Wading boot fit?

Well, I've finally done it, but only about half way at this point.

I now have two pairs of Orvis stockingfoot waders (# 8-9 and #10-11
booties), and not one but three pairs of Korker Konvertible wading boots,
sizes 10, 11, and 12. I believe I have tried every combination of wader and
boot possible in an attempt to find a combination that "feels good". I wear
a #10 street shoe, and have a narrow foot. For some reason, the size 11
Korkers seem a bit tight, even when wearing a relatively thin boot sock.
Going to the 12 corrects the width problem, but now my toe is an inch from
the end of the boot, and I have a hard time believing that a boot that is
supposedly sized to allow for the stocking foot bootie would require a two
size jump to find a comfortable fit. All of this is taking place via mail
order, which is why my living room looks like a fly shop right now. Most of
the stuff is going back (per agreements with the shop) once the proper size
combination is selected. I have even called Korkers and Orvis to learn their
recommendations (not much help unfortunately). I have also tried Patagonia
Beefies, and Chota STL's.

And so, with the due diligence behind me, I ask for your collective
experience regarding how snug the wading boot should feel. Do you start out
a bit snug (limited toe wiggle) and things gradually soften up (the Korkers
are Nubuck sythetic leather, so there won't be much stretch), or should they
feel great right from the start.

Thanks,

Jim Ray
(who's 10B feet seem to have suddenly become 10EEE's)

"Jim" wrote in message
...
Well, I've finally done it, but only about half way at this point.

I now have two pairs of Orvis stockingfoot waders (# 8-9 and #10-11
booties), and not one but three pairs of Korker Konvertible wading boots,
sizes 10, 11, and 12.

Hey, if you want to sell a size 10 right boot and a size 11 left boot, get
in touch. :-)

--riverman

"Jim" wrote in message
...
Well, I've finally done it, but only about half way at this point.

You want a boot that's large enough to get on easily and loose enough that
it doesn't impede blood circulation in your feet. I would have thought that
wader boot sizes would correspond to the size of a typical foot size
together with typical wader thickness; but I was clearly mistaken when I
bought mine. My shoe size is also about a 10 +/-, but I ended up buying a
size 13 boot to feel comfortable.

Joe F.

rb608 wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
...

Well, I've finally done it, but only about half way at this point.


You want a boot that's large enough to get on easily and loose enough that
it doesn't impede blood circulation in your feet. I would have thought that
wader boot sizes would correspond to the size of a typical foot size
together with typical wader thickness; but I was clearly mistaken when I
bought mine. My shoe size is also about a 10 +/-, but I ended up buying a
size 13 boot to feel comfortable.

The problem I have with wading boots is that they don't come in half
sizes. What I need is an 11 1/2 pair, but I have to settle for either an
11 or a 12. I try to get a pair that (1) doesn't pinch my toes, and (2)
can be laced up snug with either one or two pair of socks (in addition
to the feet of the waders, of course).

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

After reading about using running shoes as my "wading boot", I'll never go
back to shop-bought boots. They fit correctly, and are usually free, as long
as you know someone who has a bigger foot than you. Look at:
http://www.waywardflyfishing.com/articleshoes.htm for a good explaination of
how to make running shoe waders.

Bob

"Jim" wrote in message
...
Well, I've finally done it, but only about half way at this point.

I now have two pairs of Orvis stockingfoot waders (# 8-9 and #10-11
booties), and not one but three pairs of Korker Konvertible wading boots,
sizes 10, 11, and 12. I believe I have tried every combination of wader
and
boot possible in an attempt to find a combination that "feels good". I
wear
a #10 street shoe, and have a narrow foot. For some reason, the size 11
Korkers seem a bit tight, even when wearing a relatively thin boot sock.
Going to the 12 corrects the width problem, but now my toe is an inch from
the end of the boot, and I have a hard time believing that a boot that is
supposedly sized to allow for the stocking foot bootie would require a two
size jump to find a comfortable fit. All of this is taking place via mail
order, which is why my living room looks like a fly shop right now. Most
of
the stuff is going back (per agreements with the shop) once the proper
size
combination is selected. I have even called Korkers and Orvis to learn
their
recommendations (not much help unfortunately). I have also tried Patagonia
Beefies, and Chota STL's.

