THE Korkers Guide Boot is a wading boot designed for daily, heavy-duty use while still maintaining a high degree of comfort.
With durability in mind the boot features a thick moulded one-piece rubber rand, which incorporates the Omni-Trax 3.0 interchangeable sole system which encircles the circumference of the boot. The one-piece vamp or boot-upper features tough triple-stitching located high on the boot to minimise abrasive contact with the stream bed.
An obvious feature of the KGB’s design is the boot height. This would have to be the tallest wading boot on the market and tallness in a wading boot translates to ankle stability. The KGB achieves a high level of ankle support through a built in TPU cage, (a thermoplastic polyurethane material that possesses the properties of a hard plastic and a soft silicone), which hugs the back of the ankle to provide lateral support. A moulded 3D heel cup provides heel support.
Complementing the KGB’s high design style are lock-in lace grips which enable customised lace tensioning of the two lacing zones: toe-to-ankle and ankle-to-top-of-boot. The lower zone laces can be tensioned for optimum foot comfort and support then locked into the lace grips and then the upper zone laces tensioned to suit ankle comfort and support.
Finally perhaps the feature that Korkers is best known for is their proprietary interchangeable sole system. This third generation system is an improvement over their previous systems in two ways. First, the soles can be changed quickly on stream without the use of a fitting tool and second, the sole footprint now extends the full width of the boot providing increased traction.
Traction is provided through two sole types that come with the KGBs: a conventional felt sole and the new Vibram Idro Grip sole, which is an advanced rubber compound claimed to have a higher friction co-efficient on wet rock than any other “water” sole currently available. The new sole features an aggressive tread pattern with sharp leading edges designed to cut through thick algae and with wide top surfaces for gripping rock.
Having this adaptable traction technology is an advantage for anglers who fish a variety of environments. For anglers who might fish anywhere between the Snowy Mountains and New Zealand, the felt soles would be ideal for the former destination but out of the question for the latter, where felt is banned due to the threat posed by invasive species. Yet by simply changing sole types each environment is catered for.
While designed as a heavy duty, daily-use wading boot, the use of modern waterproof and water-shedding materials has kept the weight down. Yet surprisingly a size US11 boot weighs in at only 950 grams, making the KGB one of the lightest in the ‘Guide’ class of boots.
Contact Mayfly Tackle for your closest stockist on (03) 9899 0034
