Grip.

[eric]

After a recent river wading trip, both Surfanfish and I were left complaining of more aches and pains than old age usually offers. We've decided to blame the slippery logs and rocks of the river we were in.

We considered getting some felt soles, but I've just been reading about how various groups in the US and NZ are trying to get them banned because they have a fantastic ability to transport large amount of gunk, and possibly diseases or pests from one stream to another.

So what I want to know is if this is a problem here in Australia, and is there an alternative that offers grip on slime without potentially destroying a fishery?

[patwah]

Locally felt is still the way to go.

Didymo has smashed NZ, North USA etc... We're lucky it hasn't happened

[koich]

Smugness and tweed.

[mingle]

eric asking for advice about grip - surely not?!?

[eric]

eric asking for advice about grip - surely not?!?

I came here to learn.

[cjbfisher]

get a grip.

[SurfanFish]

Back to topic. I'm sort of leaning towards a hybrid like these - would get more use;

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp? ... ab_Reviews

I used to wade streams regularly in wetsuit boots or waders and never really experienced the back pain before. Probably a combo of a very fast running river and age creeping up.

Smugness and tweed.

Haven't graduated to fly - still bogan spin.

[koich]

It'll happen. You just wake up one day and you're a toff.

I've gotten out of trouble a couple of times by wearing footy socks on the outside of my wading boots.

[kayakone]

It'll happen. You just wake up one day and you're a toff.

I've gotten out of trouble a couple of times by wearing footy socks on the outside of my wading boots.

Who are you calling a toff.

Wear crampons Eric, you might spear a flathead at the same time.

[nezevic]

A flathead in a trout stream?

Socks are an interesting idea though. I hadn't thought of that.

[BigGee]

Socks are an interesting idea though.

Certainly wouldn't be out of place in Queanbeyan that's for sure. Or turn your UGG boots inside out and use them.

Gee

[SurfanFish]

It'll happen. You just wake up one day and you're a toff.

hmmm..... so eric replacing safeway fruit cake with crustless sandwiches and calling me a hippy for drinking green tea may be the start. Then there was latte and carrot cake instead of the usual burger and fries afterwards...............

[eric]

I had to use up the left over chicken and lime aioli somehow and T2 Melbourne Breakfast just sits so right in the clean mountain air....

[koich]

It'll happen. You just wake up one day and you're a toff.

hmmm..... so eric replacing safeway fruit cake with crustless sandwiches and calling me a hippy for drinking green tea may be the start. Then there was latte and carrot cake instead of the usual burger and fries afterwards...............

I keep waiting for my pajero to my turn into a range rover.

[anselmo]

We considered getting some felt soles, but I've just been reading about how various groups in the US and NZ are trying to get them banned because they have a fantastic ability to transport large amount of gunk, and possibly diseases or pests from one stream to another.

Socks are an interesting idea though.

Certainly wouldn't be out of place in Queanbeyan that's for sure. Or turn your UGG boots inside out and use them.

Gee

Erics is concerned that felt has "a fantastic ability to transport large amount of gunk, and possibly diseases or pests from one stream to another"
yet ont he same page we're suggesting socks over boots and ugg boots inside out

tongue in cheek responses aside, Eric just buy the felts
most major maufacturers have u-turned and are offering them again
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... ZWeQclCB0Q
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... 9Y-CRkD38A

if you clean them properly you'll eradicate any risk that is associated with them

and its more about looking at the root cause and educating based on same, rather than saying felt is the cause, ergo get rid of felt get rid of the problem
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... jaOLkfBDmA

how to clean felt boots properly
see: Link