When it comes to finding the best wet wading shoes for fly fishing you'll see a LOT of dodgy advice online - particularly on social media. As a result, for this article we'll call out some of the more dangerous advice as well as flagging up some tried and tested shoes and giving advice on a full wet wading setup.
For those in a hurry, let's start out with a recommended Top 4 options below the Table of Contents:
Shopping through the links on this page doesn't add to your ticket price - but does help to support Fishing Discoveries through affiliate programs (Thank you!). If you don't want those companies to donate commissions to FD, you can search directly on Amazon or Orvis for the reviewed products.
Best Wet Wading Shoes for Fly Fishing: Adaptable Fit, Widely Available Option (Rubber Sole)
Palm Gradient
Since the demise of the excellent Five Ten "Water Tennies" (of which I still have a couple of pairs stockpiled!), I've been on the lookout for a widely-available replacement. The Palm Gradient offering is a kayaking shoe with a lot going for it:
- Vibram "Idrogrip" rubber sole with well thought out tread design for excellent traction on slick rocks (while shedding debris and mud)
- Super fast draining design and quick-dry upper
- 994g/2lb 3oz for US Size 13 - suitable for stockingfoot waders as well as the full range of wet wading applications
- Robust construction (holding up well to my harsh treatment of fishing shoes)
- Adaptable fit with cushioned upper that seems suitable for different foot shapes (perhaps less specialised for narrow feet - though they still fit me well as a fairly narrow footed angler when fitted at my true size)
- Good rock scrambling performance (protective rubber wrapping around the toe-box and heel areas)
- Make excellent ultralight light wading boots for pairing with traditional waders (these are now my main fishing shoes for my stockingfoot waders)
- Low heel "cutout" for easy slipping on/off when unlaced - but with ideal amount of ankle support in use
Best Wet Wading Shoe for Fly Fishing: Narrower "Euro Style" fit, Widely Available Option (Rubber Sole)
La Sportiva TX Canyon
Recently brought to my attention in a post by jamezu on the excellent resource 10 Colors Tenkara forum, this new offering from La Sportiva is designed for the exact environment and treatment required of a true "best wet wading shoe for fly fishing" contender.
Best Wet Wading Shoe for Fly Fishing: Felt and Studs Option Direct from Japan
Hanshin-Geji-FX-902 Spike Shoes
Although not available in non-Japanese stores, Amazon.co.jp ship these overseas. PLUS most web browsers let you click a button to translate the page content and the familiarity with the Amazon platform makes any registration and shopping experience recognisable and simple.
- Felt sole with integral metal spikes for excellent traction on algae-covered rocks (check that felt soles are allowed where you plan to fish - some biosecurity regulations ban felt)
- Synthetic fabric and synthetic leather upper
- Reinforced toe and upper - designed for tough stream environments
- Padded velcro ankle striap fastening - with firm ankle support
- Streamlined, robust design
These shoes offer extra traction on algae-covered rocks with the combination of felt and boot studs and come from the Japanese market where wet wading, sawanobori and wilderness fishing and adventure are well established. See further down in this article for additional essential gear from Japan for wet wading applications.
Best Wet Wading Shoes for Fly Fishing: Orvis PRO "Water Sneakers" Style
Orvis PRO Approach Shoes
)
- Michelin® Outdoor Extreme rubber outsole - suggested 43% better wet rubber traction and 25% higher abrasion resistance compared to some competitors
- Designed specifically as fly fishing shoes - with adaptable wet wading applications in mind from saltwater flats to mountain streams and approach hiking capability rolled into one
- Single density phylon midsole and seamless, lightweight uppers and shorter ankle height support for agility and a more water sneakers style profile
- Ariaprene - perforated, breathable neoprene lining and integral sock provides gravel guard functionality
- Integrated lace hood and overall looks that can easily pass for a casual wear shoe
- Available in "Camo" (pictured) and "Slate" Colors
Footwear Mistakes When Wet Wading
If you look on social media, it seems that a lot of folks want to pick up some sandals or crocs or similar shoes for wet wading. These are very far from the best wet wading shoes for fly fishing - or any other style of fishing. At worst they can actually be dangerous. That's because of a few essential functions these shoes need to provide.
