Simms Freestone Boot Review: Rubber Sole Reality
Buy them if you wade often, want a boot that takes studs, and fish states where felt soles are restricted. Skip them if you fish a handful of days a year, because a $90 boot keeps your ankle supported and your foot dry over that horizon and the difference here is durability rather than safety.
The rubber sole version, what studs actually add, and the felt question that is now a legal one.
Simms Men's Freestone Boot, rubber sole, Gunmetal size 11
Under $250
Simms' mid weight wading boot in the rubber outsole version, built on a waterproof synthetic upper with a dual density midsole.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Upper | Waterproof synthetic scratch leather with toe and heel reinforcement |
|---|---|
| Lining | Partial neoprene, for comfort and easier on and off |
| Midsole | Dual density EVA |
| Outsole (this listing) | Rubber, compatible with Simms Hardbite Star Cleats, Hardbite Studs and Alumibite Star Cleats |
| Felt version | Sold separately, with a 12 mm felt outsole compatible with Simms Hardbite Felt Studs |
| Materials | Crafted without the use of PFAs, per Simms |
| Budget | under $250 for the size linked here |
Specifications above come from Simms' published description of the Freestone boot. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Toe and heel reinforcement is where wading boots actually die, and this one is built for it.
- The outsole takes three different Simms stud and cleat systems, so grip is upgradeable rather than fixed at purchase.
- Simms states the boot is made without PFAs, which is a real answer to a real regulatory direction rather than marketing.
- Rubber soles do not transport invasive organisms the way felt does, which is why several states restrict felt and why rubber is the safer default when you fish more than one watershed.
Where it falls short
- Bare rubber is worse than felt on algae covered rock. That is the honest position, and Simms implicitly concedes it by selling three cleat systems for this outsole. Budget for studs, and treat the boot as unstudded until you fit them.
- The studs are an additional purchase on top of a boot that already sits under $250.
- Sizing is per listing and wading boots go over a neoprene stockingfoot, so you normally need a full size above your street shoe, sometimes more with a thick sock.
- No wading boot makes fast water safe. Grip buys you margin, and the margin runs out at a depth and a current speed that has nothing to do with what you paid.
What owners report
Published owner reviews of the Freestone boot are consistent on durability. Owners report the uppers surviving several seasons of gravel and brush, and the reinforcement at the toe gets named specifically. Reviewers who fish a lot describe them as the boot they stopped thinking about, which is the highest praise a wading boot receives.
The recurring theme in published reviews of rubber soled boots generally, this pair included, is grip on slick rock. Owners who added studs report the problem largely solved and owners who did not report slipping. That pattern is so consistent across brands that it should be read as a property of the material rather than a verdict on the boot.
How it fits with the rest of your kit
Sole material is the whole decision here and it is not purely a grip question. The felt against rubber comparison covers the legal side, since several states and provinces restrict felt for invasive species reasons, and the felt against rubber grip comparison covers what each material actually does on wet stone. Check your own state's current regulations before you buy either, because that rule is set by your local fish and wildlife agency and not by a gear site.
Boots are half of a purchase, so the other half is a wader: the Simms Freestone is the matching flagship and the Simms Tributary is the sensible one. The wading boots roundup covers everything cheaper, and if your water is fast enough to worry you, the Korkers Greenback lets you carry both sole types and swap them at the truck.
Who it suits
- Frequent waders who have already worn out a budget boot.
- Anglers fishing states that restrict felt soles.
- Anyone who fishes more than one river system and wants to reduce the risk of moving organisms between them.
Who should skip it
- Occasional anglers, for whom a $90 boot is genuinely sufficient.
- Anglers who fish one slick limestone river and never leave it, where felt is the better grip and may still be legal.
- Buyers who have not budgeted for studs, since the outsole is designed to accept them.
Alternatives worth considering
Simms Men's Tributary Boot, rubber sole, Basalt size 11
Under $250
Simms' cheaper boot at under $250, with a full neoprene lining and the same brand's proprietary lugged rubber outsole. Buy this if you want Simms without the flagship price.
Check price on AmazonKorkers Greenback Wading Boot with felt and Kling-On soles, size 11
Under $250
Ships with both felt and Kling-On rubber soles, so one boot covers rivers with different rules and different rock. under $250, with more moving parts as the trade.
Check price on AmazonFrogg Toggs Men's Hellbender Wading Boot, felt or cleated
Under $250
under $250 in felt or cleated. Less durable and less refined, and it keeps your ankle supported and your grip honest for a fraction of the money.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Felt against rubber wading boots
- Felt against rubber grip
- Best wading boots
- Simms Freestone waders review
- Korkers Greenback review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Simms Freestone boot felt or rubber, which should I buy?
Buy rubber if you fish more than one river system or any state that restricts felt, and fit studs to it. Buy felt if you fish one slick river where felt is legal and grip is your main concern. Felt grips wet algae covered rock better than bare rubber, which is why the restrictions exist at all: felt also holds water and organisms and moves them between watersheds.
Do I need studs in rubber wading boots?
On smooth bedrock, algae or slick limestone, yes. Simms sells three cleat and stud systems for this outsole, which tells you the boot is designed to be studded rather than to be perfect bare. On gravel, sand and rounded cobble, bare rubber is fine and studs are noisy and can slip on hard rock.
What size wading boots do I need?
Usually one full size above your normal shoe, because the boot goes over a neoprene stockingfoot and often a sock as well. If you wear heavy socks in cold water, consider going further. A boot too small compresses the neoprene and makes your feet cold, and a boot too big lets your heel lift, which is how you turn an ankle on a river bed.
Are felt soles banned?
In several states and provinces, yes, and the list changes. Felt holds water and can carry invasive organisms such as didymo between watersheds. This is a live regulatory question, not a settled one, so check your own state or provincial fish and wildlife agency's current rule before you buy. That agency is the authority here, not a gear review.
How long do wading boots last?
It depends far more on how much you wade than on price, but a frequently used boot is typically a two to four season item, with the sole and the stitching at the toe going first. Rinsing and drying them between trips extends that and also reduces the chance of moving organisms between rivers, which is worth doing regardless of what your state requires.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, line and leader standards, and verified owner reviews across retailers. We do not test gear in person, and every diameter, grain weight and breaking strength quoted here is the manufacturer's published figure unless we say otherwise, so check the spool label before you trust a number. Nothing here is professional instruction. Wading moving water is the real hazard in this sport: wear a snug wading belt, know the water temperature, and turn back rather than push through a crossing you are unsure of.
