The best wading boots for 2024 need to fit your budget, but they also need to fit your desired fishing conditions and fishing style. In this gear guide to the 15 best wading boots, we recommend our favorite fishing wading boots for durability, agility, traction and overall price-to-value.
Along the way, we’ll share the key features you need in a wading boot. Plus, we’ll show you how to decide between felt soles or rubber soles.
In a hurry?
Skip down to our 10 Best Wading Boots for 2024!
What about pricing? Casual weekend summertime fishers can usually get excellent results from entry-level and midrange boots, but if you fish more than 20 times each year, a more expensive wading boot will be your best buying option . . . because it will last more than twice as long as budget-focused beginner wading boots.
Before we get into our specific recommendations to help you buy the right wading boots, you should know that fishing wading boots are designed to be worn with stockingfoot waders. Stockingfoot waders have thick neoprene booties that will take up more space than just socks inside your wading boot.
Consequently, what size wading boot should you get? Some manufacturers recommend you choose one size up from your normal U.S. street shoe size. For instance, if you’re a size 11, order a size 12 wading boot for fishing with stockingfoot waders. This is how Simms, Orvis, and Korkers usually size wading boots — but not all do it this way. Our primary fly fishing gear reviewer Chris Maxcer recommends that you double-check the size charts as you buy online.
Table of Contents:
- Felt vs Rubber Soles for Fishing
- 10 Best Wading Boots for Fishing 2024
- Simms G4 PRO Powerlock Wading Boots — best long-term durability
- Patagonia Foot Tractor Wading Boots by Danner — best wet traction
- Orvis PRO Hybrid Wading Boots — best hybrid-sole wading boot
- Korkers Devil’s Canyon Wading Boots — best sole versatility
- Patagonia Forra Wading Boots — best lightweight wading boots
- Simms Flyweight Access Wading Boots — best all-rubber traction
- Orvis Ultralight Wading Boots — best low-profile ankle
- Redington PROWLER-PRO Wading Boots — favorite under-$200 wading boot
- Korkers Chrome Lite BOA Wading Boots — lightweight with BOA lacing
- Grundéns Bankside Wading Boots — a new rugged classic for 2024
- 5 Best ‘Budget’ Wading Boots
- Simms Tributary Wading Boot — $150~
- Orvis Encounter Wading Boots — $129~
- Korkers Greenback Wading Boots — $120~
- Redington Benchmark Wading Boots — $120~
- Frogg Toggs Hellbender Wading Boots — best wading boot under $100
Felt vs Rubber Soles for Fishing
Before you choose a pair of wading boots, you should first consider the question of traditional felt vs rubber soles. If you primarily fish in rivers and lakes in a state that has banned felt soles, your answer is simple: Choose rubber-soled wading boots.
Which states have banned felt soles? Alaska, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and South Dakota.
So why have these states banned felt soles?
The suspicion is that invasive species can get lodged in the felt sole of your wading boot and hitch a ride from one waterway to another. While possible, the risk is low for most fly fishers, partially because most people don’t get to fish multiple areas in quick succession. Still, if you plan to fish in waters with invasive species problems, choose rubber-soled boots. Of course, bad critters, like the invasive New Zealand Mud Snail, can hitch rides on most any gear. If you’re going to fish problem water, be sure to thoroughly dry all your gear in the sun and/or disinfect it between trips.
On the other hand, felt soles offer superior traction on wet, slick rocks. On dry land? Rubber is usually better. For more detail, skip down to Why choose wading boots with felt soles?
Best Men’s Wading Boots for Fishing 2024
Here are our favorite wading boots, ranked based on overall durability, features and price-to-value. Frankly, there are only a handful of wading boot manufacturers we trust — it’s already hard enough to find time to get out on the water, so why struggle with bad boots?
