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I had used
the older style Korkers boots with the interchangeable
soles for about three years and I really liked them
with two exceptions. There was not much ankle support
and the interchangeable soles keep coming out while
wading. The versatility of the interchangeable soles
is what really set the Korkers products apart from all
others on the market. The concept was great, which is
why I originally bought them. |
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| When you
encounter a situation where you possibly could be
hiking several miles up a wooded trail and fishing
your way back down the creek, this boot by far has
others in its same class beat...hands down. Take the
trail lug sole for the hike and slip in the felt sole
for fishing back down. Or if you are planning that
once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Thompson or North
Umpqua and need the best traction available? Then
replace the Streamborn Boots felt or lug sole with the
Korkers studded felt soles (and grab a wading staff
for good measure) and you are good to go. When
you purchase the boot from a authorized Korkers
dealer, you receive both the trail lug sole and the
felt sole at the time of purchase. Two boots for
the price of one. What a concept! |
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| Korkers
Streamborn boot with various interchangeable soles
could do the work of four different wading boots. But
a great idea without any engineering or ingenuity can
still lead to a poorly designed product. The problem
with the original Korkers wading boots was getting the
sole to stay put until you wanted to change them, NOT
while crossing the tailout of your favorite river. On
several occasions, the Velcro strap was the only
measure to keep me from losing the sole altogether.
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Evidently
Korkers was listening to my complaints and the
comments of others because in early 2007, Korkers came
out with three new wading boot styles and several
major improvements. My new Streamborn model boots
have improved ankle support than their previous
predecessor. This leads to increased comfort for
all-day walking and wading. |
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| They
also added more sizes which now range from 6-15.
Always plan on getting one size larger if you intend
to incorporate the use of a breathable wader with a
neoprene boot foot. Be sure to get the right size by
fitting them while wearing your normal waders and
socks. |
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By far the
best and most important improvement in the boots
engineering is the drastic improvement in solving the
“sole separation problem. The soles now fit very snug
to the boot, requiring a special Korkers tool to be
used when changing different soles. The Korkers Sole
Key comes packaged with your pair of boots and is not
an addition to the cost. The sole-changing
process takes a bit of practice and a little more
time, but if the new system keeps the soles from
falling out, Korkers may have designed the perfect
wading boot. |
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The
Streamborn boots retails for about $130 and the trail
lug sole and a felt sole come standard. Additional
soles for specific applications can also be purchased
separately for about $30 a pair. These include
Aquastealth, studded felt, studded rubber, and a boat
sole. The studded rubber soles also allow replacement
studs to be added when they wear down. These soles
are by far the best traction for wading I have ever
used when fishing on slippery, algae covered rocks.
Needless to say, I have a lot of confidence in my
wading abilities with the rubber studs. |
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So far I
have only worn my new boots in light-duty situations.
But I can only assume they will be much better than
the older version. Steve was given a pair in January
and has used them extensively this spring and has
nothing but positive comments to say. Over the
past several seasons, He has experienced problems with
other boots and designs, especially on the Klickitat
River, where large to medium size volcanic
cobble can be tiring on your feet and ankles.
He seems to think this boot will perform flawlessly on
this treacherous wading river and looks forward to
putting it to the test. |
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| There is
one thing I’m concerned about with my new Streamborn
model wading boots: losing the sole replacement tool.
Without it there is little chance you’ll be able to
change your soles without considerable effort. I’m
worried I’ll hike five miles up the trail and forget
the tool in the truck! Speaking with Jason, the
helpful Korkers customer service agent, I was assured
that once broken-in, the sole changing process could
be done without the tool. The tool also comes with a
latching clip, so it can be easily snapped to the
outside of your vest or pack D-Ring to be stored for
future use. |
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Feel free to
contact me
or any member of the Worley Bugger Fly Co. staff with
any questions or comments regarding the Korkers
Streamborn Wading Boot. |
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