Call me shallow, but the first thing that appealed to me about these boots was the overall asthetics of the design. I found it reminiscent of the "flats wading boot" that has gained such popularity with the fly fishing crowd in recent years. Of course, what I consider asthetically pleasing is primarily determined by the practical aspects of the item at hand, and not necessarily current trends. The characteristics that most appealed to my senses were:
(1) A thick outsole which appears to be well vulcanized to the neoprene upper and sports an unusually aggressive tread pattern, combined with a reassuringly soft rubber compound (soft generally denotes good wet traction when properly manufactured)
(2) Generous rubber toe and heel caps which I suspect will provide effective protection from my careless and abusive attitude towards paddling gear
(3) Stitching that is very well thought-out (i.e. no annoying seam up the center of the heel, and a double-stitched gusset and zipper trim)
Despite the fact that the weather is warming up at the moment, I know of plenty of cold-water environments in which I can test the insulative capabilities of these booties well into the summer. Though I normally wear a size 9 1/2 shoe, typically with neoprene footwear that I intend to wear without socks I opt for a size 9, as it is likely that the neoprene will stretch to some degree during use. I found the fit of this pair to be perfect so far (in and out of the water).
Maiden Voyage:
So far, so good. These boots are proving to be very comfortable and warm. When inside my boat, I don't even notice them. On a recent trip to a cold stream I got out and walked around on the slick, rocky bottom to see just what I could get away with. The traction was very predictable and protected me well from the cold, hard reality outside. I stood in the icy water for several minutes just to push my luck. I was rewarded with warm toes and a renewed sense of freedom.
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