Simms: Freestone Boots, Vibram Sole, 5

Close Window

Leland on Simms Freestone Wading Boot: StreamTread Sole

Simms has done it again with the Freestone Wading Boot! With a complete makeover, the newest version features a padded tongue and collar, an EVA wedge with a rubber mid-sole, full neoprene lining with supple synthetic leather for added comfort and, lastly, this boot's durability is like a battleship!! No one can match the quality and comfort of Simms. This version of the Freestone features the all-new StreamTread sole from Vibram with a patented 360 lug design.  With the huge size selection of 5–14, there’s a Freestone StreamTread to fit just about anyone on the river, including young anglers. So if you are looking for a quality boot at an impressive price, look no further than the Simms Freestone Wading Boot. 

Leland on Specifications

Simms has never skimped on quality when it comes to their economy-level waders, boots and outerwear. The new Simms Freestone Boot is no exception! The synthetic leather upper provides a supple and lightweight construction for a comfortable fit while the internal heel mold and toe counters protect your feet from banging on rocks. All day wading and walking has never been better!

Specifications:

• Synthetic construction offers minimal water absorption
• Padded collar & tongue
• Generous gusseted tongue for ease of entry and exit
• Molded internal heel and toe counters for excellent fit
• Nylon speed laces minimize weight
• EVA wedge with rubber midsole provide stable footbed
• Fully neoprene lined
• High quality nylon laces
• Features new StreamTread™; traction sole with Vibram® Idrogrip™ 360 traction lug sole
• Offered in men's whole sizes 5 - 14 EEE

Leland on Simms Wading Boots

Do you like swimming in ice cold water? The world can be a slippery place, especially when you fly fish. As an angler, your wading shoes are your primary means for contact and control, and what you lace onto your feet can make a big difference in your comfort, performance, and safety during your fishing day.

Simms, the world’s leader in wading technology, has a wading shoe that’s just right for you, whether you’re fishing a small trout stream, a roaring steelhead river, or a distant saltwater flat. With ten different models to choose from, Simms wading shoes are designed to fit correctly for comfort and are built to take a lot of abuse. Each model of boot, flats sneaker, and river sandal provides superior traction, protection and stability, allowing you to wade with confidence.

Simms is not only a leader in quality and innovation, they have taken the industry forefront in promoting “CleanStream” design to protect our fishing waters from damaging invasive species that can hitchhike on wading gear from one river system to the next. Simms Wading Boots are built with fewer ridges, pockets and exposed stitching where these micro-organisms can hide, making Simms Boots eco-friendly and easy to clean.

Simms offers a choice of sole materials on several of their boot models to meet your individual needs; high density synthetic felt, or the remarkable new StreamTread Idrogrip Traction Sole, the world’s first rubber compound sole from Vibram designed specifically for wading. Professional fly fishing guides wear Simms shoes more than any other brand for a reason. Wade in control, wade with Simms.

• The most advanced wading boot designs, materials, comfort and durability in the fly fishing industry
• Nylon Felt soles are 7/16th high-density felt for extend wear
• Patented StreamTread Idrogrip Traction Sole is the highest friction rubber compound available
• Simms HardBite Studs can be added (and removed) to Felt or StreamTread soles for ultimate sole traction and long wear
• Simms utilizes "CleanStream" technology to help prevent the spread of invasive species

Leland on Simms Fly Fishing Products

It's funny how childhood memories can influence one's life! Just ask K.C. Walsh of Simms Fishing Products about the underlying theme of his company and its location. He'll tell you it was because his grandfather took him fly fishing in Bozeman, MT as a young man. Funny how what started as a desire by K.C. to work in the fly fishing industry, turned into the design of the world's best fishing waders. Funny how that vision of wader design transformed a company into one that now manufacturers what is considered by many to be the finest collection of fly fishing –outdoor wear in the entire industry. Funny? Not really. Just great concepts and a lot of hard work: Welcome to Simms Fishing Products!

At Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters, we carry and use only the best fly fishing gear. There’s not enough time in our hurried world to worry about whether our chest waders or rain jackets are going to leak. We talk with K.C. quite frequently and love to listen about his passion for developing the most useful and highest quality fly fishing gear. We at Leland have toured the Simms factory, attended their numerous product seminars, and vigorously used and field tested their equipment and we can tell you flat out; K.C. is doing it right!

