River Salt Wading Boots (Built By Danner)

I was super excited to receive these boots today (and was so glad I placed my order before the coronavirus paused Patagonia's operations), so I could get them in the water this weekend. But like others have said, these boots run small. I wear a size 9.5 Danner hiking boot, so I thought the extra half size of a size 10 would adequately accommodate the neoprene stocking booties of my Rio Gallegos waders. Wrong. With a pair of wading socks and the neoprene boots, the size ten boots were crushing my feet. But because I was impressed with how comfortable they were right out of the box, and the Danner workmanship, I will be exchanging for a size 11. My only disappoint is knowing that I won't be able to get size 11 boots for some time. If they were available in a local store, I would consider buying a new pair and returning these. Unfortunately, that's not an option.

I typically wear an 11.5/12 street shoe and ordered these in size 12 to use wet wading with a 5mm neoprene sock and that combo has yielded the most comfortable wading boot I've ever owned. They are lighter weight than I expected and work well for locations that involve an extended hike in as well. I'm very happy with these!

I tromped around in various boots in various countries throughout my military tenure and I like to believe that my feet have seen their fair share of mileage. I recently had the pleasure of making a trip to Kiribati and Fanning Atoll in the Pacific. Needless to say, these have been some of the most comfortable boots I have ever worn. Endless miles of stalking bones on the flats, navigating coral reefs for triggers & bumpies, to casting out of a panga to trevally and tuna, these boots handled it all. I have also utilized this boot fishing my home rivers as a hiking boot. Light and efficient. Can’t say enough good about this boot. I am a 12.5-13 street shoe and the sz 13 was perfect!

I was reluctant to switch from the other big brand. But it was time to buy my 3rd pair fo G4 boots in 9 years and just thought it would be easier to get something that could be more easily professionally resoled in the future. River Salt boots are significantly more comfortable, look better, feel like a hiking boot - not a wading boot. Come w studs if you want them, don't have to buy separately. Nice touch. I'm a 9.5 street shoe, 9 in G4, and 10 in River Salt. Perfect fit. I'm not a professional, not a guide, fish 50 days per year - but that adds up quick and it just makes sense to have something that was meant to be resoled if needed. If you fish 6 days a year, then any random boot will probably last you three lifetimes. If you plan on putting a couple hundred days or more into a pair of boots over the next year or few, then these seem like a logical option even factoring in the price.

The sizing is accurate. Just order the size you normally wear in any other shoe. I overthought the issue and ordered a size up given the need for Neoprene Socks. They turned out to be a size too large. I feel the boots are just slightly larger than normal to comfortably fit with thick wool or wading socks. The exchange process was very convenient and I couldn't be happier with these boots. I wear a size 13 tennis shoe and the size 13 in this boot is perfect. Trust the sizing.