And so, with the due diligence behind me, I ask for your collective
experience regarding how snug the wading boot should feel. Do you start
out
a bit snug (limited toe wiggle) and things gradually soften up (the
Korkers
are Nubuck sythetic leather, so there won't be much stretch), or should
they
feel great right from the start.

Thanks,

Jim Ray
(who's 10B feet seem to have suddenly become 10EEE's)

From: "Jim"

And so, with the due diligence behind me, I ask for your collective
experience regarding how snug the wading boot should feel.

Shouldn't be real snug. If the "best" fit is a little loose, wear a thicker
wading sock over the neoprene bootie. I wear a size 9 street shoe, and a size
11 wading shoe, with a thin wading sock over the bootie.


George Adams

"All good fishermen stay young until they die, for fishing is the only dream of
youth that doth not grow stale with age."
---- J.W Muller

On Wed, 21 Apr 2004 10:33:47 -0400, "Jim" wrote:

Well, I've finally done it, but only about half way at this point.

I now have two pairs of Orvis stockingfoot waders (# 8-9 and #10-11
booties), and not one but three pairs of Korker Konvertible wading boots,
sizes 10, 11, and 12. I believe I have tried every combination of wader and
boot possible in an attempt to find a combination that "feels good". I wear
a #10 street shoe, and have a narrow foot. For some reason, the size 11
Korkers seem a bit tight, even when wearing a relatively thin boot sock.
Going to the 12 corrects the width problem, but now my toe is an inch from
the end of the boot, and I have a hard time believing that a boot that is
supposedly sized to allow for the stocking foot bootie would require a two
size jump to find a comfortable fit. All of this is taking place via mail
order, which is why my living room looks like a fly shop right now. Most of
the stuff is going back (per agreements with the shop) once the proper size
combination is selected. I have even called Korkers and Orvis to learn their
recommendations (not much help unfortunately). I have also tried Patagonia
Beefies, and Chota STL's.

And so, with the due diligence behind me, I ask for your collective
experience regarding how snug the wading boot should feel. Do you start out
a bit snug (limited toe wiggle) and things gradually soften up (the Korkers
are Nubuck sythetic leather, so there won't be much stretch), or should they
feel great right from the start.

Unless you do all your wading on sandy substrates, you'd best leave plenty of
room for your toes. Banging over rocky stream bottoms and hiking up and down
hill from spot to spot all day will do a number on toes if the boots are too
short...

/daytripper (made that mistake exactly once. fortunately they fit #2 son ;-)

In article et,
rw wrote:

The problem I have with wading boots is that they don't come in half
sizes. What I need is an 11 1/2 pair, but I have to settle for either an
11 or a 12. I try to get a pair that (1) doesn't pinch my toes, and (2)
can be laced up snug with either one or two pair of socks (in addition
to the feet of the waders, of course).

That is incorrect. *MOST* wading boots dont come in half sizes.
Flytech does come in half sizes. Sierra trading post used to have a
bunch of flytechs in the half sizes. Irish Setter also has them in the
half size

--
Bush is a disgrace to the constitution. See
http://www.amconmag.com/12_15_03/feature.html
http://www.altpr.org/modules.php?op=...ticle&sid= 39

Hi Jim,

This sounds very familiar after supplying people with waders for 39 years..

For this same reason last year I put a ~500 sq ft separate room in my fly
shop that is dedicated to just wadding supplies.

With the invention of the breathable wader, the fly shops now seem to have a
very large share of the fly fishing wading market, especially at the high
quality level.

Many intelligent shoppers don't have time to fool around ordering things
that have to fit your body so they go somewhere and try the stuff on to be
sure of getting a good fit.

