Stockingfoot Waders question

[Wilson]

Seeing that I have Good Friday off to I zipped out of work a little early with my New Orvis waders to try them on. They are light weight and look to be well made. Problem is the boot foot size 12 is not a 12, more like 11 1/2. Too small for me. I called to exchange them for a 13 and surprise....they don't make a 13 in a large wader body.
I will have to get an XL wader body to get a size 13 boot. I don't think anyone that is 6'2 - 175 lbs would be considered an XL.
I'm still on the fence as to whether return them or exchange for the XL.

Sucks you can't find any quality equipment anymore in the sport shops that are left. Buying articles of clothing over the internet is always a hassle.

[Capt. Lou]

I'm currently using Beans bootfoot breathables , third season lots of use holding up very well !
Nice solid bootfit no movement & lightweight to walk easily!
Caution those suction cup bottoms must be cleated for slip free use , not all there touted to be as far as slippery streams are concerned!
Added screw in spikes now boots perfect!!

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Capt. Lou

I'm currently using Beans bootfoot breathables , third season lots of use holding up very well !
Nice solid bootfit no movement & lightweight to walk easily!
Caution those suction cup bottoms must be cleated for slip free use , not all there touted to be as far as slippery streams are concerned!
Added screw in spikes now boots perfect!!

Bean does not sell a size 12 boot in a large wader either...I called them.
Wish my feet were smaller. FYI the Orvis wader comes pre-cleated.

[PaBeerGuy]

Originally Posted by Mark B.

Stocking foot for me.

With, quality wading boots (felt soles & metal studs),…………….they are water hiking boots,………the best, if you cover a lot of distance, as I do.

Also, socks to go over the wader’s stocking foot. Otherwise you will wear a hole in the wader’s stocking foot. Simms makes such wading socks,……..they are very durable. And, I use them alone in my wading boots when wading wet.

I used to have breathable waders & neoprenes. However, I found that I don’t really need the breathables,……….as when the water warms to the low 50’s, I go straight to wet wading.

OK, so I'm going with LLBean stockingfoot waist-high breathables, put the order in last night. Now I will need boots. Are the studded good to use on small streams with limestone rocks? We have a lot of that in Pa, especially where I like to go to the central part of the state. Any suggestions for the boot now?

[Mark B.]

Originally Posted by PaBeerGuy

OK, so I'm going with LLBean stockingfoot waist-high breathables, put the order in last night. Now I will need boots. Are the studded good to use on small streams with limestone rocks? We have a lot of that in Pa, especially where I like to go to the central part of the state. Any suggestions for the boot now?

As NJ does not have a ban on felt soles, I go with studded felts. Just bought Simms Guide Boot. Pricey @ $200,.......but durable,...the best.

Simms makes others,.....the Freestone @ $100. I've had those, too.

You have to check to see if those PA streams have bans on felt soles,....if so, you have to get the rubber like "eco or clean stream" soles. They come studded too,....or u can screw in studs.

I've gotten good deals (waders, too) on this site:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/wad...g-shoes~d~244/

[PaBeerGuy]

Got the stocking foot waders in the mail from LLBean. The feet seem awfully big! I wear a 13 shoe so I figure a 14 boot over the stockingfeet but I'm afraid they're going to be kind of bunched up in the toe area. Or will they shrink up a little after they get wet?

[Capt. Lou]

No they do not shrink ! The baggie nature is something you do not want in a wader bootfoot or otherwise ,decent snug fit with a little play OK ,but sloopy asks for troublr if you fish a lot. Occassional use you can get by !!

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by PaBeerGuy

Got the stocking foot waders in the mail from LLBean. The feet seem awfully big! I wear a 13 shoe so I figure a 14 boot over the stockingfeet but I'm afraid they're going to be kind of bunched up in the toe area. Or will they shrink up a little after they get wet?

Told you it sucks buying wearing apparel over the internet

[PaBeerGuy]

Alright, so I got my boots in size 14 since my normal shoe size is 12 - 13 depending. I put on a pair of thick socks underneath the stockingfoot waders to fill them out. They don't seem too bad at that point, but I'm thinking maybe even another pair of socks underneath???Would there be any harm in that?

[Capt. Lou]

sock deal should work, might stick a pair of felts inside each foot , can leave them in there ! That plus a sock should take up void.
most forms of waders are oversized , if you dont try them on first, can be pot luck on what size you'll really get!