All of our top ten wading boot brands make several different styles — more than we mention, all trustworthy — but these are the wading boots for men we most often recommend you buy:
1. Simms G4 PRO Powerlock Wading Boots
The Simms G4 PRO Powerlock Wading Boot comes with two sets of cleats for traction control. Choose the Simms G4 PRO boots if you fish many days per year.Simms consistently produces high-quality gear, and pretty much any Simms wading boot could arguably be one of our best wading boots because they tend to last a very long time. Simms has completely updated its previous generation G4 PRO wading boots with a new sole system to create the new G4 PRO Powerlock Wading Boot. Simms now ships its the G4 PRO with two compete sets of the new Simms ‘Powerlock’ cleat system. One cleat is aluminum for extra bite on slick rock. The other cleat is a TPU disk that provides extra traction but is safe for softer boat surfaces. The remainder of the boot is just as rugged and stable as the previous generation, and Simms continues to give you a roomy toe box that’s covered with a burly rubber toe kick. For comfort, Simms still uses neoprene internals for added warmth and to make it easier to get them on and off.
Of course, Simms offers a felt sole version, which also uses the new Powerlock cleats. Note: Choose 1 size up from your regular shoe size for the proper G4 PRO Powerlock fit with waders, for example, if you wear a size 11 shoe, you should order a size 12 in the G4 PRO Powerlock.
Shop Simms G4 PRO Powerlock buying options at:
Simms | Backcountry | Trident Fly Fishing
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2. Patagonia Foot Tractor Wading Boots by Danner
Patagonia shook up the wading boot world by partnering with Danner, a Portland, Oregon manufacturer of some some of the best work boots in the world. Built by Danner, the new Patagonia Foot Tractor Wading Boots have been totally redesigned to offer better durability, fit and comfort. These burly boots promise to deliver all-day stability and last through years of abuse. The traction starts with grippy Vibram Idrogrip rubber but then moves to another level with Patagonia’s patented aluminum bars. The bars cut through slime and provide a great bite on rock. While the previous generation of bars spanned the width of your foot — which offered great traction in our in-stream tests — this new version has two bars that are split under your forefoot. The new design lets the sole flex so the bars can better conform to the surface of rocks.
As for weight, the Patagonia Foot Tractor Wading Boots are big and burly and weigh in at about 86 ounces per pair. The boots are made with waterproof full-grain leather with 1,000-denier nylon paneling. Any cons? The Patagonia Foot Tractor Wading Boots are expensive, but they’re made in the U.S.A and backed by Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee. When it comes to sizing, Patagonia recommends that you stick with your regular street shoe size if you plan to wear the Foot Tractor Wading Boots with typical stocking foot waders (don’t size up when ordering).
Shop Patagonia Foot Tractor buying options at:
Patagonia | AvidMax | Backcountry
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3. Orvis PRO Hybrid Wading Boots
Orvis PRO Hybrid Wading BootsThe new Orvis PRO Hybrid Wading Boots are based on the original Orvis PRO Wading Boots, which arose from a collaborative partnership with Michelin — that’s right, the tire company. The rubber used in the Orvis PRO series of wading boots is a compound specifically designed for fly fishing. The resulting Michelin Outdoor Extreme outsole delivers great abrasion resistance while improving wet rubber traction. This new ‘hybrid’ version creates a boot with the best of two soles: Rubber for land traction and felt for in-the-water slick rock traction. What if you want to add some studs? The felt sole will accommodate studs, too.
Meanwhile, the Orvis PRO Hybrid Boot is designed for comfort: Orvis partnered with Ortholite to create a 3D molded X25 insole designed for high-impact sports. The cast PU upper eliminates seams and is shaped into what Orvis is calling a zoned cage to added stability. You also get a high ankle for extra support. The front of the sole extends up for toe protection, along with a burly scratch rubber toe bumper. One last note: We especially like the large heel pull for easy on/off.
Shop Orvis PRO Hybrid buying options at:
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4. Korkers Devil’s Canyon Wading Boots
The Korkers Devil’s Canyon Wading Boots are far better wading boots than they might appear at first glance. In fact, they’ve turned into our favorite interchangeable-sole Korkers boot. Here’s why: The Devil’s Canyon is a fairly lightweight and nimble boot. The upper extends above the ankle and provides surprisingly good support — it almost molds to your ankle. And yet, somehow the Devil’s Canyon feels nimble when you’re scrambling over rocks. Better yet, the M2 Boa lacing system is easy to adjust and it opens wide, making entry and exit easy. In addition, the mostly one-piece design fends off sticks and rocks. The stitching around the caps is recessed, which further protects the stitches from wear.