I only carry Simms breathable waders and have the entire line in stock as
much as possible. Simms has the only breathable Gore-Tex waders made in the
USA. They actually might be the only wader made in the USA. They seem to fit
most people better and also can be ordered in custom sizing for people that
need that service. With Simms waders we are able to easily fit more people.
Simms now owns the high end wader market in the US. Simms is only in the fly
fishing business and that might be the reason they are doing so well.

Many other imported breathable waders are made in third world countries at a
cost of about $20-30 USD a pair. It is for this reason that they can just
give you a new pair when they fail. The fit on many imported waders is very
poor too. Many US fly fishers have been down that highway already and have
switched, sometimes under duress, to Simms. Many other breathable waders are
built with "no-name" vapor barriers, not Gore-Tex.

As far as wading boots go, I carry lots of different brands because this is
where the fitting come in. Just like shoes, most wading boots are made up on
a different pattern or last. I tell my customers that they should not get
all excited about a particular wadding boot because there is the possibility
that it will not fit them comfortably.

For all these reasons, my wading department is now one of my most successful
parts of my fly shop.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"Jim" wrote in message
...

Well, I've finally done it, but only about half way at this point.

I now have two pairs of Orvis stockingfoot waders (# 8-9 and #10-11
booties), and not one but three pairs of Korker Konvertible wading boots,
sizes 10, 11, and 12. I believe I have tried every combination of wader
and
boot possible in an attempt to find a combination that "feels good". I
wear
a #10 street shoe, and have a narrow foot. For some reason, the size 11
Korkers seem a bit tight, even when wearing a relatively thin boot sock.
Going to the 12 corrects the width problem, but now my toe is an inch from
the end of the boot, and I have a hard time believing that a boot that is
supposedly sized to allow for the stocking foot bootie would require a two
size jump to find a comfortable fit. All of this is taking place via mail
order, which is why my living room looks like a fly shop right now. Most
of
the stuff is going back (per agreements with the shop) once the proper
size
combination is selected. I have even called Korkers and Orvis to learn
their
recommendations (not much help unfortunately). I have also tried Patagonia
Beefies, and Chota STL's.

And so, with the due diligence behind me, I ask for your collective
experience regarding how snug the wading boot should feel. Do you start
out
a bit snug (limited toe wiggle) and things gradually soften up (the
Korkers
are Nubuck sythetic leather, so there won't be much stretch), or should
they
feel great right from the start.

Thanks,

Jim Ray
(who's 10B feet seem to have suddenly become 10EEE's)

Jim,
Don't buy snug boots, you'll get cold feet and give you aching toes. Best to
go one size over. I take a size 10 1/2 street shoe (most of the time; it
depends on the manufacturer), but I use a size 12 Patagonia which fit well.
Ron
"Jim" wrote in message
...
Well, I've finally done it, but only about half way at this point.

I now have two pairs of Orvis stockingfoot waders (# 8-9 and #10-11
booties), and not one but three pairs of Korker Konvertible wading boots,
sizes 10, 11, and 12. I believe I have tried every combination of wader
and
boot possible in an attempt to find a combination that "feels good". I
wear
a #10 street shoe, and have a narrow foot. For some reason, the size 11
Korkers seem a bit tight, even when wearing a relatively thin boot sock.
Going to the 12 corrects the width problem, but now my toe is an inch from
the end of the boot, and I have a hard time believing that a boot that is
supposedly sized to allow for the stocking foot bootie would require a two
size jump to find a comfortable fit. All of this is taking place via mail
order, which is why my living room looks like a fly shop right now. Most
of
the stuff is going back (per agreements with the shop) once the proper
size
combination is selected. I have even called Korkers and Orvis to learn
their
recommendations (not much help unfortunately). I have also tried Patagonia
Beefies, and Chota STL's.

And so, with the due diligence behind me, I ask for your collective
experience regarding how snug the wading boot should feel. Do you start
out
a bit snug (limited toe wiggle) and things gradually soften up (the
Korkers
are Nubuck sythetic leather, so there won't be much stretch), or should
they
feel great right from the start.

Thanks,

Jim Ray
(who's 10B feet seem to have suddenly become 10EEE's)