Alternative to Korkers...

[pbadad]

The studs come in various lengths. I bought 3/4" thread length because they were out of stock on the 1/2" length. I used the full length in the felt w/o the recepticle and snipped off a 1/8" to thread in the stud receiver. 1/2" is the size to use but the longer ones seem to really lock into the plain felt sole. The reason the 1/2" is reccommended is the chance of a breach through the sole. I did have a slight breach after a couple uses and took out the ones that I felt under foot and ground off an eigth or so. I'm telling you these studs hold well in the sole. My partner is big and rough on korkers and they have held up for him. I far as the thread portion holding up on repeated replacements time will tell but the way they wear you may throw out the boots b/4 you replace them all. Be careful installing the studs so you don't over tighten them and strip the plastic slug. I use a controlled speed electric drill to drive them down but stop b/4 they bottom out and finish the install by hand with a 3/8 nut driver.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by ivanputski

We all know korkers are a must, but I hate the idea of the 2-pounds of rubber I strap on my feet to simply put a few studs under my feet. I dont like Korkers boots with interchangeable soles... the things fall off... an besides, i dont want to change the soles! I want spikes at all times, minus the extra weight... I think my winter-long quest may have ended. narrowed it down to 2 brands of screw-in carbide spikes that go directly into the sole of your boot, and stay there... (even when you walk into mobil for a coffee... sorry Dan!) The choice comes down to wearbars, or best-grip spikes... Wader Stud Info
the best grip have a super-wide thread that looks like they will stay put. Anyone use either of these? My new boots have felt soles with rubber spots for provided "stream screws" which are garbage, but will hold the ones I hope to buy. If anyone has any first hand experience, please share... I hope my days of surfcasting with Richard Simmons ankle weights will come to an end, and my mile long walks will be a bit lighter... I'll let you know how things go. Then I'm going to burn my korkers like those hippy broads burned their bras in the 60's!

These are the wearbars... the best grips look even better

Originally Posted by pbadad

IP, my partner and I have used the same concept all last season. Block, Cutty, Squibnocket and local. Zero problems and convenient. I used the cabelas guide boot and he the Chotas. I added 7 more studs to the felt soles. total 21 spikes. These spikes are carbide and are used on snow machine tracks.Wear like iron. No signs of wear. Heck i'd be putting new studs in Korkers if they can be threaded twice ina season. I too had issues on long walks w/ 2 lb sandals. I did ss bolt route in the corkers soles also but the weight was a killer. You won't be dissappointed. I actually wrote an article for our club's newsletter this month on this concept. If you look at the cabelas Ultra-lite boots they now come with stud insert receivers. These are 1/2 the weight of the leather wading boots. I used these with the unreplaceable studs and they were very comfortable. I wish they came out b/4 I went and bought the leather ones. Either way this is a great improvement over the sandals.

Which ones did you get? I'm assuming you got the Aggressive stud but I want to be sure - thanks!

About Wader Studs | Premium Studs For Wader Boots

[tattoobob]

These are the ones you want

http://www.wearbars.com/ProductDetai...?productID=246

[Necker1]

Don't give up on the Korker boots with the interchangeable soles. I glue in the felt ones with studs with Goop. They are light and that is important on long walks for an old timer like me. You can peel them off [carefully] because the Goop is rubbery when it cures.

[KEGGER7676]

Hey Chris, I have been wearing the Cabelas boots for years with the Korkers K5000 sandal over them...very heavy combo.

This year after doing some research here I ditched the sandals and installed the wearbars....after about 15-20 trips on the gansett rocks and breachways I am not going back to the sandals anytime soon. Since I am an individual with a robust frame I installed about 21 spikes per boot and I used washers under the stud to help distrbute the load a bit more.

[ivanputski]

It's no surprise I'm a huge fan, since i started this thread!

I made some modifications this season, as I got a new pair of boots and spikes over the winter...

When screwing into the felt, I have noticed that using a large washer (slightly smaller than a dime) with a very small hole for the screw to go through helps them stay upright. The large surface area of the big washer prevents them from leaning over time. I also coated the threads with marine epoxy right before installing.

I love them. I will NEVER... EVER... wear korkers, or a korkers brand product until they get it right... and I make a pretty convincing argument in person to not use Korkers if you ever meet me in person. I have spoken to korkers service dept. numerous times, and I swear they are allergic to money over there, and refuse to even acknowledge the value in my idea of a boot with receiver threads built right INTO the sole so you can screw in their spikes. (Surfcasters must still be too small a niche market for them to bother)

Seems they are content with making interchangeable sole boots that do 5 different things poorly, rather than a boot that does one thing damn well.