Meanwhile, the Korkers claim to fame is the company’s OmniTrax Interchangeable Sole System, which lets you switch from felt to rubber or even to studded rubber soles. Incidentally, if you’re in a state that has banned felt, the Korkers Triple Threat Aluminum Hex Sole option (read our Triple Threat Hex Sole review for more detail) delivers truly outstanding traction.
Shop Korkers Devils Canyon buying options at:
AvidMax | Korkers | Trident Fly Fishing
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5. Patagonia Forra Wading Boots
Patagonia Forra Wading BootsThe new Patagonia Forra Wading Boots are something special: They’re made in Italy by Fitwell for Patagonia, and oh boy, they fit and feel fantastic. As you might expect from an Italian-made boot, the overall quality is excellent. So where do these new Forra wading boots excel?
The Patagonia Forra is the best lightweight wading boot for hiking we’ve tested yet. At just 41 ounces for the pair, they’re super light but surprisingly stable. The rugged rubber Vibram Mars sole has lots of angled lugs for traction on multiple surfaces and slopes. They’re particularly nimble and great for steep banks and rock-hopping. We immediately appreciated how agile they felt on our first testing session. Patagonia designed the Forra for fishers who cover a lot of ground getting to streams and lakes, as well as for those who wade long distances in and along riverbanks and shorelines. We’re big fans. Any drawbacks? The in-water wet traction on slick and slimy round rocks in cold Idaho streams is about average for rubber-based soles. Sorry. They’re not magic on slimy rocks. However, if you plan swift water wading or wade in areas with particularly slick rocks, you can a Grip Studs Traction Kit. Either way, if you’re hungry for a comfortable, lightweight yet supportive wading boot, it’s hard to go wrong with the Patagonia Forra.
Shop Patagonia Forra buying options at:
Patagonia | AvidMax | Backcountry
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6. Simms Flyweight Access Wading Boots
Simms Flyweight Access Wading BootsThe Simms Flyweight Access Wading Boots use an exclusive-to-Simms Vibram Idrogrip Flex outsole. It’s engineered with a softer rubber compound that makes it the grippiest rubber-soled wading boot Simms has ever made. Does it have any drawbacks? Softer rubber compounds wear down faster than harder rubber compounds, which means the Flyweight Access Wading Boot won’t last as long as the Simms G4 PRO Wading Boots. However, if you want lightweight comfort and a rubber-soled grip that approaches the performance of felt, the Flyweight Access might be the right choice for you. As for construction, you still get the durable welded TPU overlays in high-abrasion areas as well as the rubber toe rand we appreciated so much in the non-Access Flyweight versions we tested.
Shop Simms Flyweight Access buying options at:
Simms | Trident Fly Fishing | Backcountry
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7. Orvis Ultralight Wading Boots
Orvis says the quick-drying Clarino microfiber in the Orvis Ultralight Wading Boots provide a better strength-to-weight ratio than leather. They’re super light — the size 10 weighs in at about 1.25 pounds (40 ounces for the pair). If you have bad ankles, note the lower ankle height than what you get with most wading boots — but we actually like the extra nimble feeling that comes with shorter wading boots. In fact, we believe the shorter ankle height helps deliver more feel from the boot as you walk over uneven ground, resulting in better balance and agility. The overall fit is a bit small and definitely snug with standard stocking foot waders, so be sure to size up if you’re a half size in your street shoes.
Any downsides? The Orvis Ultralight Wading Boots only come with a rubber sole, but they do accept Orvis’s PosiGrip Screw-In Studs for extra traction. Read our full Orvis Ultralight Wading Boots Review for more detail. Meanwhile, Orvis has a brand new for 2024 ‘Pro’ version with a similar design that only weighs a couple of ounces more: The Orvis PRO LT Wading Boots.
