Vibrum vs Felt

[Eagle Claw]

I bought myself a pair of vibrum wading boots, the brand does not matter, I think Vibrum sucks compared to felt. As far as spreading didymo from one section of a stream to another its bs. Kill all the birds and stop flooding then go after the fisherman. Stream safety is my first concern, you can get hurt or even killed falling in a stream. I do however put my boots in the back yard and let them bake for a week and then bring them in, when I go from one river to another, I use two different pairs of felt boots. I did have studs into the soles of the vibrum and that is the only thing that kept me from taking a spill , I could feel the slip and then the quick stoppage from the studs, those rubber soles are useless. I have gone to buying used felt studded boots on ebay so that I have a supply to last me for many years. I think studded felt is best, straight felt second, studded rubber third, and rubber fourth. Vibrum is an accident or death waiting to happen.

 

[Trout Fever]

well i guess you can say that your surposed to walk in the water get them wet for a few minutes then advance to postion.. if that doesnt help buy the studs for them its night and day

 

[Pete]

well i guess you can say that your surposed to walk in the water get them wet for a few minutes then advance to postion.. if that doesnt help buy the studs for them its night and day

Frankly, I'm surprised that no enterprising shop owner hasn't tested Janitorial floor stripping shoes. The sole material is actually the same as a commercial floor cleaning/stripping pad. It has a very open weave that bleach would penetrate quickly and throughly.
Gator Stripping Shoes- Size Medium (Below 9.5). Click for lots of selections!

If it worked out, he could just buy the soles, devise a way to install them on fancy wading boots, and make a few bucks.
Gator Shoe Replacement. Click for lots of selections!

They're not a durable as felt. The replacement business would be good..... Of course he'd have to change the name of the product to avoid the inevitable wisecracks..

I'm not advocating any particular brand. The links above are supplied as a "for instance".

 

[Randyflycaster]

I prefer felt. Taking a fall on a river can be dangerous.

Randy

 

[Trout Nazi]

Rubber soles straight-up suck. I've been fishing with them up in VT all year, and they're no better than the worn out old sneakers that I used to wet-wade in when I was younger. The only place they're better than felt is the hike to the stream.

And as far as didymo goes, not to start a war, but I'd like to know how much is spread by warterfowl and other wildlife vs. man. And not that I'm advocating the spread of invasive species, but I also question the impact of didymo on streams here in the Northeast. Seems like the fish in the Delaware have been getting bigger since didymo arrived. Now commence firing.

 

[Eagle Claw]

I wonder how long it is going to be before someone gets hurt with them or worse killed because they believed the manufacturers claim that they are great. Sounds like a win for the fisherman in court when it is disproven the claims that vibrum is as good as felt. Any idiot can prove they are not. The are just plain dangerous. These things should have a warning label on them that you can be hurt or killed using rubber soles. I am going to experiment by getting some felt studded Korkers soles and see if they can be glued to rubber. They do have a plastic coating on the back of the fe;t so not sure how it would work out.

 

[Trout Nazi]

Go wade something like the Franklin County Salmon River with rubber-soled boots, even with studs, see how long you can stay dry for.

 

[flyman23]

If you want to replace something make it as good or better then the original. I for one will stick with felt and clean my boots.

 

[Trout Nazi]

The irony of this whole thing is that you need to clean rubber boots also. Still plenty of surface area and nooks and crannies for things to hide in. Willing to bet that most people who buy rubber boots don't do this.

