I am hard on wading shoes, which is to be expected when you are as large as I am. I usually buy "good" shoes used Weinbrenners for years, they seldom lasted more than 2 years and seldom endured more than one resoling. Tried and loved Chota's, the first ones failed within a year (manufacturer's defect heel fell off during the green drake hatch on the Beaverkill) but the replacements lasted three years but were really in sorry shape for the last few months (and could not be resoled). Also having to get size 12 (or 13) in an extra wide limits my selection somewhat, and I refuse to buy from a catalog.

I found Simms boots on sale at Bud Lilly's a couple years ago and bought them. They seem to be holding up much better than the Chota or Weinbrenners ever did, but only time will tell. They are however the most comfortable boots I have ever owned and for that fact alone I would by another pair. I had actually planned to buy Chota's because they too are very comfortable and the speed laces really handy, but the Simms have the speed laces and none of the shops out there had any size 12 wide Chota's. (It was September so inventory everywhere was down.)

If you fish a lot, comfort is worth a certain amount of money but only you can decide how much.