Issues with Simms guide boot

[theartoflee]

Hey Guys

I purchased less then a year ago a pair of Simms guide boot w/ the studded aqua stealth soles. After purchasing the boots I noticed that the stitching seemed a bit questionable on one of the boot foots. Now less the on year later the aquastelth is starting to come off the boots. I know this cant be normal... should I send the boots back to Simms or try and repair them myself? What do you think Simms might do to try and rectify this situation?

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

 

[C&R]

Without a doubt I would send them back. Only thing is that they take a while for repairs. If memory serves it took them over two weeks to repair a hole in my breathables this past February. They would probably just replace them in your case so turnaround time should be faster.

BTW, how do you like the aqua stealth versus conventional felt boots?

 

[AKSkim]

Reverto

Send them back, but first give them a call letting them know you are returning the boots and for what reason. You may also wish to explain that you are an avid fisherman, and to be without your boots for an extended period of time would create some undue hardship. This may spur them on.

Good luck.

AKS

 

[theartoflee]

Without a doubt I would send them back. Only thing is that they take a while for repairs. If memory serves it took them over two weeks to repair a hole in my breathables this past February. They would probably just replace them in your case so turnaround time should be faster.

BTW, how do you like the aqua stealth versus conventional felt boots?

I like the aqua stealth in generaly but think its less dorable. I also think they do not get as good a traction w/o the studs. Luckily I have two pairs of wadeing boots because we all know you cant get in a drift boat w/ studs on.

However with all said I would like to also mention that for winter fishing aqua stealth cant be beat. I fish as much if not more in the winter so I will always have a pair of aquastealth studded boots. They work almost as good as korkers but are much more comfortable.

 

[AKSkim]

Lapsus

Korkers, thats my middle name.

Last fall I was so excited and couldn't wait to get into the river and catch a salmon, I was half way out (Town Pool) and was slipping and sliding every direction. In my haste, I forgot to put on my korkers.

The Wylie, you really think those Simms are better than korkers?

 

[sstasiak]

I must agree, I like my Korkers as well. You can't beat being able to change out soles for varying conditions

 

[theartoflee]

Korkers, thats my middle name.

Last fall I was so excited and couldn't wait to get into the river and catch a salmon, I was half way out (Town Pool) and was slipping and sliding every direction. In my haste, I forgot to put on my korkers.

The Wylie, you really think those Simms are better than korkers?

In general yes... however for the SR it is a tough call. I had issues with corkers falling off till I think Jim was his name the OLD owner of Whitakers showed me that you drill the korkers into heel of most wadeing shoe. I think with korkers they are much more stiffer which suck for walking but allow you bite into rocks much better... tis a catch 22.

 

[Fly Tier]

Hey Guys

I purchased less then a year ago a pair of Simms guide boot w/ the studded aqua stealth soles. After purchasing the boots I noticed that the stitching seemed a bit questionable on one of the boot foots. Now less the on year later the aquastelth is starting to come off the boots. I know this cant be normal... should I send the boots back to Simms or try and repair them myself? What do you think Simms might do to try and rectify this situation?

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!

Take the loss, cut them down the stitching and create a water resistant rain jacket, ( you may be able to sell it to rford for $500) then go out and get yourself a pair of D. Bailey guide weight waders.

 

[theartoflee]

Just got off the phone with Simms customer service. They said I will need to send them my boots for them to determine if they are:

• Repairable
• Replaceable
• Worn out

Then they will determine if it was a manufacturers defect or if they are just worn out. They mentioned that if they are worn out and are repairable they will repair them at a small charge. They were very nice and have confidence that they will rectify this situation. I also told Simms that if their is a charge to repair the boots I will chose not to have them repaired out of principle. I feel I should at least get one season out of a $150 pair of boots after all my last Simms boots cost $60 I can justify refelting them since I go some much use out of them. She told me not to wory aht that their products are warranted for a products lifetime. We then discussed not argued what a products life time might be considered.

 

[AKSkim]

Subiungo

showed me that you drill the korkers into heel of most wadeing shoe. I think with korkers they are much more stiffer which suck for walking but allow you bite into rocks much better... tis a catch 22.

I was at Four Season's and saw them do that to a pair of korkers with a 2 inch sheet rock screw.

Looks like it just might be the way to go. Old pair of felt wading shoes, screw the korkers into it.

