10 Best Wading Boots in 2021

If you’re interested in fly fishing or any other activity that requires spending a large amount of time in or near bodies of water, you’re going to need the best wading boots you can buy. Wading boots are an important part of your toolkit for wading, fishing, canoeing, and many other water-based activities. There are many different styles of wading boot available on the market in 2021, ranging from hip length waders to smaller, more lightweight wading shoes designed for boating.

The model and style of wading boot you should choose will depend heavily on your personal preferences and on what type of activities you are planning on performing while wearing your wading boots. We’ve put together a list of our best wading boots reviews, narrowing down the field to some of the best of each style of wading boot to help you choose the perfect pair of wading boots for your personal needs.

With the help of our wader boots review, you can buy with full confidence, knowing that you’ve read the wader boot reviews and understand which features are most important for you and your personal needs and therefore can choose the right pair of wader boots for you.

Related Review; Waterproof Boots

View the Best Wading Boots, Below.

• TideWe Hip Wader Lightweight Hip Boot
• Korkers BuckSkin Wading Boot
• Frogg Toggs Rana II PVC Bootfoot Hip Wader
• SHIMANO EVAIR Marine Fishing Shoes
• Korkers Greenback Wading Boot
• Frogg Toggs Hellbender Wading Shoe
• Duck and Fish Men’s Sticky Rubber Sole Shoe
• Hodgman H3 Wading Boot
• Allen Company Granite River Wading Boots
• Chota Outdoor Gear Light Wading Shoe

1. TideWe Hip Wader Lightweight Hip Boot

The TideWe Hip Wader Lightweight Hip Boot is a model of wading boot made from 2 ply nylon and PVC instead of the rubber materials more common in fly fishing boots. This is one of the best wading boot models out there, offering complete waterproofing much like that of rubber rivers boots, but in a package that’s up to 30% lighter than most competing rubber boots.

These best wading boots are hip length, rising higher up your legs than many other models of wet wading shoes to allow you to stay dry and comfortable in deeper water than is possible from many other types of wading shoes. The soles of these fishing boots are made from sturdy rubber, with a high grip design to keep you stable and safe on river beds and wet ground for a more comfortable and relaxed wading boot wading experience.

More lightweight than rubber waders, but still just as waterproof, the TideWe Hip Wader Lightweight Hip Boot is one of the best and most comfortable fishing boots or wader boots available on the market in 2019.

2. Korkers BuckSkin Wading Boot

The Korkers BuckSkin Wading Boot is a low rise wading boot for shallow water, offering high performance for standing, walking or fishing in shallow rivers or on slippery, treacherous wet riverbanks. Only reaching up to the upper ankle, these boots will not protect your feet from deeper water, but offer internal drainage channels to allow your feet to dry out again easily.

These best fly fishing wading boots feature a range of interchangeable detachable soles, making them among the most versatile wading boots available and allowing them to function as high grip rubber soled fishing boots or felt bottom wading boots with only a single simple switch of accessories.

Lightweight and compact, the Korkers BuckSkin Wading Boot is a model of wading boots designed for quick drying, high grip practicality for standing in shallow water or on slippery, wet riverbanks when wearing these fishing boots.

3. Frogg Toggs Rana II PVC Bootfoot Hip Wader

The Frogg Toggs Rana II PVC Bootfoot Hip Wader is a durable and comfortable model of PVC wading boot. These fly fishing wading boots are made from a range of different types of PVC, with strong, flexible nylon reinforced PVC rising from the ankle to the hip for water protection in deep water and 2mm thick molded PVC boots beneath this for a high level of durability and even stronger waterproofing on the riverbed.

These Frogg Toggs Rana II PVC Bootfoot hip wader boots also feature easily adjustable webbing belts at the top for a comfortable, flexible fit to users of any size, helping you to stay relaxed and comfortable even when wading in deep water.

Combining the flexibility of nylon reinforced PVC uppers with the strength of thick 2 mm PVC boots, the Frogg Toggs Rana II PVC Bootfoot Hip Wader provides a comfortable and natural feeling wading boot experience to allow easy movement in deep water.

4. SHIMANO EVAIR Marine Fishing Shoes

The Shimano Evair Marine Fishing Shoes are a model of fishing shoe in a different style from the more standard wading boots covered here. These fishing shoes are made from lightweight EVA foam rubber, with large holes in the side to allow water to flow through the shoe with ease, letting your feet dry easily as soon as you leave the boat.

