The Korkers Terror Ridge Wading Boots have a new lock-down lacing system and come with two sets of interchangeable soles.
To get us a closer look, Korkers sent Man Makes Fire a review set. This is what we learned:
Korkers Terror Ridge Wading Boots Review
The key to the entire line of Korkers wading boots is the company’s innovative OmniTrax Interchangeable Sole System. Basically, this system lets you switch out the type of sole you have on your wading boot for another. For example, you can use felt soles for super-slippery underwater rocks but use rubber when you plan to hike along a bank most of the day.
In addition, a few states have banned felt-soled wading boots due to concerns that invasive species can hitch a ride on felt soles and contaminate new waterways. If you live in one of these states — or plan to fish in them — you’ll need rubber-soled wading boots.
Even if you don’t plan to fish in a state with felt regulations, there is another reason to appreciate interchangeable soles: You can wear rubber or felt soles if you plan to be fishing from a raft . . . but also use studded soles for hardcore wading days.
But there is a lot more to the Korkers Terror Ridge than the OmniTrax Interchangeable Sole System.
The best wading boots these days use hydrophobic materials that shed water and dry fast — and so does the Terror Ridge. The construction of these materials, however, is key, too. The overall construction needs to handle rough conditions, areas of wear, and repeated dunking and dryings.
For stitching in high-wear areas, Korkers uses recessed channels to protect the stitch. You can see this on the generous TPU toe cap and heel panels.
The front TPU toe cap is also used for stability and fit. It extends around to the forefoot of the boot and extends up to the first two rows of lacing. The result? If you want to tighten the forefoot, you can do so with super-stable sides.
With felt soles, the Korkers Terror Ridge review pair weighed just 30.35 ounces per boot (under two pounds). For a full-coverage, burly wading boot with outstanding ankle support, that’s excellent.
New Heel-Lock System
One common problem with wading boot fit is heel slip. Because you’re wearing socks and the stockingfoot wader booties, you don’t have to worry about getting blisters, but poor fitting wading boots are not what you want when you’re wading deep in fast water. Korkers solves this in a couple of ways.
The Terror Ridge boot includes a new nylon band that is attached to the tongue and extends to the sides of the boot. Your laces slip through the ends of the strap and when you give the laces a tug to tighten the boot, the band snugs down and holds your heel in place. It seems super simple and basic, but you can’t argue with results — it works very well.
But that’s not all. Korkers adds two pads on the interior of the boot that snug around your achilles tendon. It all comes together to create a fantastic fit.
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Korkers Terror Ridge Fit
Overall, the Korkers Terror Ridge wading boots fit very slightly large, which is spot on with other Korkers boots we’ve worn.
The toe box is roomy but not sloppy — you can adjust the lacing to find the right amount of snug you want. And remember, the lock-down heel system works well, too.
What I found particularly surprising about the Korkers Terror Ridge is how light and nimble they felt on the bank and in the water while wading. Personally, I prefer ultra lightweight wading boots and I don’t need much ankle support (at least not yet). In fact, my favorite Korkers wading boots are the Devil’s Canyon wading boots, but the Terror Ridge boots are easily a close second.
How light are the Korkers Terror Ridge wading boots? Our size 15 review unit boot weighed in at a respectable 30.35 ounces with felt soles. Not bad at all.
Two more minor notes: The rear of the boot includes a generous finger loop for pulling the boots on, and the tongue has a built-in d-loop for connecting to your stockingfoot waders or wading socks for hot-weather wading.
The Verdict
If you want a relatively lightweight wading boot with tall, robust ankle support, the Terror Ridge will work well for you. The new Heel-Lock system works great, the overall ride is stable, and the Korkers OmniTrax Interchangeable Sole systems delivers outstanding versatility. Highly recommended.
Get the Gear:
Check shipping/pricing: Amazon | AvidMax | Bass Pro Shops
Note: If you’re looking for a boot similar to the Terror Ridge but want a Boa lacing system, try the Korkers Darkhorse Wading Boots.