Shop Orvis Ultralight buying options at:
Orvis | Fishwest | Bass Pro Shops
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8. Redington PROWLER-PRO Wading Boots
The Redington PROWLER-PRO is out-of-the-box comfortable and is our favorite wading boot in the under $200 price range.The Redington PROWLER-PRO is Redington’s best wading boot and offers an excellent price-to-value ratio. In fact, it’s our favorite wading boot in the under $200 price range. The PROWLER-PRO is surprisingly light, nimble and stable, which makes them a great choice for active anglers. They run very slightly large yet boast out-of-the-box comfort. The toe box is generous but the fit snugs down easily. We’ve put many miles on the previous generation Prowler wading boot, and the new PROWLER-PRO has bene just as good. Redington has improved the drainage, cut weight, and modernized the overall design. We especially appreciate the new heel step ledge, which makes kicking off the boots after a long day of fishing super easy. Oh, one more thing: The Redington color design choices and materials look particularly great in person.
The sticky rubber is good when wet and is stud-compatable for extra traction. We’ve had multiple reviewers spend time in these boots and they all love the blend of stability and feel. They’re also available in a felt-sole version.
Shop Redington Prowler-Pro buying options at:
AvidMax | Trident Fly Fishing | Backcountry
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9. Korkers Chrome Lite BOA Wading Boots
Korkers Chrome Lite BOA Wading BootsThe new Korkers Chrome Lite BOA Wading Boots are a bit different from previous Korkers wading boots: The new Chrome Lite BOA Wading Boots have a fixed rubber sole instead of the OmniTrax Interchangeable Sole System that made Korkers famous. They’re part of Korkers’ new Wade Lite Collection. Why did Korkers skip OmniTrax for the new Chrome Lite BOAs? Weight. Korkers set out to create a new wading boots that was much lighter — and they succeeded. These new wading boots weigh in at a very competitive 42 ounces per pair.
The soles are made from a new Korkers proprietary rubber compound called Kling-On Rock. For traction, Korkers uses a densely siped rubber tread patterns on the sole. Siping helps grip on wet, slick surfaces, but it’s not great on mud, slick grass, and gravely terrain. For that, Korkers created a new Macro-Lug tread design that breaks up the sole into six monster lugs. Of course, Korkers sells carbide screw-in cleats if you want extra traction.
Meanwhile, the BOA lacing system is super easy to use. In fact, the Chrome Lite BOA is the most affordable wading boot we’ve ever seen with a BOA lacing system. (Note: If you want regular laces, check out the new Korkers Stealth Sneaker, which weighs in at an astounding ultralight 35.2 ounces per pair.)
Shop Korkers Chrome Lite BOA buying options at:
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10. Grundéns Bankside Wading Boots
Grundéns Bankside Wading BootsGrundéns entered the fly fishing space last year with the introduction of a new Fly Collection of stockingfoot waders and its new Grundéns Bankside Wading Boots. The company is known for making high-quality fishing apparel and rubber boots for commercial fishermen, so this entry was unexpected but totally welcome. We tested the new GORE-TEX-based Boundary Stockingfoot Waders and found them to be simply outstanding. At the same time, we tested the new Grundéns Bankside Wading Boots and found them to also be excellent. If you have a wide or high-volume foot, the Grundéns Bankside boots are for you. They are an ultra-rugged, durable wading boot with a timeless classic design. Despite the slightly large build, they’re very stable and very comfortable. If you’re a half-size in your street shoes with an average-width or narrow foot, you can likely size down in these boots rather than up. If you’re looking for a handsome, well-made and rugged boot, the Grundéns Bankside is an outstanding value.