The simple, lightweight design of these fishing shoes remains comfortable when wet, and they feature an ergonomically designed padded arch for added comfort during extended fishing trips. These fishing shoes are solid enough to survive extended use, made from waterproof materials to prevent water damage to the shoes themselves during regular use on fishing trips.

Lightweight and simple, the Shimano Evair Marine Fishing Shoes are excellent boat shoes for grip and comfort when sea fishing. They offer comfortable padding and are quick drying to make them among the best boat fishing shoes available.

5. Korkers Greenback Wading Boot

The Korkers Greenback Wading Boot is a smaller low rise wading boot, designed to drain water easily from within the boots rather than to keep water out. These wading boots are ideal for moving in and out of water or for standing on wet, slippery river banks, as the integrated drainage channels allow water to flow freely out of the boots as soon as you leave the water.

The fishing boots offer enough water resistance to prevent low-level water or splashes from entering, keeping your feet moderately dry, but the water fluidity is the most important design feature for most fishing situations.

The Korkers Greenback Wading Boot is a compact and lightweight model of wading boots designed to dry quickly and offer a high level of grip and high performance for fishing in shallow water or on riverbanks.

6. Frogg Toggs Hellbender Wading Shoe

Designed for waterproof protection in shallow water or on wet and slippery riverbank surfaces, the Frogg Toggs Hellbender Wading Shoe is a model of felt wading shoe for fly fishing that offers a high level of comfort and protection in specific situations. These waterproof wading boots are low rise, meaning that they are not appropriate for wading in deeper water, but their wide base offers excellent stability for walking across damp, marshy terrain and muddy riverbanks.

The Frogg Toggs Hellbender Wading Shoe is a great choice for fishing in wet areas rather than wading through deep water, offering a high level of comfort with padded polyurethane midsoles and a soft, padded ankle collar for extra cushioning and security. These felt bottom wading boots give good grip on muddy surfaces, making them a great choice of fly fishing wading boot.

The Frogg Toggs Hellbender Wading Shoe offers a high level of comfort and waterproofing for fishing in shallow water or on slippery, wet riverbanks.

7. Duck and Fish Men’s Sticky Rubber Sole Shoe

The Duck and Fish Men’s Sticky Rubber Sole Shoe is a low rise wading shoe designed for drainage rather than waterproofing; this type of wading boot allows water in, but also allows it to drain out again easily once you leave the water. It offers a high level of protection, with a sturdy rubber sole and strong PVC caps on both the toe and the heel, and a comfortable, padded EVA foam midsole and neoprene ankle collar.

One of the most distinctive features of these wading boots, however, is the sticky rubber outsole. This gives a high level of grip on unstable, wet or muddy surfaces, as well as offering self-cleaning properties, sloughing off mud once you leave the water and return to more stable ground.

Combining comfort and protection in a low-rise wading boot, the Duck and Fish Men’s Sticky Rubber Sole Shoe offers excellent design features for wading or providing stability on slippery, wet, muddy riverbanks or other marshy terrains.

8. Hodgman H3 Wading Boot

The Hodgman H3 Wading Boot is a strong, durable, low rise wading boot for shallow water, riverbanks, or marshy terrain. This model of felt sole wading boots offers a high level of grip on slippery, muddy riverbeds, riverbanks, or other wet and unstable terrain, helping you to stay stable and secure on any wet ground you may encounter.

The uppers of these felt bottom wading boots are made from durable fabrics and PVC, with strong PVC toe caps to keep your feet protected from unexpected hazards while wading. These felt wading boots are highly protective and comfortable, offering strong exterior materials and padded interior materials for a practical finish.

Tough and highly protective, the Hodgman H3 Wading Boot promises to keep your feet safe from unexpected hazards when wading in shallow water or on muddy, slippery terrain such as riverbanks or marshy ground.

9. Allen Company Granite River Wading Boots

The Allen Company Granite River Wading Boots are sturdy, stable felt sole wading boots for fishing or wading in shallow water or over muddy riverbanks, marshy terrain, or other unstable and slippery terrain. The wide wading last on which these felt bottom wading shoes are built allows for a high level of stability, distributing your weight across a wider area, while the felt sole gives a strong grip on muddy, slippery ground for a higher level of security.

The heel and toe are built with strong PVC caps to protect you from unforeseen hazards when wading in unclear water, helping to keep your feet safe from injury when wading.

