Simms Freestone Fly Fishing Wading Boots | Review
Short and sharp, straight to the point. When it comes to fly fishing gear, Brett Clarke, of BWC Flies doesn't mess about. His store stocks only the very best fly fishing brands and number one on that list is Simms. Brett took out a pair of the new and upgraded Simms Freestone Wading Boots and lets us know what he thought.
This fly fishing review was so good that it first appeared in a recent Fly Life magazine new product reviews. Brett knows the gear that he sells because it's the gear that he uses himself. He's also a pretty good bloke to buy stuff from. If you are needing some new fly fishing gear, then check out his website and visit his store: https://bwcflies.com.au/ Tell him we sent ya.
When Rene Vaz from Manic Tackle Project opened up his rather large product bag to show me the new Simms Freestone wading boots, I was immediately impressed. Not only by its modern aesthetics and materials, the boot in the hand felt very reasonable in weight – a factor that is so important to many.
Either fortunately or unfortunately, I’ve had many years of experience in my career with outdoor gear. A few features immediately ticked the quality build boxes – double stitching around the top toe cap, heel support and tongue which then continues around the upper ankle area. Generously sized pull tabs, front and rear to assist in getting the boot in with the wading stocking feet. Fully enclosed boot lace holes that are spaced correctly to support the midfoot, and then U shaped metal lace hooks in the ankle area where I could put some additional support with a tightening down on the laces.
Around the ankle and heel region, the inner boot synthetic material is baby bum smooth and soft resulting in a boot that does not bite into the ankles after hours of wading and walking.
Personally, I require a boot with a wide midsole to provide proper support to my feet. Turn this one over and its wide right throughout the sole unit. Something that all pronators really need to consider when researching their next boot purchase. Adding cleats and studs is a must for my stability, there are more than enough receptors located throughout the sole unit to ensure a solid grab of the river rock is achieved. The studs are anchored into the boot by a plate they screw into meaning that you won’t lose your cleats, nor will the cleat push through into your sole.
Walking a few more K’s on the streams these days, I have found the new Freestone boots to be the ideal balance of comfort, support and durability.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brett Clark began fishing at an early age, on family holidays during the Summer months on the Mid North Coast of NSW, then naturally progressed to tying. His Dad manufactured my first tying vise, my skills were rugged for a few years before being honed to the pro he is today. He's been tying commercially since 1986 for the tackle stores in Western Sydney before opening his own Fly Shop in Tuggerah with his wife, Cherie. BWC Floes specialises in a range of flies, fly tying materials and fly fishing equipment to suit Australian Freshwater and Light Saltwater Estuary game.