All fly fishing gear evolves. Simms Flyweight Access Wading boots were named the Best-Of-Show Wading Boot at the '22 International Fly Tackle Dealer show.
I’ve been wearing the Simms Flyweight® Access Wading Boots this summer and couldn’t be more impressed. More than anything else, what is noticeable about these boots? The fact that they aren’t noticeable is what keeps getting my attention. Simply put, it just never feels like I am wearing wading boots when wearing these boots.
This is most noticed at the times when wading boots are generally not the best footwear. For example, on gravely trails or when leaping from one boulder to another or when driving the truck, wading boots are often a hindrance.
One major reason these boots are so great is the materials. From the non-absorbent mesh uppers to the comfortable and lightweight material that makes up the lacing area, Simms has apparently thoughtfully considered every way to make these boots lighter and more comfortable. But if the word “lightweight” invokes concerns about durability, I wouldn’t worry.
From the sole to the abrasion resistant materials to the hard material that covers the toe, these boots are ready to take abuse. One other key reason these boots are so great is that they have a Vibram Idrogrip Flex outsole. It’s hard not to argue that Vibram makes the best soles. We expect a lot out of our wading boots, including having a good grip on rocks in underwater currents.
Read also: Flyweight Waders: A Review
Finally, there have been numerous features on Simms products that I’ve rolled my eyes at thinking they are gimmicky before later loving those features. In the case of these boots, the pull-on loops on the back of the boots are surprisingly useful and make putting on the boots easier. Big praise for Simms for the Flyweight® Access Wading Boots.
I first owned a pair of the game-changing, original Simms Flyweight wading boots about four years ago and was suitably impressed with levels of comfort I had not had previously in a wading boot. You know that feeling when you’ve been tramping for days on end and you get back to the car and put on a pair of jandals or sneakers?
The front toe cap is more substantial and less complicated than on the previous model. I’m a huge fan of welded technology on boots. Years of owning traditional stitched boots and having to apply a seam of Aquaseal on the stitching only a few weeks into ownership to preserve their longevity are gone.
Gone are the radial dark grey lines - the new Simms Flyweight Access Boot is clean on looks, the way a boot should be as it’s not a fashion contest out there. Colour is less grey and a more neutral tan, and the main boot fabric looks to be more substantial and coarser in texture.
Simms allow extra room for either a neoprene wader sock or wader sock, so there is no need to up-size, just get your regular shoe size and you’re away laughing. If I had one criticism, and I remember pointing this out with the original Flyweight boots, it’s that the laces are a tad short. Even snugged up tightly, I cannot utilise the top lace eyes.
Read also: Simms Flyweight Vest Pack
As a guide, I'm often in waders for 6-10 hours at a time and frequently logging multi-miles days on riverside trails. All-day comfort in my boots is a necessity. Great arch support from the high cushion midsole keeps me standing in them longer. I have hiked many miles in my Flyweight boots and can honestly say that these are the best hiking/wading boots I have worn.
This is where the boot truly shows its versatility. After the hike is over and I'm ready to fish, the boot transitions into a strong wading boot. The sole construction gives you a solid base as you anchor yourself in swift waters and stays light as you traverse to the next hole. The Vibram rubber outsole combined with the form-fitting upper design give you the grip you need to wade in rocky and deep water with confidence.
These boots also look good. If it wasn't for the Simms logo, they could pass for an oversized hiking boot. You may not get away with wearing these at your cousin's wedding, but these are no clunky-chunky wading boots your father wore.
NEW Simms Flyweight Access Wading Boot (2022) | First Impressions
According to Simms, the Flyweight Access Wading Boot possesses “best-in-class wet-slip resistance.” According to SATRA, the “Vibram IdroGrip Grip Flex (exclusive to Simms) provides more slip resistance on wet surfaces than any other rubber wading boot sole material. VIBRAM IDROGRIP FLEX rubber is the latest evolution in outsole technology.
The Access boots are incredibly comfortable. I’ve put a bevy of miles on them in the wet and the dry combined and my feet haven't complained once. They’re also easy to both put on and take off. The Access comes with double bootstraps, but the gusseted tongue allows the boot to open so wide you won’t need them.
Read also: Lightweight Comfort and Protection
They ain’t called “Flyweights” for nothing. My size 11s push the scale to 1.51 pounds per boot. That’s 24.16 ounces. So we’ll say a pair weighs in at 48 ounces. For comparison, my Teva sandals weigh 27 ounces as a pair. MSRP of $249.95. I say that’s a fair market price.
Grip and Traction
Up to now, when I heard the words “rubber sole” I just heard, “wet, cold and hurt.” There has never been a rubber soled boot that gripped better than a Converse Allstar, as far as I’m concerned. There are a handful of really cool features in the new Flyweight Access Boot but the big news is, IT ACTUALLY WORKS! The first day I wore these boots I forgot I wa wearing rubber soles. I felt every bit as confident in them as I do in my felt sole boots, and they far exceed felt for grip on trails and slippery banks.
I plan to wade fish for as long as I can walk so limiting the potential for falls is paramount. To do that, I tend to walk a bit slower and more cautiously now. And I’m always looking for grippy footwear. That search led me to Simms newest wading boots - the Flyweight Access Wading Boot with Vibram.
But I waded to the action - and caught the bass - and did not fall. Was the trek made as if I was an amphibious Spiderman? No. There was slippage. The laws of physics still apply, folks. But I was damn sure impressed, and felt that the traction on these new Vibram soles notably outperformed other rubber-soled wading boots I’ve used in the past.
Durability and Longevity
Stick-to-itevness comes at the cost of sole durability. This is a very soft compound and I have no doubt that the creek beds will chew it up in short order. How short of an order? That’s the big question. No major chunks missing from the sole so far. We’ll see.
This is a near-seamless boot with welded overlays so there aren’t many places for it to come apart. With the Flyweight Access Wading Boots, Simms has given the wading world an outstanding product only a tweak or two away from becoming absolute game-changers.
Minor Issues
Laces are the bane of wading anglers. They come untied, catch debris, and sometimes catch your other foot. Simms is getting close here. Eyes on the Access are low-profile webbing (good), laces are thin (good) and lay tight on the boot (good). They seem to want to stay tied (good). But they’re still exposed to the currents, dead branches, and rocks, and those will play havoc with them (bad).
No removable insole? Really? That being said, the boots dry quickly, so maybe I’m making a big deal out of a nonissue.
A Critical Perspective
In order to give the most complete (and hopefully objective) overview of the Simms Flyweight Access Wading Boot, I am going to address various aspects of my experience with these boots. The Cost: These boots retail for $279.99 a pair. I have been using these boots exclusively over the last 11 mos or so.
However, these boots run small, and are extremely tight in the forefoot. So much so, it was painful and I could not wear them with waders and socks. In January, I ordered a pair in size 11. These fit much better with waders.
For wading boots, these are pretty good looking boots. And they are light. Very light. More like Basketball shoe weight instead of boot weight. But there were some initial concerns as well. The shoestrings are thin and cheap. These are the cheapest shoestrings I ever remember seeing in any pair of shoes I've purchased. And they are short. Way too short. This is perhaps the most unnecessary shortcoming of the boots.
One of the biggest positives about these boots is the Ankle Support. Surprisingly, it is MUCH better than many boots I've owned, especially considering how light these boots are and how horrible the shoestrings are. Whether wading in the river, or trekking in the woods, the ankle support is consistent.
As far as comfort goes, the lightness of these boots is a strong positive, the narrowness of the forefoot is a strong negative. The insoles, like all wading boots are subpar, and I always replace them with aftermarket insoles. This is the main selling point of this boot. When the boots are new, the grip is decent. It is not mindblowing. It is not "felt-like." It is decent. However, as the boots wear, the grip deteriorates very quickly.
With only 5mos on the size 11 boots, I felt like I was trying to walk around on greased bowling balls. Not until the Simms Flyweight Boots did I have any issue with any wading boot protecting my feet during wading. Durability is the biggest failure of these boots. If the durability was any worse, these boots would be water-soluble. They start to break down immediately with use. These boots are cheaply made from cheap materials. And not just the sole. The upper wears out.
I have never wore out any pair of shoes in the inside of the forefoot, but I'm convinced in a couple of months these boots would wear all the way through. I will not find out, because the soles are completely wore out.
The most perplexing issue with these boots is the metal ring that your waders hook into. I have never had waders "unhook" from boots like I've had with these. They won't stay hooked for any amount of time. I'm constantly rehooking the waders, or trying to fish my flyline out of the hook on the bottom of my waders.
It is almost as if Simms completely skipped any testing on these boots, and decided to spend all the R/D money on marketing to convince consumers these were revolutionary boots. Too bad. The positives (ankle support/ walking comfort) are not enough to offset the deal-breaker negatives (durability, foot protection, cheap components). I would not purchase them again.
Less than 1yr in, 2 pair of busted boots, $600 spent and I'm going to be looking for a new pair of boots this week (not Simms Flyweights).
Final Thoughts
My minor quibbles aside, these are capable and super-comfy boots that will absolutely up your confidence in any wading conditions. Folks way more qualified than me think so as well.
I’ll be honest - I’ve never cared too much about wading boots. Long ago, and for a number of years, I was loyal to the Simms Freestone Wading Boots. They were well-built, seemingly indestructible, and $79. While Simms was boasting about more comfortable and lighter weight boots, for me, the tech just never justified spending more.
While I won’t flinch at spending money on many categories of gear, I frankly find boots uncomfortable in general and thus often don’t see enough of a difference between boots that have a difference of $200 on the price tag to justify the nicer boots.