An update on wading shoes:
I just tried out a new pair of shoes this past week. They are made by a company called "Bite" and the model is the "Portage." I bought them from Amazon.com on sale for $39.89
Weight is just under one pound per shoe (size 11) That's not bad, considering that they include a built in gravel guard. (They sell a similar shoe without the gravel guard that is less expensive, and almost certainly a bit lighter, but I like the built in gravel guard feature.) For reference, my Simms L2 boots are 1 pound 7 ounces (rubber sole); LL Bean Ultralight boots are 1 pound 8 ounces (studded rubber sole); and I weighed a Cloudveil 8x boot in size 11 and it weighed 1 pound 2 ounces (felt sole.) The Cloudveil comes close in weight, but would require a seperate gravel guard which would add a few ounces.
Comfort is good, and they have adequate support, considering their low-top design. Dry traction for hiking was good, but wet traction while wading was mediocre. The soles utilize a combination of rubber and felt. They are not as grippy on slick surfaces as an all felt sole. They seemed somewhat similar to other rubber wading soles I've used. Overall, however, I like them. They won't replace my heavy wading boots for day to day fishing, but I think they will find their way into my backpack on my next backcountry trip. It will be interesting to see how they stand up to commando fishing far from the trail head.
Bite Fishing | Portage | 2695a