I Paid Retail and I’m Glad I Did — Keep Your Powder Dry
Posted by The Inside Line on Jun 23rd 2020
I’m a big fan of Muck Boots when it’s cold and wet, insulated Gore-Tex boots any time it’s really cold, and some sort of sandals or flip flops when it’s warm, but in my opinion the unsung heroes of fishing footwear are waterproof sneakers. If you don’t have some, you should.
Yes, regular old tennis shoes are fine if it stays dry, but they suck if you get stuck in a downpour or otherwise dunk ‘em. Fail to dry them off properly and they get mildew and smelly, and just as critically fishing all day with wet feet sucks.
I’ve had these Columbia OutDry shoes since 2014, and while I occasionally treat them with a waterproofing agent to be safe, they’ve never let me down. They’ve been through every sort of weather, from Florida to Alaska, and everywhere in between, as well as to the dangerous land-mine pocked grounds of the dog park. I don’t care if I step in puddles in them, or if there’s mud. Just rinse ‘em off afterward.
It’s not like they cost a whole lot more than your run of the mill running shoes, either. In fact, they probably cost less than your Air Jordans or whatever fancy kicks you prefer. If you participate in an activity where you’re not only regularly outside, but also around water, why wouldn’t you get something that’s waterproof? They’re every bit as critical as a good rainsuit. In anticipation of my upcoming trip to Alaska, I’ve considered replacing them, but there’s really no reason – absent some monumental failure of the soles, they’re just getting broken in.
