Gorge Fly Shop Blog: Saltwater Boots

Guide to Saltwater Footwear

The devil is in the details. Having the appropriate footwear for your saltwater trip is extremely important. So important, in fact, that this one item can mean the difference between comfort and misery. Simms Fishing Products has four great offerings to cover any saltwater wading situation. Here's a breakdown of each boot and what their respective uses are:

Zipit II Flats Bootie

The Zipit II Booties are easy on and off and make for a great option when it's time to jump out of the boat quickly and pursue fish on foot. They are light, comfortable and have a sturdy vulcanized rubber bottom to protect your feet from sharp objects you may encounter on a flat. The Zipit is ideal for hard sand flats and fairly low mileage. They do not have the support or protection in the upper that you would see in a more traditional flats boot. Think of these booties as a quick and comfortable option for shorter wades and hard-packed sand.

Matching socks: Wet Wading Sock or barefoot

Flyweight Access Wet Wading Shoe

This shoe is designed to put on more miles than the Zipit II. The foot bed has a great combination of support and cushion. They feel similar to a lot of popular low top hiking shoes and the shoe-like style provides more protection for your feet. The cinchable upper cuff seals tightly around your ankle keeping debris at bay. This boot is a freshwater/saltwater crossover and comes with a soft and grippy sole. With that in mind, this particular sole would not be a great option if you have to walk on a lot of jagged coral. Some is fine, but too much will cause punctures.

Matching socks: Wet Wading Sock

Flats Sneaker

If you're looking for one set of do-everything saltwater boots, this is the way to go. The Flats Sneaker is similar in design to traditional wading boots, but much lighter. They have plenty of support and cushioning to keep you comfortable on long days wading the flats. The abrasion-resistant outer fabric keeps your feet safe from coral, shells, urchins and any other pokey thing you may run across. The sole is soft enough to be grippy on rocks and coral, but hard enough to resist puncture. Pair with a set of guard socks to keep the sand out and you're dialed to tackle any flats wading situation.

Matching socks: Wet Wading Sock, Neoprene Wading Sock, Guard Sock

Freesalt Wading Boot

This boot is a nod to saltwater anglers fishing in colder coastal climates while wearing waders. It is essentially the ever-popular Freestone Boot tricked out for the salt. They feature a non-marring sole making them friendly on the deck of a boat. They also have a TPU sheet in the sole to accommodate studs for picking around the most rugged jetties and shorelines.