Shop Grundéns Bankside buying options at:
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5 Best Entry-Level ‘Budget’ Wading Boots
There are many cheap options available these days, but most inexpensive wading boots under $100 are also, well, cheaply made. Still, if you’re new to fly fishing, there is a lot of fly fishing gear that beginners need to buy — and your budget may already be stretched thin. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. The best value entry-level wading boots come from Simms, Orvis, Korkers, and Redington. In our experience, these affordable options are very good, offering you an outstanding value:
1. Simms Tributary
The new Simms Tributary Wading Boot has an excellent price-to-value ratio.The latest version of the Simms Tributary Wading Boot for 2024 is our top entry-level wading boot pick. It offers a great blend of long-term durability at a price point that’s still affordable for those who are starting to get more serious about spending time in the water fishing. Simms redesigned its latest version of the Tributary with a more streamlined, rugged construction, including new corrosion-resistant lacing hardware. The neoprene lining improves comfort, and the front and rear loops make entry and exit easy. The rubber toe cap is huge, which fends off sharp rocks. The rubber sole isn’t the same Vibram Idrogrip material found on Simms’ higher-end boots, but it is stud compatible if you need extra grip. Simms also makes a felt-version.
Shop Simms Tributary buying options at:
Simms | Trident Fly Fishing | Backcountry.com
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2. Orvis Encounter
Orvis Encounter Wading BootsThe Orvis Encounter Wading Boots are Orvis’s entry-level wading boot. Orvis offered previous versions in both rubber and felt sole options, but for 2024 Orvis has settled on felt soles for its Encounter option. As long as you don’t fish multiple drainages without thoroughly drying or disinfecting your boots in between trips (to help fight invasive species transfers) we’re good with that. It’s nearly impossible to beat felt for in-water traction on slick rocks, so we think they’re particularly good for beginning fly fishers who don’t yet have a lot of experience wading in rivers. Again, great overall can’t-go-wrong value here.
Shop Orvis Encounter buying options at:
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3. Korkers Greenback
Korkers Greenback Wading BootsThe Korkers Greenback Wading Boot is Korkers’ entry-level wading boot for men — and it’s a great value. You can sometimes find the Greenback with just one sole included at a slightly lower price point, but we recommend you go with the felt and rubber sole option if possible. It’s just more versatile. Despite being an entry-level boot, the OmniTrax Interchangeable Sole System is just as good as it is on Korkers’ high-end options, including the Devil’s Canyon noted above. The stitching, materials and build quality is durable. The overall design is classic and solid. The hydrophobic synthetic-leather and textile uppers dry fast. The traditional lacing system works well when wet and helps you dial in the fit if you want a tighter forefoot or looser ankle — or vice versa. With the interchangeable OmniTrax soles, the versatility at this price point is excellent.
Shop Korkers Greenback buying options at:
Amazon | Korkers | Bass Pro Shops
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4. Redington Benchmark
Redington Benchmark Wading BootsAt just $120 or so, the Redington Benchmark Wading Boots are an outstanding value. They share a similar build design as the excellent Redington PROWLER-PRO. You can get the Benchmark in either felt or rubber soles. These are relatively lightweight, quick-drying and offer very good ankle support. Very impressive at this price point.
Shop Redington Benchmark buying options at:
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5. Frogg Toggs Hellbender
While we don’t believe the Frogg Toggs Hellbender Wading Boots are as surprisingly great as the company’s entry-level priced Hellbender Stockingfoot Waders, the affordable price point is hard to argue with — at least, when you find them priced under $100. Sometimes in some stores they’re a bit higher. Either way, these boots are the only wading boots that you can still find under $100 that we’re willing to recommend in 2024. If you’re on a tight budget, the risk-to-reward ratio here is pretty darn good.
Shop Frogg Toggs Hellbender buying options at:
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Wading Boots for Women
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- Redington Aurora Wading Boot — perhaps best overall
- Patagonia Forra Wading Boot — best lightweight wading boot!
- Redington Benchmark Wading Boot (and felt option) — outstanding price-to-value
- Orvis Ultralight Wading Boots — super lightweight, very nimble
- Simms Women’s Freestone Wading Boots — best durability
- Korkers Buckskin Mary Wading Boot — felt and rubber, interchangeable
- Orvis Women’s Clearwater Wading Boot Rubber — with a felt sole option
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Wading Boot FAQ
What kind of boots do you wear with waders?
