Shoes become especially important if they are required for winter fishing. The requirements for such an accessory are separate and quite serious. Given the specifics of the situation, namely the slippery surface of a frozen river, frost or high humidity, it is required to pay special attention to the choice of such equipment as winter boots for fishing. The reviews of the owners of various types of products of this kind, given in this article, will help you form your own opinion about the convenience and functionality of the most famous brands of these accessories.
What should be the shoes for winter fishing?
The times when fishermen dressed in felt boots and galoshes for ice fishing have long since sunk into oblivion. The modern market is filled with offers of special shoes for this winter activity.
However, it is quite difficult for a beginner fisherman to figure out how to choose this piece of equipment according to the situation. Experienced advicewinter fishing enthusiasts point out some positions that suitable shoes should satisfy:
- Be stable and not slip on the ice. This is a very important and urgent wish. To carry it out, the sole of the shoe is equipped with special protectors and spikes.
- Be the right size. The foot should not be shy, but the situation when the foot dangles in the shoe is also unacceptable. The person should feel comfortable. Tight shoes will lead to freezing, and too loose threatens to form blisters.
- Provides good thermal insulation properties.
- Be light enough.
- Be made of breathable material so that the foot does not get wet or cold. Modern winter boots for fishing have earned positive feedback from the owners precisely due to the presence of a membrane fabric that provides excellent air exchange. It is a multi-layered material, designated by the inscription Gore-tex and is used in tailoring the tops of shoes. One of the components of the membrane is Teflon.
- To have the right insulation. Best of all, when this element is removable, it can be pulled out of the shoe and dried. Very uncomfortable when this sock is inseparable.
If you choose shoes for winter fishing in accordance with all these criteria, then their owner has every chance to enjoy their favorite activity in comfort even in severe cold.
Two main types of winter gear for a fisherman
According to the features of performance and the principle of wearing, winter fishing shoes can be divided into two types:
- Shoe covers.
- Boots.
Each of these types has its advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a closer look at each type of shoe.
Shoe covers or boots?
There is always a dilemma for fishermen: what is better to choose for winter fishing - shoe covers or boots? Until a few decades ago, OZKs were the only way to go fishing in the winter without getting cold or getting your feet wet. In appearance, these shoe covers were unsightly, but they perfectly protected from getting wet, even in a deep area. Previously, fishermen wore them with felt boots, but such ammunition is uncomfortable and weighs quite a lot. Felt boots do not bend when walking and squatting, they are difficult to remove. The fishermen came up with the idea of putting shoe covers on ordinary boots and lining them with insoles made of felt and other materials.
Shoe covers with inserts "ROKS"
About ten years ago, products called "men's fishing shoe covers" by ROKS appeared on the market of fishing accessories. They were rubber overshoes with tops sewn on. Now you can also find these winter boots for fishing on sale. Reviews of the owners of ROKS shoe covers note that their sole is thin and soft, and the metal anti-slip spikes on it do not do their job well. However, these boots are equipped with liner stockings and at the time of their creation were considered products of a new generation. The lacing on them is non-functional, and the weight of one piece of fishing shoes is about 1200 g, so moving long distances in them is quite exhausting. Many fishermen note that in shoe coversthe leg often sweats and begins to freeze even at -15 ˚С, and the seams between PVC and galoshes can burst.
EVA boots: light and dry
The real revolution in the market for outdoor activities has been the emergence of solid-type boots made of EVA, or ethylene vinyl acetate.
This highly porous material has many advantages:
- Unsurpassed thermal insulation. The pores of EVA are filled with air and this is excellent at retaining heat.
- Good cushioning. EVA is a material that, in any cold, is able to maintain its elasticity and not break. Such winter boots for fishing are adequately characterized by reviews of the owners. Up to 60 degrees below zero Celsius - an indicator of the temperature at which EVA shoes retain their performance and provide comfort to their wearer.
- Resistant to harsh chemicals such as organic solvents and oils. This will protect the fisherman's legs from getting oil products and other reagents while refueling his vehicle.
- Light weight. If we draw an analogy with products made of PVC and molded rubber, then EVA boots are 4 and 6 times lighter, respectively. Therefore, fishermen note increased comfort in operation, especially if they have to travel long distances on foot.
- Hydrophobicity. You can safely move through the water without fear that your feet will get wet.
Do EVA boots have disadvantages?
Thanks to these wonderful qualities, bootsfor winter fishing, EVA reviews from their owners have earned positive reviews, and in certain situations they are the best. However, several significant drawbacks of these products should be noted:
- They are quite easy to pierce. Because EVA is a porous material, it can be damaged by contact with broken glass or sharp knots. Some models have a special reinforcement that prevents unexpected puncture of boots.
- Insufficient grip on slippery icy surfaces. This circumstance is due to the peculiarity of the production of boots from EVA: when casting ethyl vinyl acetate into a mold, a rather smooth surface is obtained. On such a sole, moving on ice is quite problematic. New EVA boots are made with more ribbed soles, which gives the fisherman more stability on the frozen water surface.
However, seasoned ice fishermen offer one important piece of advice on how to choose good quality EVA winter boots for fishing. Reviews of the owners (up to 60 degrees of frost can only withstand high-quality EVA shoes) advise in this matter to trust boots only from well-known manufacturers who have proven themselves from the best side. It is better to buy these in specialized stores. In the market, you can run into a handicraft product that will crack with a slight frost on the very first fishing trip. Beginners should listen to the opinion of experienced fishermen in order to avoid disappointment and a useless purchase.
What are earbuds for?
