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.

Recently, I have been fishing in the Redington Benchmark Boot. The Benchmark is Redington’s entry-level boot, and comes in at $119 for felt or rubber soles. What piqued my interest in these, when I was already using a pair of premium wading boots, was the weight and the footbed. The sole reminds me of some of my favorite light hikers. And, even wet, they don’t weigh much at all. This all translates into boots that are great for longer treks while wearing waders and an active approach while on the water.

This perspective shouldn’t be a surprise to anglers who also hike. Rigid boots have a place in hiking. If I’m in the woods for a weekend, carrying a heavy load, or traversing particularly unstable  terrain, I’ll go with my tall leather boots. Most days? I am in my low-top hiking shoes. I can do virtually anything I want to, and with more finesse and feel than if I was in my big boots. Similarly, a  lightweight wading boot allows me to move effortlessly in and out of the water. I think about how I move on rocks when I’m hiking, and that is what I want when I’m navigating a river. The whole point of wading is to move around to position myself to fish.

Again, I’m really impressed with the Benchmark Boots. Laced tight, they hold my heel and ankle in place. The stability provided by the wider footbed is noticeable when standing perpendicular to the current or when navigating angled rocks.  All of that is irrespective of their price tag. Factor that in, and they are a great choice for a beginner or for someone who wants to add a pair of boots designed for movement.

I’m not going to throw out my heavy-duty boots or my wet wading shoes. I love how effortless moving around in my wet wading shoes is. But that isn’t practical for half of the year. Fly fishing in waders doesn’t necessitate stomping around in heavy, rigid boots. So why only fish in heavy, rigid boots when I don’t have to? Those pairs of footwear have their purpose. But the Redington Benchmark Boots are the kind of  wading boots that I’ll wear on 4 out of 5 outings.

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Interested in the Redington Benchmark Boots? Here is a link to their website. They run true to size (I take a 9.5 or a 10 shoe, and the 10 boot fits great).

Feel free to ask me about them, but Redington customer service is particularly helpful.