the most comfortable wading boot I’ve ever worn.
