Staying upright while wading into a fishable water has always been a challenge.
For most of the 20th century and into the 21st, the best tools to reduce the risks were a wading staff and thick felt soles on boots. Felt smears on rocks and grips slimy river growth for a sure grip. But over the last decade, felt has earned some critics: Not for its performance, but for its nature. Thick felt pads are slow to dry, and thus can be perfect incubators and transfer vectors for invasive species. Some studies show felt soles on wading boots could harbor and transfer such species as Didymosphenia geminate (a.k.a. didymo or ‘rock snot’), New Zealand mud snails, and the parasite that causes whirling disease in trout.
As a result, many anglers prefer not to use felt, and some anglers have been forced to abandon their felt-soled boots. Several states, and one national park, have banned the use of felt-soled wading boots. These are:
Alaska………………………………….. Banned in 2012
Maryland……………………………… Banned in 2011
Missouri………………………………. Banned in 2012
Nebraska………………………………. Banned in 2013
Rhode Island…………………………. Banned in 2012
South Dakota………………………… Banned in 2013
Yellowstone National Park…….. Banned in 2018
*Vermont……………………………… Banned in 2011, repealed in 2016
*Note that Vermont based its 2011 ban in large part on research done by the University of Vermont that identified felt as a vector in the transfer of didymo in state rivers. But further research questioned those finds, and confirmed that didymo was not, in fact, an invasive species but actually a native to Vermont and most other northern states. That lead to a repeal of the Vermont ban in 2016.
Despite Vermont’s reversal, felt remains a material of concern for wild river conservation, and anglers continue to seek effective alternatives to felt, either through personal commitment or government mandate.
Most wading boot manufacturers have offered rubber-soled alternatives to felt boots, though virtually all makers also continue to offer felt-soled boots in their line-up. The effectiveness of rubber soles in reducing slippage in slick river conditions varies widely, due to both the variances in rubber compounds used, and in the configuration of the lugs on the boot sole.
Some makers, like Korkers, offers interchangeable soles, so anglers can use rubber where required, and change over to felt where allowed. These removable soles also offer anglers the chance to better dry out their felt, thus killing off any organisms hiding inside.
Others seek ways to improve the grip of rubber. Studs, cleats, and ‘river crampons’ grace many boots these days. Many of these work well, but with various down-sides. Most screw-in studs work well for simple wading, but if the angler ever gets in a boat, the studs will scratch fiberglass and puncture rafts.  We’ve tested a lot of these options and found two worthy of special mention.
Rock Treads, $60
Rock Tread ‘studs’ require a bit of effort to mount on boots, but once in place, the smooth aluminum disks proved incredibly effective in gripping slimy riverbeds. The edges of the disk catch on rocks for good traction on slime-covered rocks. At times, the soft aluminum will actually press into hard rocks, providing a sure grip even on wet granite or limestone slabs.
The smooth aluminum disks are safe to use in boats of all kinds, though after substantial use, the disks may develop dings and scrapes that can have sharp edges that could cause scratches on fiberglass or ‘rubber’ rafts. I found a few quick swipes across the disks with a flat metal file will knock off any sharp edges. This helps prolong the life of the disks, too, by reducing the wear around those dings.
Rock Treads offers kits for felt soles, rubber soles, and interchangeable soles.
Patagonia Ultralight River Crampons, $199
Like the Rock Treads, Patagonia’s River Crampons add simple aluminum traction devices to your sole. Unlike the Rock Treads, the River Crampons are removable, making them ideal for the angler who frequently shifts from wading to rafting/boating. Patagonia employs broad aluminum bars underfoot for grip on rocks and riverbeds. The crampons easily strap onto any wading boot — or even light water shoes — and provide a huge boost to traction in the river. The fiberglass-impregnated neoprene straps resist all efforts to break them. We went so far as to intentional hook sticks and rock projections under the straps and then kicked as hard as possible to test the strength of the straps. Not a single break – not even a small tear.
The crampon frames between the bar cleats is made from flexible recycled plastic, and it too resisted all attempts to damage it. The frame is light and highly flexible, so it bends and moves well with the motion of your foot. In short, the Patagonia River Crampons are ideal tools for improving traction as anglers move away from the security of felt.