studs for felt wading boots

[4steelhead]

I just bought a new pair of felt soled wading boots. Now I'm contemplating installing Sims Hard Bite Suds for felt. I slipped on wet clay last year, tearing my rotator cuff. I couldn't cast for 6 weeks! But I'm worried that the studs will tear up and damage the felt. Have you used them? Do they stay in? Are they good or bad?

[Steelheadin360]

Felt with studs is awesome, you can climb on the rocks like a mountain goat. Would it help in the clay? probably not. The simms are gonna be your best bet though. The only problem with studs is they shred everything you step on, car mats, boats, floor, etc. I bought a pair of Korkers with the interchangeable soles, so I could have the grip when I need it, and take them off and put on a pair of felts for boat time and such.

[Bodofish]

Felt with studs is awesome, you can climb on the rocks like a mountain goat. Would it help in the clay? probably not. The simms are gonna be your best bet though. The only problem with studs is they shred everything you step on, car mats, boats, floor, etc. I bought a pair of Korkers with the interchangeable soles, so I could have the grip when I need it, and take them off and put on a pair of felts for boat time and such.

I'd watch the felt in CW. It picks up little rocks and rips the crap out of the vinyl floor.

[4steelhead]

Bodo, what is CW?

[G-Man]

I would expect him to mean "cold weather," as in freezing temps. In freezing weather all kinds of stuff gets stuck to the bottom of wet felt boots. It's even worse when there is snow on the ground, in no time you end up having boots with a 4" lift. No worries though, once you put your feet in the river the stuff all comes off. For the car, just bring along a boot/shoe brush cleaner and you're good to go.

[Bodofish]

CustomWeld

[4steelhead]

My main concern is the screw threads tearing up the felt on my new boots. Has anybody used them?

[G-Man]

The felt soles on my boots had preformed holes for studs. The studs go in with a screwdriver and stay put, you can remove them just as easily. The studs that came with my boots look like plain sheet metal screws, similar to the Simms Hard Bite studs, though they aren't coated with carbide grit. In fact, hex head sheet metal screws are a cheap, effective and only run a couple of bucks for a 50 pack. I would not worry too much about the studs tearing up the felt or falling out, your weigh will keep them in place. You will want to check the thickness of your felt and be sure to get studs that are the correct length. You want them long enough so they just to bite into the rubber sole.

[zen leecher]

I went to the local hardware store and got aluminum metal screws for $2.00. Took care of both boots. I've used them for 2 years now.