Korker Modifications
 

OK, I did enough rock-hopping and slipp'n and slide'n last season that I am ready to buy my first pair of Korkers. However, I have read LOTS of negative reviews on them, reports of losing the studs after only a couple of heavy uses, crappy straps, etc...

I will publicly admit here that towards the end of last season I put some screws through the soles of an old pair of sneakers and it worked pretty well but I did not place every screw in the "ideal" place and suffered a bit (ouch).

My question to all of you seasoned Korker-Wearers: Are Korkers worth the $90, do they in your experience fall apart quickly and has anyone ever modified them or like my cheap-o self, attempted to make their own?

Calling DZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dennis is the man to talk to when in the realm of this subject matter. I was thinking of upgrading, thoughts Dennis????

I've been thinking about the el cheapo route as well- plenty of old tennis sneakers in the closet just waiting to be experimented on...I fish slippery rocks a plenty but try to travel light so that I can cover more ground, and Korkers seems to slow me down. Then again, one good fall on the rocks will put me down...so I'd be very interested to hear about special modifications to sneakers etc...

You get used to the weight of them, especially if you fish 4-5x a week.. they feel heavy but you adapt...

90$ is a start. Buying qaulity korkers is an smart investment. I would skip homemade korkers all together. As mentioned, support and studs make for a good boot. I've been useing the Orvis 'Henryforks' and a hodgman studded sole boot, between the two their going on their 5th season. On the hodgemans(a cheaper boot)I soed some seams with dacron and replaced the soles. It just goes to show beside your reel, your boots are probaly your next most important investment so don't short change yourself.

if u go with a stocking foot wader Korkers has a cleaver shoe with removable soles that work fine for me as i do a lot of rock hopping

The only time i ever had any issues with the weight was when i trekked 3+miles into a spot. the walk was all sand, until the end where it became cobbles and where i wanted to fish was on boulders in the surf. I wore them in and while fishing, but removed them and strapped them to my belt for the walk back. i was very happy did. when i first removed them it felt like i was taking off some ankle weights and after 8 hrs of walking/fishing it was nice to have the relief. I felt like a new man.
I always put them on at the vehicle though before i go out. i experimented carrying them and then putting them on before i fished, but don't like putting them on once on the beach. its much easier at the truck.
i agree that once you start wearing them you won't notice that they are even on after a while.
I went the el cheapo route with ice cleats (rubber pull on straps with small metal grips on the toes) these worked fine ($7/pair) from light rocks, but i was going through several pairs a year so finally bought the korkers (hodgemans gladiator soles, actually, a little less expensive) and have been very happy with them

1 more thing..Most of us learn from our mistakes, you take a rocky road to find out its a dead end and by the time you get back on track you might as well go home. Sneakers where made for running.

If you do a lot of rock hopping, it is a very very good idea to just bite the bullet and get them. I got mine last year and it kind of opened up so many more spots for me, I really used to stay away from rocks at low tide before I had korkers. The problem with korkers is that the studs they come with tend to wear down or just fall off altogether after a bunch of trips. DZ has a great method for modifing them which involves replacing the studs with stainless machine screws. If you do a search on this site, you will find the thread where he lays out the method.
If I have a long walk to a spot, I just put them on when I get there, it's just so much easier than walking with them on, plus if any of the walk is on pavement, I feel like I'm wearing the studs (or screws) unessessarily. I also have a couple of spots that involve walking close to private residences on pavement to get to, korkers on pavement tend to make some noise, so that can take away from "stealth" mode. I wouldn't want some yahoo making a racket outside of my ocean-front home at 4am, so I try to have some respect for that.

Jim Sylvester and I wore them last year and had no problems...we bought the Korker boots with the insert felt bottoms. Remove the felt, drill holes right throught the insert. We put about 10 sets of 1 inch 10/24 machine screws and nuts (stainless) in each sole. Then, put the insert back on the boot and we drilled right through the boot down through the insert to basically screw the insert to the boot...otherwise it does pop off from time to time..

I also used the korker convertible. The upper doesn't hold up for crap where I fish. I had to have them replaced. Also, better than the screws is buying the Korker sole that is actual Korker studs. As always YMMV. Still the best wading boot/cleat I've used so far.

oh I also want to note that a buddy of mine who is too cheap to buy them fell off the rocks into the water last year and saw his life flash before his eyes...

That can work against you as well. I saw a buddy of mine get a little to "comfortable" in them and almost get washed away by a wave because of the false sense of security they offer. :hee:

Keep the advice coming, it's appreciated.

best set-up i've used or seen yet


the key that decksweeper and I found out ( the hard way :as: , is to lock the insert into the boot with a 1 1/4 " screw, right through the innersole and the felt as well

this setup allows the advantages of korkers with the lightweight feel of wearing just felt bottom boots

that's a really good point actually, you are not superman with these things on, you still have to go slow and watch your every step. I've also found that you don't always need them, for bolders in the water without weeds or any kind of slime on them, just felt soles can be better.

any pics ???

got some of the older korkers and replaced the studs with 10/24 ss screws- very sticky :kewl: .

i just wish Korkers had a way to keep the removable sole on the boot a couple of time this year I needed them and they let me down:af: good thing it was just one shoe. But all in all they work well when they work:D

woody,
just as decksweeper and i stated, drill a hole from the innersole of the boot out, and through the felt sole as well

then lock in place with screw all the way through

felt sole doesn't have a chance of moving any more

its bulletproof, i'm telling ya

Here ya go.
http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ht=korker+mods

i did the SS screws trick after burning throught the korkers studs,,,, I like the screw better,,,,, Actually put a couple extra in some places that work for me,,,, The screws that pulled through just needed a small fender washer and I was back in action

I have had my korkers for 4 seasons now,,, they are missing some studs butt they still work,,, got mine from cabella's 60$,,, the nrw korkers are not like the old ones

Jim, I'll show ya how to fix the broken studs with stainless bolts, works pissa. I'll show ya mine next time I see ya. Go Pats!!!

Duct tape dude, I had the same problem a couple of times in some of the worst places. Duct tape takes care of the problem. Five tight wraps every time out and they never come off.

I've seen it decksweeper let me look @ it I'm in !! thanks:btu:

It seems like some people are talking about the ones with the laces and some are talking about the ones with the buckles.

I have the buckle ones and the only problem I've had is the loss of a few spikes. I like the idea someone mentioned of drilling out the hole and using screws though - I have a ton of SS 10/32s for the yak that will work well for this.

BTW - McMaster is a good source for the screws & washers.

Jim:

I also figured that trick out mid-season this past year with my Korkers Outfitters Boots after 2 seasons of occasional sole pop-offs and after the rear locking D-ring corroded off one of the boots. Works Great now!!

I did my buckle style, 5500 I believe.

Is the screw inserted thru the inner sole at the heel area which then goes thru the felt sole ?

Is the screw secured enough so that it will not back up into the heel of your foot if you stepped on a rock just right ?

Where does the removable soles pop off from, the front, sides or back side of the boot?

drill your pilot hole for the bolt towards the middle of the shoe, if you put the bolt towards the heel the insert may still "pop out on you.

lock the bolt down woth a washer and nut...its not going anywhere

you can also put a washer on the innersole side (bolt head) if you want

they pop from the toe