Water does tend to weaken shoes significantly, and I think manufacturers believe (correctly) most people won't be wet wading in their sandals, but just might get their toes wet at the boat ramp - at most.

I bought a set of Teva sandals for use getting in and out of my kayak but they only lasted 9 months. Would hate to see how long they would have lasted if I actually used them for wading. For winter kayaking I use Korkers wading boots.

It is informative to see all these opinions. Why not the Simms Intruder? Almost 10-oz less weight and half the price of the Simms Vaportreads (that I own for salt).

like with all products you can get a bad apple for sure. I consistently have stretches of 20 to as many as 60 days in a row on and in the water chasing sandbass. Have seen multiple products with great ratings have a dud here and there. I'm sure all of us have gotten a really good product out of a company others never did. The original mention of the korkers a friend of mine has they are ultra light. Only has a half season on them though. who knows may fall apart next trip or last five years. I am courious as to how well those shoes hold up though. I enjoy seeing what others like as well as dislike.

How are you liking yours? Have not been super impressed with the durability of my last pair of Simms Wading Boots (Rivertek Boa). Sole separated after about 1.5 years.
Have had my eye on a pair of Vapor or Intruders as they are designed for wet wading. I wish Patagonia would put one out. My other Patagonia foot wear has been incredibly durable.

I have had a pair of Teva Churn water shoes since 2013 and they have been incredible. I think they are discontinued, but I have used them as my wet wading and kayaking footwear all over the creeks and rivers in central texas, as well as many trips to the coast and they have held up beautifully without issue.

So nobody has the Simms Intruders? Would like to hear about them.

It's funny. As a old shoe dog (shoe salesman) in my college days, I had to deal with guys who wore out their shoes and thought it was a bit premature. They way I explained it is: "Do you wear these shoes every day? So, you've worn them 600 or so times in 1-1/2 years?" Now this was back when shoes were shoes - USA and Italian with a few good South American manufacturers (Italian ExPats) thrown in. Fast forward - the wading boots I like best, I wear the most, and they wear out a lot sooner than the other pairs. And the more days I fish, the sooner they will wear out. My boots were lasting forever back during the four year drought.

Before the skiff, I bet I wore the same boots 95-percent of the time for about 120 days a year. Now I fly fish barefoot 100-percent of the time, until my feet burn (yes, I know Bob Marley had skin cancer on his toe). So I am looking for good deck shoes instead!

That said, I do think a "sleeper" comes along ever so often - a boot that has a great price, great function and by happenstance lasts a long time. They are so rare though.

I looked at them but they were way too low on the leg and too high on the price for me. I
prefer a "high top" for wading.

For wet wading, I went with the Cabella's which comes up several inches higher on the leg and costs about $50. The coral reefs on Christmas Island absolutely chew up boots(sandels are completely out of the question as are the typical flats booties) and I'm very happy to report my Cabella's have been good for two trips there plus other uses...so that choice was a good one for me. When you put the Simms gravel guard on over them and wear the Simms wading sock, one can literally go all day, every day on the worst coral the Earth has to offer.

For cold water wading, I've had the Simms G4 boa for several years now. I was concerned at first about the Boa lace system as to whether or not it would hold up in the tough conditions in Alaska...but the concern was misplaced. They have been absolutely perfect...and the thing I like best about them is they are very easy to get on and off even over the waders. That's an important concern to me in cold water situations. They have absolutely been worth the price.

Thanks for the review, especially the review on the Boa lace system. I hear alot of negative's about that system, But I personally have never had a problem with mine and love them for the exact reasons you stated! Thank you!