I’m a Newbie looking at buying a pair of Orvis Endura Bootfoot waders; the soles of which are felt ‘for safe footing and traction’. It’s been suggested that I may wish to consider screwing studs into the felt to help with walking/climbing on slippery banks. My question is: What effect will the studs have in water? Will it give me the same steadiness as the felt soles without studs?

My understanding is the studs are there really to help you on the bank rather than in the river. I put four around the front curve and four around the heel leaving the main felt without studs so as not to compromise the grip (if you can call it that) of the felt. My wading is all on rocky river beds so studs wouldn't help with grip once wading but make getting in and out a whole lot easier.

Hope that helps?

No, studs, like felt are there for added security when wading the river, particularly where the rocks and boulders have taken on that almost 'ice-like' slipperyness.

Felt soles, with or without studs, are like ice skates on wet grass or muddy banks and I can confidently state that having slid down many a bank.

__________________
[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

IMO get some studs rather than felt. You have to remember in some places felt soles are banned too.

I always use studded soles and i really think they help you in rivers and lakes.

andy

Not in the UK as far as I'm aware.

__________________
[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Thanks for your replies - Back to Orvis to change my order - Good job they are very helpful people

Studs are great ...i now wear Vision boots, which mox felt, with rubber and studs.

i've never felt safer in the river or on banks.

__________________
Irish by birth, Munster by the grace of God.

I got felt soles but after falling on my a**e several times I got some studs which are great, however next pair of boots I buy will defo be rubber.
In fact one guy I know just bought a cheap pair of oversize hiking boots (Lidl) I think and he swears by them!

Having waded the same freestone river with both felt and studs soles and rubber lug soles (interchangeable on my Korkers) I can say that the felt soles have a much better grip.

SharkeyP

__________________
Often thinks not travel widens,
Stay at home the Trout obliges.

Frank, I wouldn't touch rubber ( only ) and have heard from a few sources here who took heavy falls that they are lethal.

__________________
Irish by birth, Munster by the grace of God.