Fly Fisherman's 2025 Gear Guide Best New Wading Boot: Simms G3 BOA

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Click here to see a preview of all the 2025 Gear Guide Award Winners.

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This is the first time the Boa Lacing System has been used in any Simms G3 boot, and this just may be the best iteration of any Boa wading boot we’ve seen. The M4 Boa Lacing System has a more precise gear ratio than previous versions and makes it much easier to replace the cable system in the unlikely event one breaks. In our experience, the Boa steel cables are far more dependable than traditional laces. If you haven’t used Boa before, consider smooth, even tightening all the way to the base of your toes, and a quick release at the end of the day so you can pop your foot out quickly and easily. Simms has smartly put the dial on the outside of these boots so the top of the boot wraps around your ankle like a burrito and can close tightly at the top no matter if you are wet wading or if you have double socks underneath.

The boot uppers are made from a combination of abrasion-resistant leather, synthetic-woven, and rubber upper materials and are built with a traditional Goodyear welt construction—the strip of stitching around the perimeter—for a more durable construction.

The Vibram IdroGrip rubber outsole has Simms Traction Lug Technology—the extra angles and little teeth on the lugs deliver roughly 20% better slip resistance than regular IdroGrip. The boots have a dual-density EVA midsole for support and are neoprene lined for extra comfort. As if it wasn’t already super easy to get out of the wide opening of Boa boots, the G3 Boa boots have pull tabs front and back to make it even easier. The boots are cleat and stud compatible.

$329.95 | simmsfishing.com

To read all of the nitty gritty, field-tested reviews of new fly-fishing gear for 2025, grab a copy of Gear Guide 2025 at https://www.osgnewsstand.com/product/ff-gear-guide-2025.

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