 

[pitbull]

I bought myself a pair of vibrum wading boots, the brand does not matter, I think Vibrum sucks compared to felt. As far as spreading didymo from one section of a stream to another its bs. Kill all the birds and stop flooding then go after the fisherman. Stream safety is my first concern, you can get hurt or even killed falling in a stream. I do however put my boots in the back yard and let them bake for a week and then bring them in, when I go from one river to another, I use two different pairs of felt boots. I did have studs into the soles of the vibrum and that is the only thing that kept me from taking a spill , I could feel the slip and then the quick stoppage from the studs, those rubber soles are useless. I have gone to buying used felt studded boots on ebay so that I have a supply to last me for many years. I think studded felt is best, straight felt second, studded rubber third, and rubber fourth. Vibrum is an accident or death waiting to happen.

couldnt have said that any better myself..that vibram rubber is horseshit..ive taken a few spills this year because of it..simms is making felt boots again i heard because of poular demand..thank god

 

[Eagle Claw]

Pricks, I just bough those crappy boots and a bunch of used felt boots on Ebay and Simms is going back to felt ! Maybe I should make a deal, exchange my rubber boots and I will stop bad mouthing those crappy rubber boots on forums. They really are SHIT.

 

[NJpatbee]

Frankly, I'm surprised that no enterprising shop owner hasn't tested Janitorial floor stripping shoes. The sole material is actually the same as a commercial floor cleaning/stripping pad. It has a very open weave that bleach would penetrate quickly and throughly.
Gator Stripping Shoes- Size Medium (Below 9.5). Click for lots of selections!

If it worked out, he could just buy the soles, devise a way to install them on fancy wading boots, and make a few bucks.
Gator Shoe Replacement. Click for lots of selections!

They're not a durable as felt. The replacement business would be good..... Of course he'd have to change the name of the product to avoid the inevitable wisecracks..

I'm not advocating any particular brand. The links above are supplied as a "for instance".

You have me thinking - I may have to try order a pair just for the hell of it.

 

[LyNcH]

One boot does it all - Korkers.

The new Metalheads are great boots. There are only 2 soles I will use on them. The klingon sole suck as bad as the vibrams, so watch ebay, I'll be selling them soon for about $5 in size 13.

Sole one: the studded rubber sole. "A durable rubber sole with protruding carbide cleats. Excels in the most demanding conditions such as sharp, jagged or mossy rocks, submerged wood, or jetties." In most situations, I prefer them over studded felt. The excel in the Salmon River, WCC, Battenkill & basalt type rivers (Deschutes), but absolutely suck on granite rock type river (Ausable and Saranac)

Sole two: Studded felt, for the reason I stated above on the Ausable/Saranac etc.

 

[Eagle Claw]

Korkers I would say is the best option now, however I had them and did not like the ankle support and sold them shortly after buying them this spring. I called Simms and asked about the felt and was told they will offer them
in the fall or spring in one or two boot models. When I told him the rubber was junk he took the company line and said we have had great success with them,,,he must be talking sales and not performance. Oh well, you don't criticize the guy who writes the checks.

---------- Post added at 03:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:54 PM ----------

Does anyone know if I can glue felt to my new Simms Vibrum sole boots ? I am thinking of doing this and just use them as guide boat boots. Then buy Simms studded felt when it is re--introduced in the spring. I just don't know if the felt and glue will adhere to vibrum.

 

[Lonewolve]

I have Weinbrenner/Borger boots IMHO they are still the best wading boot period,with the Simms Freestoners a close but not neck to neck second.The Borger boots are studded felt. i bought a pair of Simms Guide boots with a studded Aquastealth sole they are really not too bad there is a small adjustment..hands down you just cant beat felt with studs.Only gripe i have is that i wear a #13 and the guide boots make my toes get sqwinched.I have heard that Simms sizing is a bit on the small side..I will be buying a pair of those Simms Riversheds if the are made with a studded felt option. Banning felt isnt going to solv e the problem of invasives,making anglers and others that use waterways responsible through education and providing cleaning stations like i have seen in Maine will keep things in check not to mention stiffer penalties.
Tight Wraps & Tight Lines
Rick Wallace

 

[algurney]

I fished for over a year with Vibram and just last week I wore my old felt boots. Wow!! I guess you get used to slipping around with the vibrams. Felt is just so much better.