Rock Treads

Last year Yellowstone Park banned felt because the felt holds water, silt, and slime. All of these things can transport unwanted aquatic invasive species and is hard to clean. Rubber soles are allowed and are much easier to clean. When fishing different places it is best to clean all the mud and any debris off your boots and waders. A one to ten solution of bleach will kill any unwanted microorganisms. You can put it in a spray bottle and then it is easy to apply to boots after they are cleaned. Yellowstone was concerned of people not getting their boots clean enough and having the invasive species carried into Yellowstone’s waters via felt sole boots. This is why they banned the felt soles and are only allowing rubber-soled boots. The thing you must know though before putting on a pair and wading waters is that just plain rubber soles are very slippery in the river. I tried them two years ago and it was hard to stand up straight, I slipped a lot. I had tried studded felt years ago, and they worked good at first, but as the studs wore they became rounded and slippery. So, I was not excited about studded rubber. Now I have tried studded rubber, studded Vibram, bars, and rock treads. The studded rubber is good, studded Vibram is better, the bars are very good but they are heavy. I like to use Rock Treads best, as they are light in weight. The first time you see them they look like they are going to be slippery, but that’s far from the truth. Yes they look odd, perhaps even goofy to some, but they’re not slippery. As a matter of fact the more you use them the better they work. Rock Treads are made out of aluminum and aluminum is softer than the rocks that are in the river. This will cause them to get grooves and will deform the Rock Treads, which is exactly what’s intended. This is why they grip so well. I love them so much that I’m now using them outside the park on the Madison in Montana. I won’t be using felt anymore, because there’s no need to.

Rock Treads can be installed on insert soles like Korkers, and on any wading boot that has rubber soles, no matter the brand. We do install them here in the shop, no charge. Just give us an hour. Try them out you will love them, too. Lower your chances of getting hurt from slipping in the river! Use Rock Treads, we do!