First Impressions

Redington revamped the bulk of their wading boot line up this year, adding the Skagit, Palix and Willow River products. The Skagit represents the company’s top of the line and is available in both Redington’s proprietary Sticky Rubber and felt. I opted to try the Sticky Rubber for this test.

Out of the box, the boots look aggressive and well built, of a quality that you rarely find at their relatively bargain MSRP of $99.

Features

Like most boots in this category, Redington constructs the Skagit from synthetic fabrics. The upper is a combination of synthetic mesh for breathability and drainage, a octagonal patterned nylon and synthetic leather. The lower section of the boot just above the sole is wrapped in rubber for durability. Additional rubber wraps the heel.

Underfoot, you’ll find Redington’s special Sticky Rubber compound molded into an aggressive lug pattern of interconnected circles and crosses. Studs – should you decide you need them – can be readily placed inside the circles.

Embedded in the rubber are ground up walnut shells for extra bite.

Specs:
Upper: Synthetic with rubber rand and toe cap
Sole: Sticky rubber with crushed walnut shells
Weight: 3 lb per pair

In-stream and stream-side performance of the sole was good. The lug pattern gripped well on the approaches, over rocks, sand and mud. The Sticky Rubber did a decent job holding in the wet. It was a little hard to tell how much difference the walnut shells made but, in general, the Skagit inspired more wading confidence than others in the category.

Fit

Like all wading boots, the Skagits are built on a wide last. The Skagits are not nearly as oversized as the L.L. Bean Gray Ghost boots (also in this test) so may be a better choice for those with a normal to narrow foot. Again, don’t be surprised if one size smaller than normal works better than your usual street shoe size.

As with most shoes, I adjusted the fit of the Skagits with use of an aftermarket insole or two depending on what I had on my foot – waders, booties, socks, etc. The lacing system is pretty standard and did allow for a good solid fit.

Final Verdict

Nice boot. Good price. I like the package Redington assembled in the Skagit. The Sticky Rubber worked well both on and off the stream. The construction and fit definitely rival much more expensive products. Recommended.

First Impressions:
[Rating:4.5/5] Features:
[Rating:4.5/5] Fit:
[Rating:4/5] Final Verdict:
[Rating:4.5/5]

Thanks for reading another outdoor gear review from GearGuide. And thanks to Redington and Backbone Media for providing product for this review. Written by Matt K.