tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32835299.post6976082093564594034..comments2023-12-19T10:31:06.839-06:00Comments on The Trout Zone: Gear Review: Chota RockLoc BootsDavid Knapphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12480485571834164857noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32835299.post-30385769167595350312009-05-23T00:36:27.775-05:002009-05-23T00:36:27.775-05:00I've been a fan of Chota products. I have a pair ...I've been a fan of Chota products. I have a pair of their STL boots that I love. Last week, I purchased the RockLoc boot thinking that, like other Chota products, they were well thought-out........wrong. My first outing was to a freestone mountain stream in central Pennsylvania this weekend. These boots, like my STL's, were very comfortable to hike in, and fit well. However, they performed miserably in water. I wasn't even in a "greasy" stream and I was slipping and sliding with nearly every step. I didn't expect them to be as good as felt soles but this was lousy performance. After a half-hour, I gave up. The traction wasn't any better than wearing tennis shoes. I hiked back to my car and changed boots to something with a reasonable grip. I was very disappointed. I expected more from Chota. I can't even imagine how poorly they would be on a steelhead trip. These boots are getting tossed in the junk pile.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32835299.post-16832326692285649242009-02-28T09:58:00.000-06:002009-02-28T09:58:00.000-06:00I have to say that I basically agree with you on t...I have to say that I basically agree with you on this one. As Daniel at Little River Outfitters pointed out, the rest of the boot still has cloth and other materials that absorb water and don't dry as quickly. It does not really solve the problem unfortunately. It would be nice if science could start answering the question of how to deal with the various invasive species because while prevention is the best solution, there will always be a few people not doing their part...David Knapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12480485571834164857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32835299.post-49846192511836315322009-02-28T08:44:00.000-06:002009-02-28T08:44:00.000-06:00Good review David. Sticky rubber is definitely a ...Good review David. Sticky rubber is definitely a viable outsole option and it has it's benefits but when it comes to felt, I feel as though the rhetoric has been off the mark. <BR/><BR/>Felt definitely has the ability to harbor single celled diatoms like Didymo but NZ mudsnails are hitchhikers and ride along on the surfaces or in crevices of any boot regardless of outsole type. I personally aspire to the mantra - Clean, Inspect and Dry to be safe. There are also clear disinfection perscriptions which can rid felt and other gear of aquatic hitchhikers. Carrying capacity applies to more than just your footwear. Minute organisms can be stored in gravel guards, laces and even flies. <BR/><BR/>Keep in mind that some anglers may spend a week on a single river. They aren't hopping form water body to water body. Wouldn't felt be OK for that situation? What about all the felt boots that people already own? Do they need to trash them? There seems to be a lot of confidence that eliminating felt will take care of the problem of invasives. I'm not so confident. I believe in choice and that an educated angler who understands when disinfection is necessary can wear whatever they trust.El Pescadorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08493288515588564941noreply@blogger.com