I bought my first pair of Korkers wading boots about 6 years ago. I was skeptical at first on the main selling features (the BOA lace tightening system and interchangeable soles) but I decided to give them a try as my father had good success with them. The BOA lace system uses a rotary dial and a stainless steel wire lace. Turning the dial tightens the lace and popping it up releases it. The BOA system provides an even and snug boot fit and releases quickly for boot removal. I used to go through a pair of laces every couple of seasons with my lace up wading boots and found myself adjusting the laces several times throughout the day. The BOA system stays snug all day and has not needed to be replaced in my 6 year old wading boots.

Most fly fisherpersons using a wader and wading boot setup use felt soles for extra traction on slippery rocks. One big disadvantage to felt soles is that they can be extremely slippery on muddy trails. The Korkers interchangeable soles is a great feature – felt soles for use on the river, rubber soles for walking. They soles are quick to change and Korkers offer 10 different sole types. The ones that I’ve found best for all around use is the felt sole with studs. The small studs give you just enough traction on the trails without sacrificing traction on wet river rocks.

My original Korkers wading boots were starting to show their age so I ordered a pair of Korkers Darkhorse from Outdoor Pros. They retail for about $250 but are well worth the price. The Darkhorse model also features the Korkers BOA lace system and interchangeable sole system that I like so much on my original Korkers. Noticeable improvements include greater ankle support and increased protection around the toe, sides and heal areas which tend to get torn up on rough or sharp river rocks.

If you’re looking for a good, quality wading boot; I’d highly recommend the Korkers Darkhorse.

Cheers, A. Bassan