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flytyer
distinguished member (220)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/23/2020 05:38PM  
I blew (nasty sprain, full 90 degree inward, Docs unsure of a tear) out my right ankle in January of this year. Had to wear the big boot, physical therapy, etc. As a 'wet footer', I usually wear Keen H2O's in the canoe and while portaging. But I was thinking about the rubber soled wading boots with the wet wader sock.
They do provide foot and ankle support. I have felt soled wading boots but I would not want to use those to portage.

Any thoughts?
 
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mschi772
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06/23/2020 07:57PM  
My choice for dry-footing is Dry Shod boots (like Muck but better and owned by the original owner of Muck). They're great and sturdy, but I wouldn't say they're especially supportive of the ankle. I've worked hard to strengthen my ankles in order to avoid needing to use highly restrictive boots. I'm to the point where I usually just wear Astral Loyaks, but when water temps are low, I try to stay dry with my Dry Shods.

NRS has their Boundary Water boot which look interesting, but I'm not sure how supportive they are as I haven't worn them; I could see them going either way based just on seeing pictures of them.
 
cowboymac12
distinguished member (247)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/23/2020 09:15PM  
Make sure the BWCA doesn't prohibit felt soles. I wear Cabela's rubber soled boots. Good ankle support, decent traction, and easy on the wallet.
 
Canoe Dude
distinguished member (400)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/24/2020 03:10PM  
I like to wetfoot with Merrell Ventilator boots. Good ankle support (I have had ankle problems in the past) and they drain pretty decent. Merrell Ventilator Boots
 
06/24/2020 03:40PM  
flytyer: "... I was thinking about the rubber soled wading boots with the wet wader sock. They do provide foot and ankle support. I have felt soled wading boots but I would not want to use those to portage."


Are you thinking about something like these wading boots?
Chota Trekkers
Chota Super Lite Portage Hiker

I've worn the first for many years with liner socks under medium weight wool socks. My friend wears them with either a high SealLine sock or Chota's breathable sock. The ankle support is good as is the traction in and out of the water. I would think that other rubber soled wading boots would work well, too.
 
flytyer
distinguished member (220)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/24/2020 07:11PM  
Here is what I was considering. I do appreciate the ideas.
https://www.orvis.com/p/men-s-clearwater-wading-boots-rubber-sole/2p92
 
06/25/2020 08:34AM  
Below is my review for the Chota hybrid. I liked this boot a lot.

Considering your Orvis wading shoes... I tried on a bunch of different fishing oriented wading boots and was always disappointed with the fit. They are really designed to wear over the neoprene sock of waders and just don't fit right with a regular sock

HYRB-800 HYBRID HIGH-TOP RUBBER SOLED BOOT review 2018
"I don't often do equipment reviews, but I thought this would be of interest as it is a relatively new product. I purchased these in June for a mid-July solo of ten days 28 portages.

These things are light weight. So light that I worried about their durability. They did just fine on a rugged trip and seem to be no worse for the wear. I look forward to using these on many more excursions. They are right on in size. If your going to wear a heavy rag wool sock you might need a size larger. I was able to replace the footbed with a Spenco orthotic and wear a medium weight sock.

I immediately disposed of the bungee shoelaces. On uneven ground, especially going downhill I want my boots to be firmly attached to my feet. The bungees stretch and feel loose just at the time you need them to support your foot the most. I put some nice round, tough laces on them and that work just fine.

Best thing about these boots is their stickiness on wet rocks, wet logs and roots. In ten days and 28 portages I never had a slip. Better than any wading shoe I have ever had. They also supported and protected my feet well. Besides the portages I went on several dry land cross-country explorations and they were comfortable on really rugged ground. The soles are pretty stiff- I like that with stoney trails.

They drain fast and dry out quick except for the collar. I was not in a hurry to get out of them arriving at camp. I only wore my dry shoes on one layover day that I didn't paddle until evening.