Essential Functions of the Best Wet Wading Shoes for Fly Fishing (in fact ANY Fishing)
Here we are doing our due diligence in researching wet wading gear among the expert wilderness anglers of the Genryu Izakaya crew in Japan
Close Fit to Hold your Foot in Place
One of the big problems with crocs, open toe sandals and many non-specialist water shoes is that they will roll around your foot when subjected to the torque experienced when keeping your balance on stream (and focusing on the fishing).
The same is true when rock-hopping between fishing spots - and the transition between the two environments. A perfect fit is the kind of thing that isn't a problem - right up until the very moment it becomes a huge problem and causes a bad accident.
The Best Wet Wading Shoes for Fly Fishing are Not Too Bulky!
A legitimate question for regular fly fishers is why not just use my regular wading boots? The big thing here is that some of the main advantages of wet wading are the reduced encumberance of the gear - and an increase in agility and good balance that comes from that. It is also an advantage to be able to have more "feel" of the river bed through the sole - while still having enough support and protection to avoid your feet getting banged up.
This is a delicate balance to strike - and it's also important that your wet wading shoes can function well in rock scrambling and on the approach walk. With traditional wading boots, the feel is much more like those of a deep sea diver's lead boots. There's very little feel/feedback through the sole and uppers. They feel clumsy and in fast, bouldery streams, often wedge unexpectedly under and between rocks.
Left foot wedged in the riverbed, right knee/shin hooked over boulder while throwing a streamer on a French leader in Italy
In contrast the best wet wading shoes have enough "feel" to give much more feedback when searching with your feet for a solid stance. They are also robust enough that you can deliberately lock them into suitable gaps between rocks to help keep you upright. I find that using a kind of opposing "camming" action to apply pressure between my heel on the riverbed and the top of my foot on the underside of a rock is a very handy technique.
Crucially, you can release this at any time - since it requires effort to maintain a locked-in position. With bulky boots you might fall or be washed over backwards with your foot still completely wedged (a recipe for a broken leg or bad sprain).
These reasons can make ultralight wading boots a suitable option if you want to wet wade - as long as they also have the other characteristics.
Good Foot Protection
Even on the smallest stream, stubbing your toe in a pair of open-toe sandals, flimsy water shoes or any other footwear that isn't up to the job does not belong in a good day's fishing. Similarly, if you can't stand on a lego block in your shoes without pain - then you shouldn't try padding about on pebbles or sharp rocks. While it is possible to buy wet wading sandals - for my money these are only suitable for a narrow set of situations.
Another example of the different balance between what people want from traditional wading boots and for wade shoes that also work for rock scrambling is the ankle support. For agility, you need a shorter ankle height. For ultimate protection, you would have rock solid, high ankle upper. Choosing the right trade-off for the types of venue you fish makes a big difference to your enjoyment, comfort and safety while fishing.
Proper Grip
For wet, slick rocks AND for terrain on the approach you need excellent traction. This is where plastic footwear like Crocs really become dangerous. There's nothing like slippery rocks (especially in strong current) to expose the shortcomings of a shoe's grip. Slipping over on-stream is often a fast track to a broken wrist, knocked-back thumb or taking a rock to the dome when you're fishing.
Granite boulders worn smooth by snowmelt waters: good grip when dry but the rocks below the surface have a slick film on them (and the hike in involved a permanently fixed rope to climb down the loose mountainside, down into the river valley. More adventure fishing in Japan
Instead, the best wet wading shoes for fly fishing tend to use climbing rubber outsoles (though in many situations, felt and metal studs can also be effective). For rubber soles, it's the combination of the rubber compound and the shape of the sole that determines grip performance. Here you'll find another trade off between:
- Hard rubber has greater long term durability
- Soft rubber has the best grip on rock
This is where the experience of industries outside fly fishing become extremely useful. In particular kayaking and "sawanobori" (Japanese waterfall climbing) and rock climbing have great expertise in wet rubber traction on slippery rocks. Manufacturers operating in these areas already have decades of experience in matching rubber compounds to the right performance that would also work for fishing shoes.
Long Term Durability
Ironically almost all the brands of boots associated with traditional waders have problems with durability. While they seem to have rigid construction, high ankle uppers and a heavy, bulky feel - the soles often fall off unexpectedly and stitching can come away after only a few fishing trips. I've also had the surface of textiles used on traditional wading boots wear off in less than three months of light use.
