What to do about your felt-soled boots

Banned: Felt soled boots and waders

With a ban on felt-soled boots when freshwater fishing in New Zealand effective from 1st October 2008, many anglers are seeking out the best options for replacing or resoling their felt-soled boots.

And Trout Unlimited is calling on the fishing tackle industry worldwide to stop manufacturing felt-soled waders and wading shoes by 2011.

Here we report on some of the options, and what resoling options some footwear repairers can offer.

Please let us know of anything that would be useful to add to this page by emailing bev stevens.

Sticky rubber	Trout Unlimited says that wading shoes with synthetic “sticky rubber” soles of materials such as Aqua Stealth have been around for years, and while some anglers say they work just fine, others complain that they don’t grip as well as felt. To help avoid falls, a wading stick is well worth considering.
Sticky soles	"Sticky soles" is a unique rubber mix with super grip that grabs hold of all kinds of terrain and minimal water absorption. Ther are a different product to Aquastealth but are very similar (and cheaper). Brands Scierra Dynatrack and Ipac boots
Aquastealth	Aquastealth has good grip on grass and gravel but not as good as felt on smooth rocks, particularly if combined with studs. One Flylife forum particpant concluded "looks like the best way is a pair of plain Aquastealth and a pair of studded plus a wading staff". Topz Footwear Repair in Nelson is expecting an order of aquastealth to arrive in early October. Brands Simms AquaStealth boots
New products	Simms Fishing Products’ top announcement at this year’s Fly Fishing Retailer show in Denver last week was a new line of non-felt wading shoes. “It’s very easy to clean, which is very important for wading boots from the aquatic nuisance species standpoint, and it offers exceptional grip,” Simms executive Diane Bristol told blogger and podcaster Zach Matthews. “We feel like it will be as good as, if not better than, felt.” Hodgman One of of the biggest makers of waders, Hodgman, probably won’t discontinue its felt-soled products — but it is working on alternative materials that are easy to clean and provide the necessary traction, said Parrish Lewis, the product manager for waders and accessories of Hodgman’s parent company, Coleman. “We are working with some materials that are completely new to the wading industry." For more details, see the news item as dailygazette.com
Stabil-icers Lite	Maurice was trialing Stabil-icers Lite which are removable with rubber straps that attach around heel and toe with metal spikes under the heel and ball of feet. They are designed for walking on ice and snow. But Maurice reports that the Stabil-icers Lite came off the boots while fishing... though they were good for walking on wet grass. Stabil-icers Lite are available at Mike's Fishing in Christchurch at a cost of about $47-$50 in sizes S M LG (10.5-13) and XL.
Gumboots	Magnum NZ Ltd can replace the gumboots on felt-soled waders, including the neoprene up to knee height. The replacement boots are the same Bata Industrials as used on their Magnum brand waders. Allen Stancliff of Taranaki Fish and Game reports that it didn't matter that his waders were some other brand and that Magnum did a fantastic job. The cost was $105.75 including GST and freight. Contact details Magnum NZ 9F Kellow Place, Manukau City, Auckland Email: dschofield@magnumnz.co.nz
Scuba diving boots	Leslie from South Africa reports that some anglers are using a type of scuba diving bootie, the heavy type used by industrial divers and by anglers fly fishing in the ocean on coral reefs etc. They have a good grip but not so much ankle support, and are not so good for distance walking and back packing.
Crepe	In tests using crepe, some anglers have reported it did not provide adequate grip on slippery rocks.
Cabela's 900-Denier Lug Sole Wading Boots	Maurice tried Cabela's 900-Denier Lug Sole Wading Boots (Item:IJ-830949, US $39.99) on the Mohaka and but determined they were found unsuitable on slimy rocks after taking fall.
Boating shoe soles	Fishing guide Zane Mirfin is trialling non-slip soles often used on yachties boating shoes in association with Topz Footwear Repairs in Nelson.
Footwear repairers	Auckland Dr Shoe, Canterbury Arcade, Queen Street Dr Shoe, Henderson Hamilton Quality Shoe Repairs 559 Victoria Street, Hamilton $85 to replace soles with an imported composite rubberised product. The sole that has a low profile and a slightly rippled surface. They are used by roofers and their grip is said to be just as effective in water. A discount is offered to HAC members Rotorua Dr Shoe $70 to resole a pair of wading boots with "sticky sole" (this price is without cleats). Doing waders is a little more difficult as they don't fit on the machine, but they can be done. Napier Sole Savers Phone 835 8296 Around $55-$80 for replacing felt soles with alternative soles. Maurice reports finding very little difference compared to felt soles. No more becoming horizontal splashes in the water. He has so far found these soles good on Rangitekei, Hutt River, Ohau River and Mohaka River systems. Nelson Topz Footwear Repairs Will resole using aquastealth, crepe or other material including soles used for rock climbing. Queenstown Sole 2 Sole Gorge Rd Retail Centre, Queenstown Phne 03 441 3245 www.sole2sole.co.nz Exclusive resolers of Five Ten Aqua Stealth rubber soles and cleat fitters on boots or waders. Prompt service and reliable repairs. Invercargill Bennett's Shoe Service 169 Tay Street, Invercargill Phone: 2184315 Mobile: 027 490 4748 Email: hmurie@xtra.co.nz

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