Simms on their Freestone Wading Boot

An updated version of a Simms favorite. The new Freestone offers outstanding quality and comfort at a fantastic price.

Review of StreamTread Sole by Leland's Alex Cref

  

  Research has shown that soles like the Simms Streamtread are less likely to harbor invasive species than felt soles, so in that important sense, they are clearly superior to the traditional material. It's less apparent, however, how the on-water performance of the new soles stacks up. In that light, this review will focus exclusively on the performance-related attributes of the Simms Vibram Streamtread soles.

  I recently did a two week stint exploring the canyon sections of northern India's Ramganga system with the Indian fishing operation Himalayan Outback. On account of the supernaturally-spooky resident mahseer, we were doing most of our moving away from the water, only approaching the bank to cast. In the course of a day, we'd have to gain traction on a wide range of surfaces, from sand and dirt, to mud and gravel, to scree and even talus. As I found out, on steep slopes of dirt and mud, or on any variety of above-water rock, felt soles are a full-on liability, even (maybe especially?) when fitted with studs. Thankful to have survived the experience, on getting back I immediately ordered some Simms Rivershed Boots with the new Vibram StreamTread Idrogrip sole, which I've now tested on a subsequent trip to the geologically similar Saryu River, along the Nepal border.

  The new soles, plainly put, have been ideal. I had worn Aquastealth soles on gravelly Alaska streams, mostly to use in and out of boats, but these were sort of a nightmare on muddy banks -- pretty much the same as felt. The new Vibram StreamTread soles are a great deal knobbier than Aquastealth's little dimples, and they dig into sand, dirt and mud with much more success.

  In the water, performance has been impressive. I haven't had any slippery moments when I've thought, "A felt sole could have given me a little more just then," which was a feeling I had been bracing myself for, actually. Granted, the streams we've been fishing are not like the North Umpqua, or the Pit, known for their treacherous wading. These Indian rivers, while they've got a fair amount of slick algae and some swift spots, don't have the large, greased-up river stones and underwater rock formations that make those US streams so dangerous. But I have a hunch that these soles could hang tough on the Umpqua, though I would bring along a pair of the removable Vibram-specific studs. 

  For me, the experience of wearing the Vibram sole has been revealing: I guess I had never realized that, on every river system, the terrain beside the water takes traversing too, and it's sometimes just as treacherous as the water itself. Beyond that, I hadn't come to appreciate the limitations of felt soles, and, basically, how badly felt performs on even-slightly-technical, dry surfaces. For plenty of fishing situations, it makes sense to have a sole that excels on both wet and dry media. I've found Simms Streamtread soles can do that very well.

Simms on Simms

Simms Philosophy  -  Wherever you fish, you're going to find fishing guides. And wherever you find fishing guides, you're going to find Simms. Guides need gear that is functional, innovative and can withstand whatever abuse they put it through. What does that mean for someone who's not a professional guide? Anything that's designed to meet the performance needs of guides is gear you can count on. Simms. The choice of professional guides. And anyone else who lives to fish.

Simms is a fishing company. We have enjoyed success by staying true to the original vision of our company by building the highest quality products to keep our customers dry, comfortable and protected from the elements in any fishing conditions. We work with the very best materials suppliers in the world in our commitment to make high performance, technical clothing and outerwear.

We’re the only wader manufacturer in the US, and one of three worldwide that is licensed by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. to make GORE-TEX® waders. We compete through innovation and quality. Our staff is largely comprised of committed anglers who understand the importance of quality, dependable fishing gear. They use our products all the time, and contribute significantly to our continuous improvement efforts.

Simms History - Simms Fishing Products was started in 1980 by John Simms, a well-known and respected fishing guide and outfitter in Jackson, WY. A creative guy and talented artist, John wanted to enhance the fishing experience by developing better waders and accessories. Simms was the second company in the world to introduce neoprene waders in the mid-eighties, which is when the company really started to take shape. At that time, Simms was purchased by a division of Life-Link International in Jackson, WY, and the brand continued to progress.

