what you value

I never take part on discussions which are about rods. I might say that I prefer HT rods, but that's it. Why? Well other people prefer moms and other people daughters. In the end it is matter of penchant. 

Now I have seen few about waders, boots and last one was  about socks. In my life I have never found best in the market and cheap. Good product with cheap price, which will have long lifetime.....well if you get lucky maybe. Some great products has brand price, which means maybe little bit extra in price, and in the end there is reason for that.

I use Simms waders and boots. Those really good ones, pricy yes, but I remember when I fished first time in those.... It was so comfortable etc. Now shoes starts to be end of their life for me, sole has gone slick as they have been heavily used. My new Bestard shoes are coming next week and I'm really looking forward to use them on summer. In fact I will have two different model from them. When time runs out from waders I could consider maybe Patagonia but those two are only options in this point.

Latest discussion was about socks. And that made me wrote this FP. So you have cold feet during fishing and you want to have best solution to keep your feets warm.

First recomandation was sealskinz socks which are waterproof, breathable and have merinowool as inner layer. That would be my recommendation also as I use them during autumn fishing when water is around +6C/43F. Next recomandation was merinowool socks, thick. Great option also, I do use those as well in autumn. Then someone said heated socks, I wouldn't use those, in fact I'm not fan of any of those heated clothes. If you have to use those you just don't know how to put clothes on.

Then discussion turned on price, sealskinz are about 50 bucks/€, merinowool socks 30-50 bucks/€. Some merinowool socks has brand label price. And suddenly the price was issue. So do you want to have warm feet or not. Warm feet during fishing is comfort and comfort will let you concentrate fishing. Nothing is so shitty as cold feet. 

Why I don't like idea about heated socks in waders? The last thing I want is sweaty feet because too much warm in some point. That will surely make your feet cold. If you have easily sweating feets you need to have thin sock which moves moisture away from skin and then warm sock on top. Merinowool moves moist well and feels warm, so sealskinz are great option as normal merinowool socks also. Or Have merinowool sock and then normal wool socks. Just make sure that you have enough space in waders/shoes so you can move toes easily. If you are too packed nothing helps, you need air layers between also. Avoid any cotton material against skin. Cotton absorbs moisture and when it is against skin.... Good luck with your feet.

In winter I use merinowool socks and normal wool socks when working outside. There are lot of standing and short walks, but feet are rarely cold. Only time when that happens is when I have been inside too long with shoes on and feets starts to sweat.

So what you value? It is your choice with everything, rods, waders, shoes, socks etc. You can make your life easier and comfortable or suffer. It is not about how expensive shit you use it is how you use them.  Gears cost, some more some less. If you know how to use them it doesn't matter if those are cheap ones, even I do have doubts how they will last.

We have saying in Finland, poor man should't buy cheap stuff.

Have a nice weekend

Mika from Finland

Ps. It is now -22F/-30 c, we are having short break this weekend with Satu in Oulu and I will go see some new reels, we have some other things to buy also as those are not available in Kuusamo.