If the manufacturerpromises that winter fishing boots are able to withstand frost down to -70 ˚С, this is solely due to removable liners. They are designed to maintain a comfortable feeling even in critical sub-zero ambient temperatures.
Thanks to the use of modern materials, the liners prevent sweating of the feet, providing moisture removal. This allows a person to perfectly withstand frost for a long time.
The liner for ice fishing boots has a multilayer structure:
- First layer, inner, adjacent to the leg. It is made of a material that removes moisture in the form of sweat or condensate. Some models are impregnated with a special antibacterial and antifungal composition, which prevents the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
- The next layer is responsible for the preservation of heat and thermal insulation. It keeps warm air inside the boot and wicks moisture away.
- The subsequent layer, like a sponge, absorbs moisture drawn from deeper structures and releases it to the surface.
- The final outer layer is thermal foil. It is made of nylon metallized film and performs a dual function: it reflects heat radiation from the person's feet back, and prevents cold air from entering the boot from the outside.
High-quality winter fishing boots, reviews of which are positive, owe their unsurpassed performance to a solid liner. It works on the principle of thermal underwear, and removed from the legsmoisture accumulates in a special reservoir as part of a multi-layer structure, which is easy to dry after fishing. In cheap analogues of boots made in a handicraft way, the liner is made of a simple insulation. In such shoes, the foot sweats and quickly freezes.
Best of all, when the sole of the liner is sewn from a material with low wrinkling, and the inner layer is made from a fabric with increased wear resistance. The heel should have a stitched patch to prevent abrasion.
What should I look for when buying boots for ice fishing?
Experienced fishermen have their own opinion on how the best winter fishing boots should look. Reviews from avid fishing enthusiasts allow us to conclude: shoes should be carefully tried on before buying.
Therefore, it is better to test an unfamiliar model of boots in a specialized goods store. When trying on boots, you should pay attention to the following points:
- Foot width. The duration and success of fishing generally depends on how comfortable the toes are. In tight shoes, the feet get cold faster, and the comfort of movement suffers.
- Height of lift. This is a very important indicator, because if the liner gets wet while fishing, it will be very difficult to get the foot out of the boot with a low instep. In addition, this indicator will certainly affect the comfort of walking.
- The thickness of the sole and shaft directly affects the heat saving.
- The height of the top of the boots is essential when overcoming water barriers.
- Shaft widthshould be enough to tuck your pants into your boots so they don't get wet or cold.
- The presence of an upper protective cuff on the lace with a limiter will protect against snow getting into the boot.
Be sure to try it on before you buy
EVA boot tops do not bend well, so before buying, you should definitely walk in them and evaluate the comfort. For this reason, fans of online shopping should buy online only models that have been tested on personal experience. By the way, when looking at fishing shoes in chain stores, carefully study the “weight of boots” item. Some sellers are tricky, indicating the weight of one piece of shoes, and not a pair. Another marketing ploy is to indicate the weight of boots without liners, so be careful and check with the seller this figure before ordering.
If this is your first time thinking about which boots to choose for winter fishing, reviews from the owners of various models will help in this and warn you about the need to think about the future functional load in advance. Will you move a lot along a difficult route, drill many holes, stay in one place for a long time? All these points are important in choosing a shoe model. If the temperature load and wear resistance are exceeded, the boots will not last long.
Most Popular Models
Today you can easily buy any winter boots for fishing. Owner reviews allow us to identify several items of these accessories that are most popular.
This shoe can be considered from the standpoint of: quality, reliability, comfort, design and ease of care.
Yeti
Boots for winter fishing "Yeti" customer reviews are positive. Many note among the pluses their lightness, the ability to perfectly keep the legs warm even in severe frost (up to -60 ˚С). The design of the boots allows you to protect the foot from getting wet from the outside and fogging. On account of their stability on ice, the opinions of the owners were divided: some are satisfied with the degree of grip of the sole with a slippery surface, while others consider it insufficient. Wear resistance of boots is generally good. Also, these products are easy to maintain and have an attractive design. However, winter boots for fishing "Yeti" have negative reviews from the owners. Some respondents note excessive walking stiffness and insufficient puncture resistance of the shoes. The price of these boots is about 2000 rubles.
Torvi
Winter boots for fishing "Torvi" reviews of the owners deserved positive. Most users agree that this shoe is devoid of flaws. These boots provide excellent protection for the fisherman's feet from winter cold and moisture.
They are comfortable to walk on, lightweight and durable. The 7-layer liner retains heat and wicks away moisture. A rather thick sole with a powerful slip tread and a raised toe provides additional comfort when walking on any surface. The peculiarity of the top layer is that even at a temperature of -60 ˚С it remains elastic and does notis destroyed. The liner, however, is not recommended to be washed, and the boots themselves should be protected from open flame and washed without the use of aggressive cleaning agents. The cost of these shoes is about 2000 rubles.
Nordman
A separate place in the assortment of similar products is occupied by Nordman winter boots for fishing. Reviews of many experienced fishermen indicate that these products are of very high quality and durable. The foot is warm and comfortable in them.
No wonder professional fishermen choose these boots for winter fishing. Feedback from the owners allows us to conclude that a wide range of these products is able to satisfy the needs of any lover of fishing in the cold season at ambient temperatures from -15 ˚С to -60 ˚С. Aesthetic design, the presence of female models, wear resistance, practicality and affordable price (from 1000 rubles) - all this makes Nordman boots a bestseller.
If you approach the issue of choosing winter fishing boots with all responsibility, then the purchased product will last a long time, and you will enjoy excellent fishing in any weather.
