Make the investment and get yourself a pair of chest waders, skip the boots. There's nothing more disheartening than getting on the water and not being able to get to good looking spot because your boots'll be underwater. My first pair was just boots and I got frustrated a lot. Most places I just carry them with me and put them on at the spot if I'm going to be stationary because long walks in waders is a drag! I don't know much about felt soles, never used them.

 

I bought my first pair of chest waders last fall with the rubber soled and I have been very happy with them. I debated the felt sole approach thinking that I did not want to slip on the rocks. I am happy with the rubber soled ones for a few reasons. I walk to the lake/stream with my waders for a hefty walk 1/2 mile never have problems with traction. While I am wading I try to avoid walking on rocks not so much because there are slippery but for the most parts rocks are not flat and you can twist your ankle, but even when I do walk on the rocks you just need to exercise a little caution. It is a rock with slim on it, it is going be a little slippery.

The other reason clean up getting mud off rubber soled boots is pretty easy and they dry pretty quick. check out Bass Pro Breathable Chest waders $69.94
They are very warn, breathable, and not the bad on the wallet. This is the pair that I have and I am very happy with them.
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10200771____SearchResults

 

i own both types and would say that it depends on where you plan to use them. Any mountain stream i would definately say go with the felt bottoms. not sure the science behind it, but that felt sticks to the slippery rocks great. Try the rubber boots in a mountain stream and sooner or later your gonna bust your ass. As for local rivers with sandy bottoms and mostly flat rocks anything will work

also you can walk in them and if the felt wears out you can get it replaced

 

Make the investment and get yourself a pair of chest waders, skip the boots. There's nothing more disheartening than getting on the water and not being able to get to good looking spot because your boots'll be underwater. My first pair was just boots and I got frustrated a lot. Most places I just carry them with me and put them on at the spot if I'm going to be stationary because long walks in waders is a drag! I don't know much about felt soles, never used them.

I could not agree more! Get the chest waders and you will wonder why you ever bothered with boots. You will make up the money for the waders in lures you did not have to donate to the river in no time!

 

I have owned and used both. If you plan to fish a lot in mountain rivers. Felt is the way to go. Felt is great for very rocky water.

But for around here, there is more sand and mud than rock. Felt is just ok.

Hiking any distance with felt is a bad idea. You would have better footing walking barefoot than with felt boots. Out of the water, the felt will slip on everything, even when you think you are standing still you will slip and fall.

Last year I purchased a basic pair of hiking boots and they work great.

 

I also started to use a walking stick and man did it make a difference. I was able to wade faster and the stick saved me from getting wet this weekend.. Also works to push turtles away that decide to swim up and see what you are doing.

 

My wife just bought me Columbia PFG reel deal fishing shoes. I can't wait to get out there and use them once it warms up. But in the mean time you can't go wrong with waders. One of my fishing holes is a mile away as well. I just carry my waders over my neck.

Columbia PFG reel deal

 

Try a pair of stocking foot chest waders.Take your wading shoes,boots with you and you can wear tennies or whatever for the trek throught the woods.When you get to the water,just change shoes and go.Works great for me.

 

everybody's got their own style. me, I tried bootfoot waders with felt sole. they just never felt comfortable and the boots were alot heavier. I replaced them with Simms stockingfoot breathables and simms rubber soled wading boots. Very comfortable now and I don't need to carry another pair of shoes as the simms wading boots are light and comfortable.
when it gets too warm but I still want to wear my waders, I fold the chest part down to my waist.

 

I have chest waders with felt bottom boots. I really like them. I also have rubber bottomed waders currently and in the past. I like my felt bottoms better. They really do seem to provide me with better footing in the stream. I often walk to the stream, wade up, and walk back via some woods and a road. I never have had a problem walking on land with them. I haven't noticed any unreasonable wear and tear either.
I would also suggest some light weight breathable chest waders. I have neoprenes, but these are more comfortable. I just put on more layers for the colder seasons.

Hope that helps. Good fishing.

 

Ajax,
let us know how well you like the water shoes after some use. My only concern is busting my toes and the side of my foot in the rocks when wading. The model you have looks like the toe is more protected.

 

I have both neoprene chest waders and breathable chest waders. They both have there advantages and disadvantages. Neoprene is great for very cold water and is very comfortable and you don't have to wear so many layers underneath. When the outside temp and water temp rise neo can get a little warm. Breathables are good for warmer water and are lighter than neo, but if you fish cold water, you will have to put a few layers on and personally that can get a little uncomfortable. If you go this route, make sure you get a size that will accomidate a few layers underneath your breathables, you want to be able to move, like bend down and such. Around here when summer fishing the water is so warm you won't need breathable, again that's a personal choice. A pair of light wading pants would be just fine, along with some type of wading shoe or sandle type. If you use a sandle type make sure your toes are protected and the sides of your feet, you can cut them up when walking thru rocky areas of a stream. Felt wading shoes are good for walking thru rocky areas in the stream, you won't slip. Really the choice is up to you based on the type of fishing you do and what type of terraine you walk thru in the stream.

 

I think that I got my answer. The boots that I was looking at are felt soles and after reading the posts I think that I will pass on them. I probably should have pointed out that I sometimes will wear hip boots for wading when it is colder like in the spring and in the fall. I don't like to get in much deeper than that when I am wading but I am also considering maybe purchasing some waist waders. I don't have much experience with chest waders. I own a pair that I bought several years ago when I fished in montana but they haven't been used in several years. They are cheap "kmart" waders.

In the summer I like to wear shorts with wading boots. I really like the pair that I have now. I bought them at BPS and they have velcro straps that tie them on. I like them because they are easy to take off when they are wet. They are rubber and have rubber soles. I have worn them about 5 or 6 seasons and I was thinking at the end of last year that they are getting worn out. I saw a similar pair in Cabelas catalogue but they had felt soles which I have never tried before. Like I said, I think I am going to pass on them.

I really appreciated all of the opinions. It never ceases to amaze me what a great source of information this site is. I posted a question and have this many opinions on the subject this quickly. Thanks again, guys.