by Kirk Deeter

Several months ago, I reported on a felt sole alternative for wading boots being offered by Korkers called "Svelte". I gave it a glowing review. After all, it was "grippy" on wet rocks. It had kind of a "pot scrubber" texture. It was eco-friendly, less apt to carry invasive species. All the right things...

My one caveat was that I was going to see how long they lasted before rendering a final verdict. Well, they didn't last too long. Not long enough to justify $50 a pair. I got about two months wear out of my test pair. Granted, I hike a lot in some rocky terrain, but two months wasn't a passing grade.

I was just about to write a nasty gram, when I bumped into the Korkers people at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show. It turns out they were one step ahead of me. To their credit, they realized the durability issue, and will soon come out with "Svelte 2." At first glance, one notices that "son of Svelte" is much thicker, akin to the thickness of the standard felt wading sole. I think the texture also seems a little more coarse, which is a good thing, in my opinion.

I want Svelte to succeed. I think it's a great idea. I give kudos to Korkers for fixing the problem. I'm going to try a pair soon, and when I get them in the water, I'll give another honest report (after I see how long they last).

Meanwhile, Patagonia has turned to its mountaineering roots to invent an intriguing solution to wading traction, minus felt. These river crampons and integrated aluminum bars on the soles of wading boots look kinda freaky to me. But I'm told that they are absolutely stellar when it comes to providing grip on slippery river rocks. 

With as much climbing up and down mountains and glaciers as the Patagonia people have done over the years, I'd suggest it's a pretty safe bet that they've learned how not to fall on their rear ends when walking on slick stuff. I'm still interested to hear the "test drive" reports from everyday anglers.

Might we really, truly be close to ending the felt on wading boots debate, once and for all? Silly question, but we might be wading in the right direction.

Comments (10)

from aferraro wrote 39 weeks 21 hours ago

If you actually paid $50 - maybe you'd give less kudos for them realizing their mistake. How eco-friendly is something that wore out in 2 months?

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from buckhunter wrote 39 weeks 20 hours ago

Fished Maryland a couple times this year. The rocks in Maryland are slick and felt is banned. It was rough walking with lug soles. My buddies had cleated soles and seemed to work very well. Not sure if someday cleats will be banned due to the million white scratches on the rocks following the river.

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from bsemion wrote 39 weeks 17 hours ago

What about ice fishing grippers that slip on over boots? It would seem that these inexpensive items that keep ice anglers upright would also work on rocks.

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from prairieghost wrote 39 weeks 17 hours ago

so, if it last twice as long (4 months) is the new stuff get a passing grade??
NOT.

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from Clay Cooper wrote 39 weeks 11 hours ago

To see a Manufacturer immediately identify a problem and correct it?

MY HAT IS OFF AND THIS GLASS OF ICE TEA IS FOR THEM!

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from Sayfu wrote 39 weeks 57 min ago

AHHH, after getting hosed you can now get the "New and Improved"
Reminds me of a bunch of guys that flew into our lodge in Alaska from Tennessee years ago..all outfitted with GoreTex. Rained cats and dogs and their GoreTex leaked. Not happy campers, and telling them Gore would make good on their leaky garments didn't help much. I'm surprised the William Gore Co. survived those early faulty garments, but they did. Problem was at the seams.

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from fflutterffly wrote 39 weeks 31 min ago

Sorry but it still looks like a Merkin for shoes.

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from jamesti wrote 38 weeks 6 days ago

for 50 bucks, i'd expect them to last at least two seasons. i look forward to the next test.

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from backcast wrote 38 weeks 5 days ago

Gotta say the "river crampons" look a lot like mini catapillar tracks...might turn a wading angler into a small bulldozer. Probably not so hot for some streambeds. The svelte looks like it has potential. Might take a few incarnations before it gains mass appeal.

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from mcp wrote 38 weeks 5 days ago

Let's remember the context here. In response to bans on felt in certain states and, at that time, an apparent momentum to add other states, Korkers did what we hope all of our gear folks do, try and find a solution. In the R&D field, there is always a balance between getting the product out (for use and testing) and waiting until you are absolutely sure you got all of the bugs out. Korkers did us a service, realized improvements were needed and did the right thing. We should applaud such effors.

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from mcp wrote 38 weeks 5 days ago

Let's remember the context here. In response to bans on felt in certain states and, at that time, an apparent momentum to add other states, Korkers did what we hope all of our gear folks do, try and find a solution. In the R&D field, there is always a balance between getting the product out (for use and testing) and waiting until you are absolutely sure you got all of the bugs out. Korkers did us a service, realized improvements were needed and did the right thing. We should applaud such effors.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 39 weeks 20 hours ago

Fished Maryland a couple times this year. The rocks in Maryland are slick and felt is banned. It was rough walking with lug soles. My buddies had cleated soles and seemed to work very well. Not sure if someday cleats will be banned due to the million white scratches on the rocks following the river.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from bsemion wrote 39 weeks 17 hours ago

What about ice fishing grippers that slip on over boots? It would seem that these inexpensive items that keep ice anglers upright would also work on rocks.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from aferraro wrote 39 weeks 21 hours ago

If you actually paid $50 - maybe you'd give less kudos for them realizing their mistake. How eco-friendly is something that wore out in 2 months?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from prairieghost wrote 39 weeks 17 hours ago

so, if it last twice as long (4 months) is the new stuff get a passing grade??
NOT.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Clay Cooper wrote 39 weeks 11 hours ago

To see a Manufacturer immediately identify a problem and correct it?

MY HAT IS OFF AND THIS GLASS OF ICE TEA IS FOR THEM!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Sayfu wrote 39 weeks 57 min ago

AHHH, after getting hosed you can now get the "New and Improved"
Reminds me of a bunch of guys that flew into our lodge in Alaska from Tennessee years ago..all outfitted with GoreTex. Rained cats and dogs and their GoreTex leaked. Not happy campers, and telling them Gore would make good on their leaky garments didn't help much. I'm surprised the William Gore Co. survived those early faulty garments, but they did. Problem was at the seams.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from fflutterffly wrote 39 weeks 31 min ago

Sorry but it still looks like a Merkin for shoes.

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from jamesti wrote 38 weeks 6 days ago

for 50 bucks, i'd expect them to last at least two seasons. i look forward to the next test.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from backcast wrote 38 weeks 5 days ago

Gotta say the "river crampons" look a lot like mini catapillar tracks...might turn a wading angler into a small bulldozer. Probably not so hot for some streambeds. The svelte looks like it has potential. Might take a few incarnations before it gains mass appeal.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.