New Simms Flyweight 2025 Boots | Pro Review - Chris Dore
Following on to the hugely popular Simms Flyweight boot, the 2025 Flyweight release is a great addition to the Simms featherweight family and sits comfortably amongst the lineup alongside the super grippy, flyweight access boot. For those who don’t require such superior grip, but a little more longevity in the sole for handling the miles, the new Flyweight is for you.
Firstly, let’s discuss boots overall. They are simply not all designed the same, and for the same intended purpose, and rightly so. There is no one size fits all design ( there’s the pun ). You wouldn't wear your state of the art, $350.00 tennis shoes on a 7 day alpine tahr hunting trip, and likewise wouldn’t wear your $800.00 Alpine boots onto the court at Wimbledon, but wouldn’t be without either in their intended environment ( High end tennis shoes have a life expectancy of around 50 - 60 hours use btw… that’s maybe 7 days fishing for most ). The flyweight boots are designed for lightweight, ultimate comfort. The vibram idrogrip soles offer traction unrivalled by many modern day soles, and the streamlined design throughout insures that not one ounce of weight is unnecessarily added.
These are designed to be durably comfortable. The full cushion, multi density EVA midsole ensures immediate and all day comfort without adding the weight of more traditional materials and whilst the insole is fixed, this boot will happily take a custom orthopaedic insert if required.
The improved TPU abrasion panels are again welded across generous overlaps of synthetic upper material to provide better durability over traditionally stitched seams and sturdier, improved lace loops finish a pretty sweet package for anglers who wish for exceedingly light, comfortable, but fully functional wading boots.
As a professional guide, my boots get used day in / day out without a break, and drying them in a shaded area between use is not really going to happen for me, so my boots do get more of a hammering than the once weekly angler and remain wet for the duration of their life. However I was more than happy with the 70 odd days I got out of my test flyweights, which is up there with my expectations of such a comfortable, lightweight boot, and certainly exceeds the durability of many other boots on the market.
If you are going hard, clambering gorges and bouldery riverbeds day in, day out then maybe the G3 Guide, or G4 Pro boot is more suited to you, however a guide friend once said for the comfort alone, and the relief on his legs, he’s more than happy to wear through two pairs of flyweights per season than a pair of heavier, sturdier designed boots.
With all this added technology and hi tech materials does come the price tag, but so too with any high end performance footwear whether golf shoes, running shoes, basketball boots or hiking footwear.
Overview
- Amazing traction.
- Featherweight.
- Near seamless with generously layered joins to ensure enhanced durability from such lightweight materials.
If you want lightweight, quick drying, all day comfort, the new Simms Fly Weight Boots are certainly for you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Dore is a battle-tested fly fishing guide with over 20 years of professional guiding experience, battling the demanding, ever-changing conditions that our New Zealand rivers throw at us.
In 2006 Chris became one of the first New Zealanders to successfully pass the internationally recognised Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructors examination and has since taught many thousands of anglers to up their skillset.
For more in person and on river fly fishing advice and upskilling why not book Chris for a day or three?