I need to replace my Hodgemans and was looking at the Teeny wading shoes which feature a back zipper. They sell for about $80 at Cabelas. Does anyone have a suggestion or has anyone tried these?

Just got a pair of the cabelas master guides, very satisfied. About $69
Tight Lines
RL

Stewy

http://www.bobmarriotts.com/
Has many of the Danner wading boots on sale they are great boots with one drawback. When they get dry they become hard so you have to get them wet before you put them on 89.00

MRFC.com has a good supply of grub creek "washougal" wading boots they are a good boot, comfortable. lightweight. and 69.95

don't know about their boots but I wouildnt buy anything with the name Teeny on it.. I will not elaborate on why.

I have had a pair of the Cabellas master guide boots for a year and love mine..the only drawback is that they are a little stiff...TM

Stewy,
Go to the Danner outlet in Portland and get yourself a pair of either their felts or their studded felts. They are by far the best boots I have ever worn out of the 4 pairs I have owned. THe synthetics always end up cracking (even the high-end weinbrenners. Put a thin coat of Aqua seal over the stiching on the Danners. Their only weakness is the stiching. I've had mine for 5 years and have feplace felts on them several times. THey are totally bombproof IF you aquaseal the stiching. I have many friends who guide in AK and ID who also swear by them. At the outlet, they cost $99.
Have one friend who has the Teeney zip-ups. He only uses them in the summer and then only when he wet wades. Said the support of the Danners is superior to his Teeneys. He doesn't have many days on them and has also commented on whether or not they'd hold up to heavy use. I love the Danner, and as stated above, just get them wet before you slide them on.

Hey Dan, I'm about ready to get a new pair too. I have straight felt soles, which are good on river rocks but very slippery on muddy slopes. How do the studded felt soles work and hold up? I would think they might help a little going down steep muddy slopes; like Mark likes to take me to just to watch me slip and slide down them in my large soled Bozo boots.

Danner Danner Danner!

I can't say enough good about the danners. I have the studded soles and they've saved my bacon a time or two. When it was raining and muddy in the wind river canyon they gave me great traction on bot mud and rock. I was easily able to wade across the "too large to wade" vedder river a couple of years ago. Just a comfortable, kick ass shoe. If you live in the portland area and need boots it would be wise to make the drive out to airport way and check out the outlet. Factory second river gripper with studs were $80 if I remember correctly. But that was 2 years ago. If you buy the studs, just don't wear them in a boat if you want to be friends with the owner when your through.

I love the danners, that's what I personally use. But the only downfall as mentioned is the fact that the stitching tends to wear out and the outside lining of the inside of the foot tends to tear apart. I've gone through 3 pairs in the last 5 years.

I will try the boots that james has now, as they don't get hard when dry. They're the teeny wading shoes with the back zipper and have felt and corks on the bottom. One thing for certain and james will tell ya, "Don't kick any glass Jack Daniel bottles when on the river with these boots on, he did and when the glass bottle broke at contact it went through the neoprene top and severed his big toe tendon in half, needless to say he was on crutches for a month and a half after surgery"... I still get a kick out of it when I think about it though...

By the way get the corks RT, you'll never go back. When your standing on them slippery rocks, cliffs, mud, or just crossing a swift tailout, etc. You'll never go back.
Keith

[ 11-30-2001: Message edited by: stlhdr1 ]

RT,
Definatly the corks!!

Stud's are great for bankin it.I won't allow them in the drift boat as they screw the flooring up pretty good.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Simms, Simms and Simms.

They sell probally the best selling wading boot in the country. The Guide Boot. You will have problem getting 4-5 years out of them, they provide a ton of support, lots of foot protection but arent overly stiff like some other high end boots. They are made out of a very flexible Nubuck leather.

I fish the Simms Lightweights and love 'em because they are super light and you can really cinch down around the ankle but they are for skinnier feet, wider feet tend to blow 'em out.