Banning of felt soled shoes

[ruthven78]

So I never really knew of this but in reading a post in one of my Linked In groups someone mentioned he was talking to a fisherman from out west who said the state he lived in had a ban on felt soled shoes/boots. Evidently they have been shown to be a very good vector for organisms, esp the micro sized ones. I guess the entire country of New Zealand has a ban as well as Alaska.

Thoughts?

Should or, or even can I, change my felt soled boots to non felt?

Evidently these bans have started back in 2011....where have I been? lol

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nat ... -ban_n.htm

7 states so far at the publishing date of this article
http://www.theflyfishingforum.com/flyfi ... twear.html

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/Inva ... rsion.html

[ruthven78]

Im kinda thinking though, what about laces and other nooks & crannies on wading boots? I dont have built in boots, so since they are like hiking boots, there is a lot of places microorganisms can hide in those boots. Ill have to make sure to decontaminate them between waterways. I havent used them in oh, 3 years or so.

Oh sure, I started this thread BEFORE searching the forums for a pre-existing one.... *facepalm*

derpy derp

but at least I provided some updated information.

Apparently hot water 140 deg+ is the recommended treatment, see the last link in my post above.

[Gringo Pescador]

My 1st pair of wading boots were felt. I wore em till they fell apart and they did me well. My next pair were studded and I will never go back to felt.
The biggest problem with felt IMO (outside of the environmental concerns that are getting them banned) is they are slicker than snot in mud! Muddy bank, muddy trail and you have no traction.
The studs stick like glue and are just as effective in all types of terain. The only thing you have to watch out for is tearing up stuff you put your feet on (like boat floors, I picked up a pair of wading shoes for boat use).

[strider43]

Hey Gringo,
you get as good of traction on slippery rocks with the studs as you do with felt? How long will a pair of studded wading shoes last for?

[Gringo Pescador]

Hey Gringo,
you get as good of traction on slippery rocks with the studs as you do with felt? How long will a pair of studded wading shoes last for?

I think it depends on the boot. I'm on my 3rd or 4th year on mine. Somehow I ended up with a $50 Orvis gift card so went to the store in Bellevue and put some more cash to it (I think they were on sale also). Looking at the Orvis website I don't even see my boots listed, they have a zipper on the side which makes it MUCH easier to get in and out of them!

These are NOT my boots, but have the same sole http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=6G19

I added about 5 studs to the ones already in the boots (zig zaged down the center) and make sure to swap out studs that get worn to nubs (3 or 4 a year per boot). I've had to re-stitch a couple of seams on each but nothing major. At this rate I think I should be able to get at least a couple more years out of them.

I don't know if it matters or not but I also keep em out of the sun (garage) and stick em up side down on a boot hanger (made it out of 2x2s) to dry after each outing.

[natetreat]

I can't stand anything but felt soles on rocks, which I predominantly fish. I have pair of korkers that can swap out soles, and 90% of the time I wear the felt. They make studded felt boots.

Mud demands a different kind of sole, but I rarely fish in the mud. If I do, I swap soles. As far as micro-organisms, if they can make a sole that works as well as studded felt, then I'll switch.