No worries.

 

[C&R]

I must agree, I like my Korkers as well. You can't beat being able to change out soles for varying conditions

You're talking about the Konvertible wading boots, right?

 

[C&R]

Looks like it just might be the way to go. Old pair of felt wading shoes, screw the korkers into it.

That's something I should have thought of early last season when I replaced an older pair of Simms guide boots with a new pair. I just chucked them b/c I didn't want to have to deal with re-felting them. In retrospect, I should have kept them and screwed korker tips in. When I was getting ready to fish the SR later that year, I ended up having to buy the Korker sandals for the new felt guide boots. instead I could have had two pairs, one studded and one not. Oh well, you live and you learn. :confused3

 

[theartoflee]

I was at Four Season's and saw them do that to a pair of korkers with a 2 inch sheet rock screw.

Looks like it just might be the way to go. Old pair of felt wading shoes, screw the korkers into it.

No worries.

That is what I used to do back in the day when I used to frequent the SR alot. I think its the only way to go up their.

 

[AKSkim]

THE Salmon River

I was getting ready to fish the SR later

You fish the Salmon River much?

I can't wait for October ...

I am giving serious consideration to drag The Wylie's sorry a** up there this fall and let him play with a spey rod for salmon.

Heck, we my never hear from him again if that happens.

 

[C&R]

You fish the Salmon River much?

I can't wait for October ...

My friends go up there religiously. I've only been there twice. My first time up there was almost my last time ever up there. Which is why I bought the Korkers last year, 15 years after my first time up there.

My friends C&D, and I did too last year (with mono on a Pfleuger Trion 10 wt), but I only used my own tied patterns and never lined a fish or lifted (I'd rather not catch a fish than cheat). All fish struck the fly out of aggression. Even hooked my first steelie, what a rush.

This year I got me the Jim Teeny C&D super heavy line because I don't want to deal with the mono any more but I wanted something that would hit bottom fast. I only did the mono last year because I didn't know how to fish the river, it being 15 years since my last time. Maybe I'll see you up there in October.

 

[theartoflee]

My friends go up there religiously. I've only been there twice. My first time up there was almost my last time ever up there. Which is why I bought the Korkers last year, 15 years after my first time up there.

My friends C&D, and I did too last year (with mono on a Pfleuger Trion 10 wt), but I only used my own tied patterns and never lined a fish or lifted (I'd rather not catch a fish than cheat). All fish struck the fly out of aggression. Even hooked my first steelie, what a rush.

This year I got me the Jim Teeny C&D super heavy line because I don't want to deal with the mono any more but I wanted something that would hit bottom fast. I only did the mono last year because I didn't know how to fish the river, it being 15 years since my last time. Maybe I'll see you up there in October.

C&R I have fished the SR quite a bit and had enough success that I never had to resort to a full sinking line. My main set up is a floating line to floro leader with split shot. Last tirip I used a shooting head system but never had to resort to putting on a sinking head and the river was at 2,000 CFS.

From what I have been told the SR is a difficult river to successfuly fish with a sinking line since it is so swift in alot of places. By the time the fly gets in the zone you are at the end of drift if you havent already snagged a log rock or tree. I hope I dont discourage you from trying the sinkng line. Just remember their is a time or a place for everyhting esp on the SR.

 

[petehilton]

I have purchased just about every item Simms makes and in some cases (waders, boots, wading staffs) made multiple purchases. I always had good service but started to hear grumbling about their customer service slipping in the past year. My last purchase was a new pair of studded guide boots. The first year a couple of the eyelets came off and the leather was starting to tear. I sent them in and they repaired them. This year all the stitching on the inside of both boots tore out. I sent an email and was given a repair number and asked to send them back. They decided that they were not fixable and agreed to replace them. They then sent felt soled boots, when I told them I needed my studded boots replaced with studded boots they threw in $.75 worth of sheet metal screws which I guess I'm supposed to screw in and pretend that I'm not walking on 1/8 inch screw heads and that being that much higher off the ground (I'm old) will not cause any ankle, knee, or hip twists. They will not respond to the five polite emails I have sent requesting some solution. I have now found a buyer for the boots (and screws) for 1/2 the price I paid (not counting the shipping I paid on two occasions) and am in the process of finding A pair of Korkers new Guide Boot with/ boa laces. Patagona here I come!.