The best boots to wear with stockingfoot fishing waders are boots designed specifically to be worn with stockingfoot waders. Wading boots are sized larger than regular boots so the boot has room for your socks as well as the neoprene stockingfoot bootie on waders. Can you wear oversized hiking boots with waders? Technically, yes, but hiking boots usually have harder rubber soles that are slicker on wet surfaces. Plus, hiking boots are more likely to fall apart after repeated dunkings and extended underwater use.
Who makes the best wading boots?
Simms, Orvis, Patagonia, Korkers, and Redington make the best fly fishing wading boots.
Why should I choose wading boots with felt soles?
The bottom line is that felt soles offer the best grip on wet, slippery rocks. If you’re wading in gravel or small rocks with gentle shores that have lots of traction, felt soles don’t provide much of an advantage over rubber soles. On a mix of big round and flat rocks covered with slick slime, though, felt wading boots usually win out when it comes to traction in the water. Aside from being banned in five states and some countries, the disadvantages of felt is that felt soles can wear thin if you spend a lot of time walking on shore or on trails to get to the water.
Why should I choose wading boots with rubber soles?
Rubber-soled wading shoes and boots have come a long way over the last few years. While they aren’t as good as felt for wet wading in most streams, the gap has closed considerably as rubber technologies and tread designs get grippier. In addition, the best rubber-soled wading boots come with metal studs or the ability to screw in studs for extra grip on slimy rocks. The core benefit of rubber-soled wading boots is that they are much more grippy on the banks and trails around rivers and streams — and they aren’t affected by the aforementioned felt bans. Incidentally, we’re starting to see manufacturers trend toward rubber soles for their newest wading boots, likely due to concern for regulations and possible invasive species issues.
What is wet wading with wet wading shoes?
‘Wet wading’ is simply wading in streams and lakes without waterproof waders. Instead of keeping your feet dry inside of waterproof waders, your feet get wet inside of your wading boots or wading shoes. Lots of fly fishers like to wet wade in rivers and creeks on hot summer days.
There are two good ways to wet wade: The most common way for fly fishing is when you wear your typical wading boots sized to be worn over stockingfoot waders . . . but you wear a thick neoprene sock to maintain a good fit. The second way is to wear a pair of wet wading shoes specifically designed to be worn barefoot or worn with standard socks that will get wet. Sizing is usually based off your usual street shoe size.
Here are a few of the best wet wading shoes:
What is the best saltwater wading boot?
While you can use most high-quality wading boots as a saltwater boot, the best saltwater wading boots avoid cheap metal hardware that can corrode in harsh marine environments. Still, it’s always a good idea to rinse your boots with freshwater after saltwater fishing trips.
The Simms FreeSalt Wading Boot has non-corrosive hardware and materials to withstand hard saltwater wading.Simms FreeSalt Saltwater Wading Boots — These boots are built with non-corrosive materials, making them great for coastal and brackish-water fishing where salt can destroy your fishing gear.
Concerned About Balance or Falling Down?
If you have trouble with balance or ankle stability, your most important piece of gear might not be wading boots — you should invest in a good wading staff to help you navigate tricky water and trails. In addition, consider an automatic or instantly inflatable life jacket vest for optimum safety in fast or deeper water.
Need Waders, Too?
Check out our guide, 10 Best Fly Fishing Waders for the Money!
Our Gear Review and Tester’s Specific Related Experience:
Chris Maxcer has tested and reviewed dozens of wading boots and stockingfoot waders for Man Makes Fire. He’s personally worn and tested wading boots while fly fishing in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Colorado, and Alaska for trout, salmon, steelhead, and smallmouth bass. Of course, Maxcer has also written hundreds of in-depth outdoor gear reviews, including independent, first-hand reviews of fly fishing gear, camping gear, hunting gear, backpacking gear, and beach and water play gear. He believes the best way to understand a product is to use it in the real world for the kind of activity it was designed for.
Man Makes Fire publishes independent gear reviews, unencumbered by any requirements from any gear brand or manufacturer.
