Patagonia River Salt II Wading Boots

Perhaps oddly for a boot review, I’ll start with the lacing system because, while it doesn’t quite reach game-changing status, Patagonia deserves plenty of credit for making it so simple, fast and effective. The BOA system achieved something similar, but I’ve always wondered how easy it would be to repair a broken cable halfway through a remote trip. The River Salt II uses conventional laces with a compact locking toggle that cinches down quickly and stays put all day. If you do break a lace, carrying a spare is easy.

Better still are the elastic pockets on the tongue that tuck away the toggle and loose laces, keeping them clear of the inevitable tangles with fly line. It’s a small detail, but one I came to appreciate very quickly.

The boots themselves strike a nice balance between support and weight. There’s good ankle support, a proper arch in the removable footbed and a substantial toe box without feeling overly bulky. A durable rubber lower is paired with flexible Cordura uppers, while a generous Velcro cuff does an excellent job of keeping out sand, gravel and other debris. The Vibram soles have a distinctive tread pattern and offer very good grip across most riverbeds, although, like every Vibram sole I’ve used, they still require a little care on polished bedrock. If you regularly fish that sort of country, they can also be fitted with studs. All hardware is corrosion resistant, making the boots equally at home in fresh or saltwater.

I wore them over a long weekend on some of my favourite streams, including extended walks and a full day on the bouldery middle reaches of the Thredbo River. They proved comfortable throughout and offered enough grip to save both me—and more importantly, my camera—from an unplanned swim. Out of the water they’re equally comfortable, although the relatively stiff sole means I’d probably choose something lighter if the day involved more scrambling than fishing. Sizing was generous and I’d probably go up one size if wearing them over stockingfoot waders.

Interestingly, the boots are manufactured in Italy by Fitwell, a company better known for high-end alpine hiking and climbing footwear. That may go some way to explaining the premium price, but based on my experience with Patagonia gear over many years, it’s an investment that’s likely to be repaid in durability.