Fly-Fishing Wading Boots

Traction specifically designed for unpredictable riverbeds, streams, and saltwater environments makes wading boots special compared to other outdoor boots. Orvis wading boots are developed by anglers who know the ins and outs of fly fishing and what it demands of a pair of wading boots. When the current is up, you want to know your wading boots can grip whatever you’re standing on and keep you balanced. That’s what you’ll find in Orvis wading boots.

Yes, anglers can wear the same wading boots in rivers, lakes, and streams.

Any Orvis wading boots work for fresh- and saltwater, and we offer the Christmas Island Boots specifically for warmer weather saltwater fishing. If you’re saltwater wading in the winter, go with the PRO, Clearwater, Encounter, or Ultralight boots, which are designed for saltwater fishing in cold water. In extra cold conditions, you can wear wool-blend socks. Knowing how to gear up for winter fly fishing is important. Winter or warm weather, fresh- or saltwater, you do actually need wading boots or other appropriate fishing footwear to keep your balance and your feet protected.

Wading boots should fit snug while you’re wearing stockingfoot waders or neoprene wading socks, but not too tight or too loose. If you know you’ll be navigating slick rocks, you may need a lot of ankle support in your wading boots. Always try on wading boots with the waders or neoprene socks you’ll be wearing most often. Our PRO line of wading boots offers excellent ankle support.

The best type of sole in a wading boot for fly fishing depends on the terrain and the type of fishing you’re doing. Wading boots with felt soles have long been the standard for rocky or gravelly bottoms since the felt grips well and keeps you balanced. In recent years, felt wading boots have been banned in Maryland, Alaska, Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Yellowstone National Park upon the discovery that the felt traps small invasive species that can be carried to other bodies of water via felt-soled wading boots. You can wear felt-sole wading boots in other popular fly-fishing states like Montana, Wyoming (just not Yellowstone), and the American South. With advances in technology, rubber-soled wading boots are now lighter weight, as effective as felt, and they’re designed to hold up when you need to cover plenty of walking or hiking miles. For extra traction, especially if you know you’re going into a strong current and unpredictable river or stream bottoms, you should add studs to your wading boots.

If you’re wet wading without waders, you need wading socks for your wading boots to prevent chafing, block grit and tiny gravel, and help create a proper fit. When wearing stockingfoot waders, most anglers wear merino wool or cotton socks inside of the waders to absorb sweat, add warmth, and keep feet comfortable, as they would in regular shoes. People who don’t wear socks in their waders often end up with waders that smell like feet.