Upwardly Mobile
Spending considerable amounts of time on the bank soon made CARPology’s Joe Wooltorton release the ‘any old shoe’ mindset wouldn’t do if he was to avoid footrot…
‘Any old shoe will do’ was my attitude when it came to fishing footwear years ago. Until I realised how quickly I was getting through them. Whether it was DC high tops (when I went through that phase) or cheap-as-chips trainers from Primark, it just wasn’t sustainable.
Over the past 5 years at CARPology, I have had the opportunity to try, and own, multiple different shoes and boots from various companies. Some are great to start with—like a 10/10 looker at first but when the drink wears off, you realise it’s leaking where it shouldn’t and the rubber isn’t doing its job…
Speero sent over their, at the time, new Alcor Boots, around two years ago and the exact same pair are still my go-to boots today. Not just for fishing, but any outdoorsy walking. The support they offer has seen me to the top of Pen Y Fan and to the lows of muddy wintery banks with torn ankle ligaments (5-a-side injury, not the boots). Safe to say, they have had me covered in all situations.
So comfort and support are well and truly ticked off, but what about water repellency and warmth? The ‘waterproof, breathable, hydroguard membrane’ sees to the first rather well. However, without resorting to my previous likening to women, I can’t get them as wet as I used to. As with anything, materials will degrade over time, so a semi-monthly sprucing spray of fabsil reinvigorates its hydrophobicity.
As for warmth, that’s down to your socks I’m afraid. I suffer with terrible circulation to my feet in the winter however, so even expensive socks in woolly boots don’t help.
Avoid, consider, shortlist or buy? Without a doubt, in my mind, it’s a buy.
