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Regardless
of the material used to make them (e.g., neoprene, light-weight
non-breathable, brethable, etc.), most "Stockingfoot"
waders come with neoprene feet. However, with the exception of those
made with neoprene, some models have feet made of the same material
used in the rest of the wader.
While
there are some disadvantages to neoprene (e.g., non-breathable,
etc.), in our opinion it is still the best material for making the
feet associated with stockingfoot waders. As a result, we do not
sell nor recommend stockingfoot waders with anything other than
neoprene feet.
Our
reasons for this position are as follows. First is comfort, i.e.,
neoprene provides a level of cushion that is especially important
when wearing wading boots without padded inner soles. Second is
warmth, i.e., your feet are the part of your body most likely to
get cold get when wading and neoprene provides better than average
insulation. Lastly, is that while many cloth materials will "bunch-up"
in the toe of the boot causing discomfort, neoprene typically will
not due to its stiff nature.
When
evaluating a pair of stockingfoot waders, be sure to look closely
at the construction and quality of the feet:
- How
the foot is shaped? - While Uni-Foot (i.e., both feet are
the same) models will work, those with a true right and left foot
will be more comfortable.
- How
are the various pieces of neoprene used to create the foot held
together? - Refer to "Working with Neoprene")
- How
the feet are connected to the wader? - There should be significant
enough taping and/or bonding to prevent the foot from becoming
detached from wader.
- What
are the soles made of? - The neoprene used in the sole should
be denser than that used on the upper part of the foot to preventing
compression which can result in leaks.
- How
are the heels constructed? - While feet where a one-piece
flat sole is attached to the upper are great when they fit perfectly,
feet with a curved heel that extends upwards will provide more
room for error.
- Where
are the seams located? - All seams associated with the foot
should be located where they cannot cause discomfort (seams on
the sole are not a great idea as they can be both uncomfortable
and a source of leaks).
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