Snorkers

[JackK]

Getting kinda tired of strapping korkers to the old pair of sneaks I use for wetsuiting/wet wading. I hear about people putting hex head screws into their boots for the extra grip... Just normal 1/4" (not sure on the size) SS screws? What's worked well for those of you that've done this? Any other products out there I should look at (other than the werebars, a little pricey for now)?

[bassballer]

I have a pair korker wading boots with the felt sole, then i screwed hex heads in the felt sole. They work great. never had any issues.

[O.D. Mike]

Originally Posted by JackK

Getting kinda tired of strapping korkers to the old pair of sneaks I use for wetsuiting/wet wading. I hear about people putting hex head screws into their boots for the extra grip... Just normal 1/4" (not sure on the size) SS screws? What's worked well for those of you that've done this? Any other products out there I should look at (other than the werebars, a little pricey for now)?

One of my new canal buddies told me to take a pair of old work boots (thick soles) and go to the hardware store and buy 1/2" hex head screws. I put 30 or so in each boot, needless to say it works great.. No more sliding on slippery rocks.
Instead of stainless, I went with cheap screws, something like $5 bucks for 100. Installed them with a screw gun and a 1/4" tip.
When it comes time to remove, my plan is to use a pair of needle nose vise grips.

[Raven]

sheet rock screws snap like nothing

but the green deck screws with the star head are very strong

my favorite fastener....

[emgred]

Originally Posted by JackK

Any other products out there I should look at (other than the werebars, a little pricey for now)?

Wearbars may be pricey, but they are cheaper than a visit to the ER.

[Justfishin']

Cabelas has replacement felt soles with carbide tipped studs embedded in them.They're made by Korkers and use the same tips as the sandals. I use them on both my fresh and salt waders and find them to be the best traction going. You can glue them to any shoe using marine Goop. For $30 I get anywhere from 1-3 seasons from them.

[izzy]

I used to fish the rivers of New York for steelhead. I too got tired of strapping and unstrapping my Korkers.
Just so happened that a buddy of mine was a cobbler (shoe repair guy). He cut the straps off of my Korkers and glued and nailed the korkers right to the bottom of my wading boot. The boots were a little heavy, but they were awesome. I got years of use out of them.
Just an idea.....

[Parker650]

After losing a corker at PJ light I refused to spend another $60 on korkers, so I took my Proline wading boots (cheap, i wasn't worried about ruining them) and marked and drilled holes thru the sole. The sole isn't as thick or as heavy duty as I would have liked so I improvised. I was looking something rigid/strong with some flexibility. So I took a small bucket (Read: sheetrock drywall compound, small bucket green top) and cut it down the side and cut the bottom off. I cut four pieces of it for each boot, one under ball/front of foot, another for the heel both inside the boot and out (outer sole). Front piece was maybe 3" x 5" (i didn't measure) and heel about 3" x 3"...held them in place and marked holes with a sharpie...drilled them out and used 1/2" and 3/4" (length) stainless steel bolts (diameter ~1/4") with good sized washers and nuts. Inner sole goes like this (when looking into the boot, what you see): screw head ontop of a good sized washer ontop of plastic piece...outside has the bolt extending thru the sole, thru plasic piece, thru another good size washer secured by a nut. I used 1/2" and 3/4" bolts (for the thicker heel) so that they were stubby enough to provide leverage with only about 1/4" of the bolt sticking out of the sole. With the sole insert placed inside the boot OVER the plastic and screws I seriously can't feel them from the bottom of my feet thru my stockingfoot. They are a little tighter than before, but I relaced and keep them looser with no ill effects.

Result: they work great. They did wear down a bit but the only rocks this is noticeable on are the rocks at PJ. Those smooth round boulders are tough. The best part is the bolts are easily replaced with an offset screwdriver and socket...it has only been 1 season so we shall see. I'll try to get some pics up

[JackK]

Thanks for all the ideas... Now to put some of them into action

[O.D. Mike]

Jack,
Here's a picture of my canal boots. Hope this helps...

Mike