In 1993, K.C. Walsh, a passionate angler and entrepreneur, acquired Simms and relocated the business to Bozeman, MT. Walsh had grown up in a fly fishing family and developed a passion for angling at a young age, mostly fishing the Eastern Sierra of California. It was his life-long dream to live in Montana.

The same year that Walsh acquired the company, Simms introduced breathable waders in a pioneering effort with W.L. Gore & Associates (makers of GORE-TEX® fabric) that changed the face of fishing waders and opened up new possibilities for the sport.

Although Simms has grown and evolved over the years, our vision remains the same - to build the highest quality products to keep our customers dry, comfortable and protected from the elements in any condition.

Simms Wading Boot Notes

"COLD FEET ARE FOR WEDDINGS”

“Dependable, well-made wading foot-wear is a necessity for anglers. What you need on your feet is something that's comfortable to wear, can take a lot of abuse, provides plenty of protection and offers superior traction and stability. We have designed our wading boots, sneakers and sandals to meet the demands of professional guides and anglers around the globe.”

Why Simms?

"Why do professional guides choose Simms?  Because we take pride in what we make, and products have been designed to go the distance. Our in-house design team has a combined 50 years of experience in making durable technical outerwear. We work closely with top material suppliers from around the globe, and continually test both our new and old products in the lab and out in the field to make sure we meet or exceed your expectations.

Nothing pleases us more than to see our products, like those on the guides featured in out catalog and on our website, go the distance.”

“The thrill of discovering a pristine stream after a long hike into the backcountry, the exhilarations of being on the flats on one of those incredibly clear days, the rush of a crisp morning on a British Columbia river when the steelies are running, these are the memories that keep us tying through the dark winter months, and always find us plotting our next angling season or weekend.

At Simms, we never forget that the goal of every committed angler is to stay on the water as long and has often as possible-regardless of the weather. That’s why we never stop looking for new ways to keep you dry and comfortable. Whether you’re waist deep in a drizzling snow on the Missouri or scouting the Keys in the sweltering heat of a June afternoon.

So for all those who will be out there earlier, longer and later, we’ve got just one thing to say: "Your Gear is Ready”

Simms on Conservation

“IF YOU COULD PASS JUST ONE THING DOWN TO YOUR KIDS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?”
 
“Fishing is dependent on clean water, healthy ecosystems and just as important, people who care about conservation and resource preservation. It is the responsibility of everyone who enjoys angling to help protect and enhance our fresh and saltwater fisheries. After all, what greater inheritance would we leave future generations?

Supporting local, regional, and national conservation organizations is certainly an important role that angles can play in caring for our fishing resources. However, one area of vital concern, and one that all anglers can easily help do something about, is the spread of aquatic invasive species. These “hitchhikers”, including New Zealand mud snails, Didymo and whirling disease are having an enormous effect on rivers across the United States and are directly linked to reduced trout populations. Unfortunately, anglers are part of the problem, given that invasive species are spread by “hitchhiking” on waders, wading boots, drift boats, trailers and other gear.

Aquatic invasive species, such as mudsnails, are threatening our resources. One of the primary ways aquatic nuisance species are spread is by “hitching” a ride on our clothing, boats and items used in the water.

We must all be diligent about proper cleaning and care of any equipment or gear that enters the water, particularly boots and waders. Below are some general procedures for preventing the transportation of aquatic hitchhikers.

Before leaving any body of water, it is important to examine all equipment, boats, trailers, clothing, boots, buckets, etc. and remove all visible mud, plants, and fish/animals."

• Eliminate water from all equipment before transporting anywhere. 
• Clean and dry anything that came in contact with the water.* 
• Do not release or put plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water.

 
*While there are varying solutions for proper and safe cleaning of equipment to kill aquatic hitchhikers, the following is recommended and will not harm our waders: Use hot (< 40° C or 104° F) water to clean your equipment or dip equipment into 100% vinegar (or soak your gear in a 9 to 1 solution of water and bleach or 409) for 20 minutes.”

To join the fight against invasive aquatic species visit Clean Angling Pledge at http://www.cleanangling.org

For more information on limiting the spread of invasive aquatic species visit Protect Your Waters at http://www.protectyourwaters.net 

Related Items: