Kit report

[burnie]

I bought a bit of gear last year and this is an end of season report.

Greys Platinum wading boots:- Safe and comfortable but one of the studs is trying to come through the sole of the boot(just weeks after the guarantee ran out).An extra insole has stopped it hurting my foot and to be honest it's no big deal.Just a shame as the studs make them so safe on any surface,I will never wear felt soles again.
Vision neoprene waders:- I wore these a couple of times back end of last season then sent them to Diverdave for his "treatment".They have been exactly what I wanted and not a leak in sight.Too flippin' warm in the summer,so I will have to look for some breathables next season,some days I was starting to boil in these.As I've said elsewhere,I've treated these waders quite roughly,falling over and charging through undergrowth,no problems at all.

[Traditionalist]

I bought a bit of gear last year and this is an end of season report.

Greys Platinum wading boots:- Safe and comfortable but one of the studs is trying to come through the sole of the boot(just weeks after the guarantee ran out).An extra insole has stopped it hurting my foot and to be honest it's no big deal.Just a shame as the studs make them so safe on any surface,I will never wear felt soles again.
Vision neoprene waders:- I wore these a couple of times back end of last season then sent them to Diverdave for his "treatment".They have been exactly what I wanted and not a leak in sight.Too flippin' warm in the summer,so I will have to look for some breathables next season,some days I was starting to boil in these.As I've said elsewhere,I've treated these waders quite roughly,falling over and charging through undergrowth,no problems at all.

Studs are deadly on rock, especially if it's slimy. I almost broke my kneecap when I slipped and fell on a stretch of solid rock. My knee and leg were black and blue and slowly faded to brown and yellow over time, but it took weeks and was very painful indeed. Had I not been wearing 5mm neoprenes I surely would have smashed my kneecap. Not sure that felt would have been much better though. There does not seem to be any severe lasting damage, the fact that my knees are slowly "going" is doubtless just a result of getting old.

Anyway, I got some of these for my various boots;  http://climbing.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=climbing&cdn=sports&tm=33&f=00&su=p504.1.336.ip_&tt=6&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.spiky.com/

There are various types;

http://www.vtarmynavy.com/ice-cleat.htm

Saves a lot of mucking about with studs.

TL
MC

[Fishtales]

I bought these at the beginning of the year for my wife and I for the snow and ice, then it left so I haven't had a chance to try them out

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004F8HBZ0

Same idea as Mike's and it had passed through my head that they might be quite handy on the wading boots that are just ordinary soles.

[haresear]

Studs are deadly on rock, especially if it's slimy.

Depends on the studs and on the type of rock

I do agree that studs tend to skate over perfectly smooth rocks. Most rocks aren't perfectly smooth however and on these I find the pointed tungsten studs are better at finding grip. On smooth rocks I like the aquastealth type soles.

I do still have felt soled boots, both studded and unstudded, I find the felt treacherous on wet banks and hellish in snow.

I really don't think there is an ideal sole for all conditions. Tungsten studded aquastealth is my usual choice.

Alex 

[bluezulu]

i do a surprising amount of mileage in wading boots and have arrived at the same conclusion- there isnt an ideal solution for all conditions (cant vouch for snow- never tried) but aquastealth plus studs is probably best. i find on most slimy rocks  i get grip- when
proceeding with caution

[Malcolm]

I agree with Alex -I find that once in the water studded felt are the best - out of the water is another matter. Out of the water the best are studded orienteering shoes.

I haven't tried Aquastealth studded yet sounds like a decent compromise.

[bibio1]

I gave aquasheath a go this year and for deep wading in rivers I felt very uncomfortable. The reason I chose them was due to what I thought would be an impending ban on felt, which doesn't seem to have materialised.  I accept in snow you end up a foot higher if you do any walking but for sure footed wading I don't think there's an equal when you add studs.

The aqua sheath on rock was like ice and have lost all confidence in them.

Cheers

Paul