Designed for stability on wet, slippery riverbanks, marshy terrain, or other unstable muddy ground, the Allen Company Granite River Wading Boots offer a high level of grip and stability on unstable surfaces for security and peace of mind when wading or fishing.

10. Chota Outdoor Gear Light Wading Shoe

The Chota Outdoor Gear Light Wading Shoe is an exceptionally lightweight model of felt bottom wading shoe for wading, kayaking, rafting, canoeing or other outdoor water-based activities. These lightweight wading shoes feature reinforced toe and heel caps for protection, combined with large mesh side panels for rapid draining of water, helping your feet to dry as fast as possible when out of the water.

In addition to this, the Chota Outdoor Gear Light Wading Shoe features polypropylene felt outsoles for high grip on wet, slippery boat surfaces, riverbanks, and other unstable and slippery terrain such as marshy ground.

Lightweight and comfortable, the Chota Outdoor Gear Light Wading Shoe is an unobtrusive, quick-drying shoe for wading, kayaking, rafting or canoeing, offering high grip and a comfortable fit even when wet.

Wading Boots Buyer’s Guide

What are Wading Boots?

Wading boots is a term that covers a range of different items of footwear, ranging from full-length hip waders to simple high grip shoes for wearing in the water. In general, “wading boots” covers any type of appropriate footwear to wear while wading, providing a high level of grip on dangerously slippery underwater surfaces.

This level of grip is important, as it keeps you safe on treacherous surfaces, reducing the risk of slipping and falling either into the river or down a steep bank. This can significantly help with avoiding sprained or broken ankles, keeping you safer and healthier on and near the water.

How to Size Wading Boots?

As with all types of footwear, it is important to ensure that you get a good fit when buying a pair of wading boots. This is especially important if you’re looking to wear your new wading boots for extended periods of time, as any issues in fit will become increasingly problematic the longer you wear your boots for. Some brands of wading boot can be made specifically to fit your feet, so it’s worth doing a little research before you buy.

Most people, however, will want to buy something off the shelf.There are a few things you should look out for when buying a pair of wading boots in order to achieve the best and most comfortable fit. When trying on a pair of waders, crouch down a couple of times and see if you can feel pressure from the seams.

If you’re putting strain on the seams as you crouch, the wading boots are too tight, and this can cause problems later, giving an uncomfortable fit and wearing the boots out far faster, reducing their lifespan. Conversely, if you can feel loose material hanging around your legs, your wading boots are too loose, and could easily cause blisters as well as being uncomfortable.

The same concerns apply to the neoprene or rubber feet at the bottom of your wading boots; too tight, and they will be uncomfortable and wear through at the seams far faster, and too loose, and they’ll be difficult to walk in and far less comfortable than a well fitting pair.

It is also worth noting that sizes can be far more variable between brands of wading boot than between regular shoes; always check the sizing chart for the manufacturer of your selected wading boots before you purchase a pair of fly fishing waders.

How to Dry Wading Boots?

During regular usage for fishing, wading, or otherwise exploring wet areas, wading boots inevitably get wet when you wear them. This is their natural purpose, but it is important to ensure that they dry properly as quickly as possible after use, as wet shoes can be a hotbed of bacterial growth and mold, leading to unpleasant smells and the risk of foot infections if not properly maintained.

You should always disinfect them completely after use, submerging your wading boots in 140-degree water for three to five minutes, to kill the majority of microorganisms. After disinfecting your boots, it is important to dry them out completely.

Direct sunlight is the best way to dry out wading boots, although you should be careful not to leave them out in the sun for longer than necessary, as too much UV radiation can damage the materials from which most boots are made, reducing their lifespans.

If the weather isn’t looking sunny enough to dry your boots naturally in the sun, you can use a clothes dryer effectively to dry them out. Simply tie the laces of your boots together and clamp them in the door of your clothes dryer, suspending your boots in the dryer with the knot acting as a stopper to prevent them from slipping.

They should now be hanging inside the dryer, safe from any rotating parts, and you can run a drying cycle to dry them out completely!

Expert Tip

Lightweight, high ankle wading boots are a great option for when you have to walk some distance to reach the water, as they are much easier to walk in on land than full-length hip waders, as well as being smaller and lighter for carrying by hand when not wearing them.

Did you know?

Felt soles provide a better grip on the riverbed than rubber soles, but the textured felt surface easily collects and harbors aquatic microorganisms, transferring invasive species between bodies of water and damaging ecosystems.