Kneeling in this terrain without proper gear is miserable - and switching from scrambling to wading is often too much for traditional wading boots and stockingfoot waders.
Difficulties in finding traditional wading boots with true long term durability is one reason that I've now switched to using wet wading shoes in a size larger than my true size when wearing traditional waders in colder water (outside the wet wading season).
The manufacturing experience of other industries seems more capable of producing resilient shoes for water sports. I also find the increased sensitivity and super grippy rubber soles are really valuable for my style of wading - even when using stockingfoot waders.
Rapid Drainage
Sadly, most shoes or boots are terrible at draining unless they are spefically designed for use in water. Squelching around between spots annoying during a day of fishing. It gets worse when your wet wading boots dump water all over your car and kit while you take them home.
It can quickly get to a point that preventing mold and fungal growth becomes difficult if it is so hard to dry your boots between trips.
Complete Wet Wading Gear Set
To wet wade in comfort, you need more than the right shoes for fishing. The basic kit would consist of a pair of neoprene wading socks to cope with cold water (and aid good fit of your shoes), a pair of quick drying leggings, shorts (again quick drying) and also leg protectors (spats or gaitors for your shins which can also have knee pads).
As well as the quick drying nature of this kit, the thing I've noticed the most is the improved comfort and safety in strong currents. The lower profile shoes and the much more streamlined form of the gaitors, shoes and leggings don't catch the flow like a sail. I've even taken to wearing my knee-pad gaitors on top of my regular pair of waders for both keeping the waders waterproof and also streamlining them in fast water.
Here are some examples so you can source your full wet wading gear set.
Neoprene Sock for Wet Wading
OM Gear 3mm (US)
I was surprised at how much difference this makes even in quite mild water temperature conditions. The effect is really obvious in spring meltwater from mountain rivers in Italy and Japan (as I found out when I left a pair at the hotel one day and tried to use my regular sock as a replacement...).
In Japan the typical option for sawanobori neoprene socks seemed to be calf-length (to just below knee height). However, both myself and John Pearson have found that shorter (approximately ankle-length) wading socks actually work very well.
The temptation with longer socks is to try to avoid going over depth with them (and filling them with cold water). Whereas, the sooner you can get a layer of water held around your foot, the faster that layer warms up and feels good.
Palm "Kick" (UK)
Suggested UK and US options are given on the buttons below (as well as the above images)
Leg (Shin and Knee) Protection
The benefits to any wet wader of wearing the specialised neoprene spats or gaitors apply on the hike in as well as in the river. Protection against prickly vegetation when hiking and abrasion while rock scrambling - even before you reach the river - is very welcome. Spats or gaitors also make excellent gravel guards - and can even be susprisingly helpful when bracing yourself in position around/between slick rocks; while leaving your hands free to fish with.
As mentioned above, I get a lot of value out of wearing this style of protection over my traditional waders. For this purpose, you'll need the ones without an integrated neoprene sock.
Just the avoidance of getting your knees and shins all banged up makes them worthwhile (even before considering their streamlining effect in fast water). Unfortunately, they are pretty difficult to source outside of Japan - so I've included some affiliate links to Amazon's Japan store (with overseas delivery).
Little Presents Brand: Integral Sock (Don't Work with Stockingfoot Waders)
Little Presents Brand (No Sock - Suitable for Wet or Traditional Wading)
Gamakatsu
Foxfire (Available as Small, Medium and Large Options)
Quick dry leggings
Borrowing from the mountain biking, hiking or running worlds lets you take advantage of the quick drying hard-wearing fabric technologies that are available now. You definitely don't want any material that holds on to water for this job!
Quick dry Shorts
Having some zip up pockets on your wading shorts can be very handy on a fishing trip. Just make sure that whatever you put in your pockets doesn't mind getting wet! You'll need a separate pack to carry things above the water line.
For the shorts themselves, again quick-drying material is essential. Mountain biking shorts tend to be a great option because they are likely to be hardwearing enough to stand up to some rock scrambling as well as the wading.
Here's a selection so that you can choose the style you want (just double check that the specifications say "quick dry").