Korkers new Stealth Sneaker is a hybrid of the wading shoes we’ve seen grow in popularity lately and the tried-and-true wading boots we’ve used for decades. It’s also the single most unique piece of wading gear I’ve ever reviewed, and far and away the most comfortable.
Back in my middle school/junior high days, I tried to get into skateboarding. I never could figure out a kickflip, and the only good thing from that phase was the shoes. Skate shoes are comfortable, and when I first tried on the Stealth Sneaker, that’s exactly what I was reminded of. If you’ve ever worn skate shoes before, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Your feet are loose enough to move and flex as you walk, but secure enough you’re not in danger of slipping and tripping over yourself.
The Stealth Sneaker is part of Korkers’ new Wade Lite collection, and I definitely see a place for these boots in my permanent rotation, especially at their $149.99 price point.
These boots aren’t intended to replace the bomber-style River Ops, or other similar beefy boot options. Heavy-duty footwear like that has a time and a place. What the Stealth Sneaker offers is an outstanding experience for the times when you’re not thigh-deep in a salmon river, or stumbling over car-sized boulders chasing steelhead.
What Works
Weight and Comfort
As part of the Wade Lite collection, the goal with the Stealth Sneaker is to provide a great wading experience in as light a package as possible. They clock in at 2.2 pounds per pair, which is significantly less than the 3 pounds, 6 ounces per pair of the River Ops BOA boots.
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My good fishing buddy Alex bought the Stealth Sneakers the same time that my pair showed up and we used them for the first time while fishing together here in Wyoming. The first words out of our mouths, almost simultaneously, were “Holy crap, these boots are light.”
You almost don’t feel them as you’re walking. It’s like wearing a pair of tennis shoes. The fit is snug enough that you feel stable and secure, but loose enough that your feet can flex and react to uneven surfaces.
These are the first pair of wading boots I’ve worn that aren’t awful for driving in.
Traction
I didn’t expect the Stealth Sneaker to give me the same level of traction and stability I get from Korkers’ River Ops boots. However, I was pleasantly surprised at just how grippy and stable these boots were, especially on my local creek. The stream by my house is steep pocket water flowing over large boulders, so it’s not easy wading. The Stealth Sneakers were more than up to the job, however, and certainly made the long walk from my truck to the river more enjoyable.
The Stealth Sneaker uses the same Kling-On Rock outsole you’ll find on the Chrome Lite boots, and Korkers does sell an optional Xtra-Bite carbide screw-in cleat set for added traction. I’d recommend buying those, as adding them to my Stealth Sneakers really upped their traction. It adds a tiny bit of weight, but not enough to be noticeable.
Durability
For $149.99, these boots feel sturdier than I expected. The Stealth Sneaker is designed to be as light as possible, so many of the durability features you’ll find on costlier boots aren’t present. There are no molded toe caps, or a rugged exoskeleton.
You do get metal eyelets for the laces, reinforced with a sturdier leather-like material, and that same material is found in the heel cup and top cap, to prevent abrasion on the fabric that makes up most of the boot. Korkers calls this a “ballistic seamless loom technology” fabric that delivers abrasion resistance, and from my experience, it does.
I’ve put these boots through the wringer on long hikes through the backcountry, steep descents in narrow canyons, and wading boulder-strewn rivers with heavy current. They don’t show any signs of falling apart, all the seams are intact, and even the laces have held up well. I don’t expect to get hundreds of hard-use days out of them, but again, that’s not what they’re designed for. These are the boots of choice for long days trekking through meadows in the mountains, or after-work sessions on the local creek.
What Doesn’t Work
Longer Laces Please
I’ve come back around to enjoying lace closures on my boots (BOA is certainly more convenient, but I’ve found laces fit my feet better), but these ones just don’t offer enough adjustment. A longer set of laces—round instead of flat—would likely secure my feet a bit more, and stay in place longer. Perhaps raising the boot another half-inch in height, and adding one more row of eyelets, could help as well, but I’m not sure how much weight that would add.
Final Word
Wading boots have been largely derivative for years, and new ones felt like retreads of other designs. Korkers’ Stealth Sneaker is the first one I’ve used that’s felt new, and I applaud Korkers for going out on this limb. They’re light, agile, and perfect for the vast majority of trout fishing, especially up in the high country. I wouldn’t hesitate to use the Stealth Sneaker on the majority of my favorite rivers, since they offer plenty of traction and stability.
It’s hard to overstate just how comfortable and light these boots are. They’re the first boot I could realistically think about wearing for hours-long hikes without my feet instantly hurting at the idea.
It's also worth nothing that, for beginners who are looking to start on a budget, at $149.99, it’s hard for me to think of another boot I’d recommend first.
Spencer Durrant is the Content Director for Ventures Fly Co., the News Editor for MidCurrent, and a columnist for Hatch Magazine. He hosts the weekly Untangled Podcast, and currently lives in Wyoming with his wife and dog.
