Tightening Up Wader Boots

[Gravitas]

Does anyone know what I could use to tighten up a pair of orvis endura boot waders. Got them from a friend, who wears a sz bigger than me so they have too room to spare. Has anyone tried shoe inserts before? Thanks

 

[DoubleHaul]

I bought a size bigger this year and work a combination of a couple different things to get the size and insulation I want.

Orthotic inserts
Neoprene wading socks
thick hunting socks

Whatever you use as a spacer, be sure it doesn't get slippery when wet. I know this sounds obvious/stupid but you need just as much internal grip as you do external grip. nothing worse than having your foot sliding around on the inside of the boot.

I bought a pair of Orvis Brogue boots this time around. Orvis has an outlet store not far from me and I paid $70. I really like them in spite of the brand. I don't hate Orvis but I never pay their retail price either.

 

[Bamboozle]

Ditto on DH's advise!

I wear a half size street shoe which forces me to either buy a wading shoe a 1/2 size or 1-1/2 sizes larger than my street shoe to get a proper fit.

(No Virginia, most wading shoes I've tried DO NOT fit if you buy them in your street shoe size!)

Since every wading shoe I've ever owned gets TOO tight if I just buy a 1/2 size larger, I go with the 1-1/2 size larger option. Because of that I have been using an extra pair of insoles with NO ill effects for many years. I use an insole called Body Cushion made in Allentown, PA that seem to last forever. I have a few pairs that are almost 20 years old and still going strong. They have fabric bonded to the insole material that reduces or prevents the slippage that DoubleHaul mentioned.

I also wear heavy wool socks in the winter and when I wet wade, which I started to do on Friday . When I wet wade, I make up for the loss of the neoprene bootie in my waders by wearing a pair of neoprene Guard Socks made by Simms.

Those wading shoes may seem a tad big to you now, but if you fish in the winter, you'll LOVE the extra room!

Good luck!

 

[Gravitas]

Thanks for the advice. I do wear pretty thick hunting socks, so I'll start by adding the neoprene socks. That should fill them nicely.

 

[AKSkim]

thick hunting socks

I also wear heavy wool socks in the winter and when I wet wade

I do wear pretty thick hunting socks

LL Bean sells a nice pair of merlo wool Sox that are outstanding.

As you know wool even when wet doesn't lose its ability to keep you warm.

 

[eddavidson9]

LL Bean sells a nice pair of merlo wool Sox that are outstanding.

Those socks are amazing (Sox, like their fans, are just annoying). I've always gone for EMS socks, which are great for hiking, but got a pair of the bean merlos as a gift last year and they're head and shoulders (heel and toe?) above anything else I've worn for cold weather/water.

 

[Bamboozle]

MerLINO wool SOCKS are great although I only use them in winter preferring the cheapo wool blends for wet wading.

If you want to increase the effectiveness of Merlino wool or any high quality wool SOCKS in winter, try a pair of polypropylene SOCK liners on your foot and wear the heavy wool SOCKS over that.

The polypro wicks away the moisture and the wool insulates. I have been using that combo for about two winters now and it works great!

 

[eddavidson9]

MerLINO wool SOCKS

yeah, that

good point on the liners too. even just when hiking (when warmth isnt much of an issue), they've saved my feet some wear and tear...very prone to blisters and liners keep the moisture wicking and the friction down.

 

[Gravitas]

Cool, thanks guys...I ordered the neoprene wading socks from LL Bean, as well as a few extra pairs of meriono wool sox. Hopefully that fill them in

LL Bean sells a nice pair of merlo wool Sox that are outstanding.

As you know wool even when wet doesn't lose its ability to keep you warm.