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Korkers Wraptr question

5K views 20 replies 17 participants last post by  Jason 
#1 ·
Before I drop $260 CAD on a pair, can anyone attest to their bombproofness/overall quality? Searched on here but couldn’t find any reviews of the wraptr boot specifically, and online reviews are always questionable. Any good feedback is appreciated thank you.
 
#3 ·
Well, I have been a loyal Korkers buyer for over 20 years and have stuck with them through the various changes and upgrades. I presently have 2 pairs of their newest style boots. While wading, one of the two pairs experienced what I would classify as a manufacturing default. The rear plastic knob tore loose that the rubber sole attachment latches on to. I contacted Korkers and they said the boot was "out of warranty" or something to that effect and basically offered nothing. Now, understand, I do a very limited amount of fishing and never misuse my gear. Would I buy another pair? Yes. And the reason is I think they are the best design out there. I just wish they would have done the right thing for an expensive pair of boots.
 
#5 ·
the history of korkers is built off the backs of suckers.
stop paying this firm to practice making fishing boots.

they (quite obviously) aren't very good at it.
firm should have went the way of the dodo years ago... it's these unhappy people that keep them afloat.

honestly,
shawn
 
#6 ·
DO NOT buy Korkers! Several years back I bought them and the rear plastic knob broke as well. Not once, not twice, but THREE different times. I threw them away and bought SIMMS! They broke because I wade where there are rocks, and the knob breaks from hitting a rock.
"Run Forest Run" Forest Gump. LOL
 
#7 ·
I have owned two pairs of Korkers. Had the soles tear loose of both of them. Very little fishing time on both pairs. It took a major battle to get the first pair replaced. I threw the second pair away and bought a pair of Simms G3 guide boots. After 3 years the Simms boots developed a small tear. I mentioned it to my local dealer and he said to send them back. I had a new pair of the latest version in three weeks. I’ll stick with Simms.
 
#9 ·
I am with the second pair of the Whitehorse. Not what you are asking for, but the system is the same. And the system is where the problems are ! The shoes themselves are very light and would be comfortable with conventional laces and with glued soles.

To be honest, I wouldn’t buy another pair. Not only one reason - several:
- Broken laces. On the first pair, the laces broke two times, on the second after short use once. Not funny to stumble back to the car in the night with broken laces, I can tell you...
- The thin laces are cutting through the material.
- The metal laces are only anchored on one place and are freely moving. No differentiation in lower or higher pressure to the feet. For good ankle support in a wading boot we need higher pressure in the upper part without too much pressure in the lower parts. It’s only possible with conventional laces, more and different anchor points.
The Boa system is fine for skiing and the stiff skiing boots, but definitely not for softer shoes to which wading boots belong to, also exposed to sand and gravel and everything out while fishing.
- The changeable sole system is also not funny, when wading in mud. You need a lot more power to bring the feet out again, because mud is between shoe and soles additional. In consequence I lost one sole while sunken deep into mud in slow water, but was happy I came out without lost of rod or life. To be fair, that happened only once, but it was enough.
- Useless and dangerous rubber soles for wading (the ones they are delivered with). Maybe good for walking, to safe the felt soles. If one likes to carry interchangeable soles, replacement kit - and willing to take the time for the changing process between walking and fishing... If not, the rubber soles stay mostly unused and are a completely unnecessary lost of resources and will end with the boots in the rubbish container.
- Felt soles wear down all too fast. Not only because they are thinner than any other felt soles on other boots, but they need to be thrown away as soon (better before !!!) the outer edges of the hard plastic under the felt gets into touch with the ground ! If one waits too long, it’s like skiing, believe me !
No problem at all on any other conventional boots with felt attached to the lower sole parts, mostly made of soft material.

I do some sports and mountain hiking and know what’s needed in a good boot for comfort, protection and safety.
If one wants an easy in and out boot for not the toughest of fishing it’s okay. Be prepared with the Boa replacement kit. I bought two replacement laces and got the third from Boa company free of charge after only a short E-Mail. Unluckily it was the wrong length (too short)...
I can’t say anything good or bad about the service of Korkers, because I didn’t try. But what should they do? The problems described are system immanent and hard to solve. Even if they are generous with a new pair after a warranty case in exchange one gets the same problems again.

I use the second and last pair as my „evening jump only“-boot for trout fishing at a nearby river with easy access, but don’t take it with me for serious fishing, salmon fishing and any sort of longer excursions. If something happens after some wear with conventional laces, it can be seen, not with the metal laces. In case of a breakage conventional laces are changed at the water within minutes and on it goes. Also not that easy with the Boa system.

I didn’t try every wading boot and label on the market, but after 30 years of trial and error with other labels I came to some pairs of Simms boots and didn’t have many complaints. After some other models I am in the third pair of the old G3 model. I got some pairs in reserve of this old model because I couldn’t wear the new model of the G3 with it’s hard and stiff hard plastic edges exactly on the ankles. But every foot is different. Try before you buy in the office or at home !

For serious fishing I wouldn’t recommend the Korkers and Boa. And for every other label or boot model, one have to try for individual fit. Every model is different within one label.

Hope this was some help.
Safe walking and wading !
 
#11 ·
I hate mine. First pair from this company last pair from this company. I’ve had the felt soles tear off and come loose on the toes and heels both. Yes they have replaceable soles and they have lasted three outings On the first ones. The last one to come unglued was two hours in the water. They look like great boots. They are not.
 