Negatives. The dumb bungee laces-easily fixed. The soft collar, especially combined with the low cut back. For any boot that might get completely submerged in mud or soft sand a uniform height collar that can slug up to your ankle is preferred. Soft, low cut collars are just funnels for mud and sand. Its why I liked my old Converse Allstars and the old LL Bean Maine Guide shoe. But LL Bean Shoe is gone and my old feet need more protection than the Allstars can give so I'll put up with the collar to get the other advantages of this boot.

I would recommend these if you are looking for new wet shoes. I may order another pair to store away. There is always a good chance they will be discontinued before I wear these out."
 
06/25/2020 11:17AM  
To sedges' point about fit, try on boots while wearing the socks or wading socks you'll be using. I tried 2-3 sizes of the Chotas before I got the right fit for my wet-footing preference, and even then I had to tinker with the boots by trying different footbed combinations. After I chose the boot for canoeing, I then thought about using them with my sock-foot waders for fly fishing, but the boots were too short for the waders. So, try before you buy (or be able to return them easily if you are ordering online).
 
adam
Moderator
  
06/25/2020 12:32PM  

I use a pair of Patagonia Marlwalker Flats boots now. They dry quick. They are sturdy and comfortable and have some grip. They don't make them anymore, but you might be able to find a pair they are clearing out.
 
moustachesteve
senior member (84)senior membersenior member
  
06/26/2020 12:56PM  
I've been happy with Astrals. I actually use them for fishing too - just bought them a size big to accommodate waders and I'm wearing wool socks when wet footing anyway, so it's what the kids call a twofer
 
shawhh
distinguished member (214)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/26/2020 02:30PM  
I like the Altama maritime assault boot. They're like converse all stars on steroids. ankle high, supportive, drain vents and a cordura body dry in a jiffy.
 
06/26/2020 02:42PM  
flytyer: "I blew out my right ankle in January of this year.
I was thinking about the rubber soled wading boots with the wet wader sock.
They do provide foot and ankle support. I have felt soled wading boots but I would not want to use those to portage.

Any thoughts?"


How much ankle support? I've taken a lot of flack about my choice but I do it for support and I have an odd foot size. Anyway I do wear all leather boots and do wet-foot over the tops in them. Good boots with proper care will last, will dry acceptably overnight, absorb little water, and provide good support. A 27 ounce 6 inch high leather boot gains 6.6 ounces fresh out of the water and looses 4+ ounces of that overnight.
I've used waders and waterproof socks but sweat too much and wind up as wet anyway, probably just a personal thing.
I did find felt soles nasty when muddy and on wet portages. Rubber soled would work fine.

butthead
 
Chuckles
distinguished member (255)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/30/2020 03:10PM  
I've always tripped in October to avoid bugs, so I've always dry-footed. I just finished my first wet-footing trip and I wore high-top basketball shoes and they were perfect. I found a pair of Nike Hyperquickness shoes at the 2nd hand store for $6 ($8 including replacement laces).

If you're used to sandals and need some extra support, these are great. They weigh ~10 ounces. And because new sneakers are full of mesh, they drain and dry fast. I laced them to the top and found them incredibly supportive. The rubber was great on slippery rocks.

I'm sure they're not nearly as supportive as Butthead's 27 oz leather boots, but I'd feel confident in these on a suspect ankle. Nike Hyperquickness
 
1beegfishingaround
member (8)member
  
06/30/2020 04:27PM  
yeah, i think you might want to find that perfect lightweight amphibious hightop with good support. something like the astral hiyak. I fish a lot out of kayak and sometimes use wading boots/neoprene booties if i know im going to be getting out of the boat a lot... the boots get pretty cumbersome when they're on you and not in the water, also kind of not something you slide in and out of in a jiffy either. orvis has some new lightweight wet wading boots that look pretty sweet but idk if they'd have the support you need to give confidence when portaging.
 
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