#12 ·
I had a pair of Korkers and will never buy another. They're crap. Of course you could pay $549 dollars for a pair of Patagonia Foot Tractor boots. The boots are made by Danner, so they're probably bomb-proof. But $549?! No thanks. Patagonia's aluminum bars grip better than anything I've tried. For winter steelheading I use Patagonia River Crampons on my boot foot waders, and they're great. But when it comes to spring, summer and fall wading boots I'm sticking with Simms. They've never disappointed me.
 
#13 ·
I like my Wraptr boa's a lot. They are the first one to figure out the BOA that fits comfortably. Interchangeability of sole is nice. I would say the quality is the same as a set of g3's. I also have amazingly good Simms customer service stories, but for now I wear my Wraptrs once Im out of bootfoots. Everything I need in a boot.
 
#14 ·
Wow, so many negative response. what is going on Korkers.
I bought the lower end Simms wading boots. After a season, the felt is almost gone, one broke lace though the boots remain in good shape.
So I bought a pair of korkers. I find the felt wears slower than simms boot. I also bought steel studs sole to fish the world slippery Thompson river. The boot need more time to test out though.
 
#15 ·
My experience with Korker's is limited to one pair, I had the same problem that has been mentioned of having the felt tear loose after only a couple of trips. The loose felt could have been easily fixed but I also found the boots narrow, I should explain that I have a high instep and somewhat wide feet and the only boot that fits me is Simm's. Obviously the narrow could not be fixed so I sold the boots.
 
#18 ·
I ended up buying their Vion boots cause I found em at a screaming deal the other day. Hodgman has never done me dirty. Will report back on their functionality but they seem like a better option overall...
 
#17 ·
So I had a set of Wraptrs with the laces (mother in law got me a flyshop gift card for my Bday last August and I liked the idea of changing soles)...really comfortable. Studded felt soles work fine but had to be replaced twice within a 6 month time frame. The felts seems pretty thin and is glued on to the replaceable soles...when it gets too thin, it starts peeling back. I sent an email inquiry to Korkers regarding this and they offered to send me 2 pairs of studded felt soles.

I also noticed that the Wraptrs toe bumper had started separating from the toe box (less than 6 months of use) and sent a picture to the Korker's customer service. They mentioned that the Wraptrs are being redesigned but they would send me a comparable pair which they did within a few days. Those are what I am wearing now.

Customer service was no hassle...they were the ones to offer new soles and boots (I was just inquiring since I noticed that their marketing mentioned "durabality" of this particular boot).

Boots and soles seems to work great for me...the "durability" needs further testing.
 
#19 ·
I have had a lot of experience with Korkers. Pro's - comfort, lightness, changeable soles. Cons: durability. I have owned about 7 pairs over the past 10 years. The uppers have tended to delaminate. I have broken a number of the backstraps which hooks to the peg on the interchangeable sole. I have broken the peg to which the backstop hooks. I have pulled the eyelet out of one of the shoe laceholders, several of the boa wire retainers have failed (a problem with boa that you don't want to confront on a wilderness trip, but is serviceable), and my puppy chewed the tongue on one of my boots (also not a defect).

Customer service from the company is good. Innovation is excellent. I just have a problem with getting more than two seasons out of a pair. Just my experience.
 
#20 ·
Past two years I have used the Korker Devil Canyon boots wading about 4 months per total per year. The ease of getting them on and off using the Boa system sold me after watching my partner simply step in an out of them while I struggled with my laces. Each time I suit up and remove my gear, I appreciate the effortless process. Must say this is due to bending over at my age an also the shape of my “midsection” after layering up in waders.

However, my buddy has had a Boa malfunction in his use after 4 years. One needs a special tool to take off the knob of the boot, or it will not come off. Helping him by kneeling in front to unscrew his Boa brought me some funny looks on the gravel bar last year. He also lost a felt sole bushwhacking. I have not had any issues, but do have a spare Boa replacement kit and of course carry the special disassembly tool.

Regarding soles, I have always used Korker over shoe studs. Especially when there is any current at all. Easy to leave on boots with the Boa system. A thing which laces do not permit. I rinse off the boots and Boa system well after each outing. Felt soles are very thin and have worn. I may glue some thick felt over them like we did in the old days to rubber boot fit waders. So far so good with Korkers.
 
#21 ·
Interesting opinions on Korkers. I’ve gone through a number of them personally, and I certainly wouldn’t call them “bomb proof”, but neither would I consider “junk” a fair description. For me, the comfort is tops and I do utilize the variety of soles they offer. Probably not a big factor for some, but I’ve definitely appreciated having a few different sole options depending on whether I am boat fishing, wet wading the north Umpqua, or hiking in/out of a canyon. They’ve held up ok to a lot of use and abuse for me, mostly...

The real issues I’ve had were the plastic knob tearing out from the back, or the hole on the rubber strap that attaches to the knob tearing out. I recently had a pair of the newer “Tripple Threat” soles that had the rubber strap fail, so I contacted Customer service about the issue. I mentioned that it seems like there is too much stretch put on the strap, and that it seemed unnecessary to have it that tight. I mentioned that I’d also had past issues with the knob itself being pulled loose, but it had been a while. He was great to deal with, and mentioned that the way the knob is secured has been greatly improved as it was a known issue. I ended up getting replacement soles sent in less than a week: two that were under warranty, and one that was well past warranty but had plenty of life left on the soles themselves. No hassles whatsoever, honest questions regarding what was causing the issue, and very fair action to make things right. I’m good with that.

For the money, I think they are still a good deal, though I would like to see them hold up a bit better. The customer service sort of tipped the scale for me from “would probably buy another set” to “would definitely buy another”. Fit, comfort, and stability while wading are my biggest issues for picking boots and korkers have done very well on all three for me.
JB
 
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