As anglers, we often look to new lures, rods and other tackle to make our passion for fishing more enjoyable. Rarely do we think of how important our feet are to our overall experience when out on the water.
For the past couple of years, Simms has been updating and redefining current product lines such as the G3 and Challenger series. The previous Pursuit Shoe was a Gore-Tex wet-wading shoe that was released over 10 years ago. This new version is designed to be fast, grippy and versatile to meet the demands of the modern angler. After putting the Simms Pursuit Shoe through rivers, back trails and on boat decks, I am ready to share my experiences with these shoes.
INITIAL IMPRESSION
I will start by saying Simms footwear never really gave me much excitement. Previous shoes they released seemed like generic foam soled shoes with holes for drainage. The Pursuit shoe did pique my interest, as it seemed to be designed and built from the ground up but, not enough for me to pull the trigger. The last nudge for me to try the Pursuit Shoe was Joe Albanese, editor-in-chief of Wired2Fish, asking me if I was interested in reviewing the shoe.
Simms markets the Pursuit Shoe as a hybrid wet-wading / on-deck shoe. Given the shoe is designed for barefoot use, wearing the shoe with socks could warrant sizing up a half size. I find I fit most footwear at size 10.5 – 11, depending on brand. Using the recommendation from the Simms website, I sized up a half size in order to accommodate wearing socks. Although functional, I should have gotten the 10.5. Unless you have wide feet or wear very thick socks, order true to size.
COMFORT
Arguably the most important factor when choosing a pair of shoes is comfort. The Simms Pursuit Shoe is surprisingly comfortable. I initially thought the seams of the shoe would rub on my foot, causing blisters. The seams of the shoe are well placed and flat to mitigate abrasion. This is especially important while wading, as skin tends to be more tender while wet.
I do need to add that I do not like wearing any footwear without socks. Yes, I am that weirdo that wears socks with sandals. Most of my testing with the Pursuit Shoe was wearing socks, which mitigates most stitching or other imperfections that could be present. For the sake of doing a complete review, I did test the Pursuit Shoe barefoot while dry and wet to give myself enough experience with the shoe to share. I never found my foot to be uncomfortable and although I still prefer socks, people who do not have an obsession with clean feet such as myself will find wearing the Pursuit shoe without socks will be quite comfortable.
Standing for long hours on the deck of a boat can be downright brutal. Long-term comfort is dependent on support rather than plush cushion. The Pursuit Shoe has a semi-dense midsole for shock absorption, with the real magic being the insole. The arch support is fantastic and the breathability in the insole allows for all day comfort. A true test of not only the Pursuit Shoe but, also my reluctance to take a day off from fishing and update my boat, is operating a non-recessed trolling motor pedal. Seems like a small issue but, the uneven standing can cause back pain and aching in the feet after a long day of fishing. The Simms Pursuit shoe made long days on the water enjoyable and kept me focused on putting in LOOOONG sessions on isolated submerged trees for crappie. I do not have Spot-Lock or any sort of auto-positioning system on my trolling motor so, if I want to fish isolated structure in high winds, I have to be constantly on the trolling motor. I felt far less discomfort on these long days than I have with more plush footwear I have previously used.
Wet wading was oddly comfortable in the Pursuit Shoe. I’m used to using stockingfoot waders with wading boots, the free feeling of the Pursuit Shoe was a great change of pace and a good way to beat the summer heat. I can now see myself wet wading for short trips in shallow streams. With the shoe drying pretty fast, it shouldn’t set me back too much if I decide I need to kill some time with an impromptu fishing trip. I did feel some excess water moving inside the shoe but, I think that was due to the slightly roomy fit from me ordering the wrong size. Even with being a half size too big, I found the Pursuit Shoe to be a joy to use and never gave me any issues. The lacing system is secure and distributes pressure well across the length of the shoe. Even after stepping in a few muck holes, I never felt the shoe lose its grasp on my foot.
GRIP
Simms employed a flat honeycomb-style rubber outsole as the base of the Pursuit Shoe. The lugs of the outsole are not deep but, are designed to provide traction in a wide range of environments. To further support this claim, Simms incorporated micro-siping to the lugs of the outsole to enhance articulation while allowing the outsole to adapt to a broad range of surfaces.
Wet-wading is something I was dreading to test with the Pursuit Shoe. Being the type of person that wears shoes to the beach, I do not like having wet or sandy feet. The spring-fed streams this far up north are quite chilly and areas I fish are generally mixed with mud and a healthy amount of mosquitoes as well. After a couple of humid 85 degree days, it was as good a time as any to dip my toes in the water for some wet wading.
Stepping into the water, I immediately noticed the grip. Being mid-summer, the algae was in full bloom and the honeycomb patterned outsole clung to the rocks with ease. After gaining more confidence in the grip, I began to walk faster and with less intention into each step. This led to more time with my eyes aiming for my next cast and less time watching where my next step had to be.
As a deck shoe, the sticky grip from wet wading directly translated to fishing on a boat. Around where I live, a good number of great fishing lakes do not have a dock. This means loading at the ramp sometimes requires a more intimate approach to secure your boat. The Pursuit Shoe held steady as I walked along the smooth, wet trailer in order to secure the boat.
The Pursuit Shoe drains water rather quickly with the use of many well thought out drain ports and the use of a perforated insole. My feet were dry about 45-minutes after submerging my feet. I never did get that “waterlogged” feeling during the time it took to dry. Going from loading the boat to hopping into the cab of the truck brought minimal water, leaving most of it at the lake where it belongs.
DURABILITY
Being a slightly softer rubber outsole, Simms prioritized performance over durability. I am not saying the outsole is not durable, as I have been using the Pursuit Shoe as a daily shoe for the entire time I owned them. Don’t get me wrong, I think they will last but, as anglers have a rod for every technique, having one pair and of shoes to cover all types of fishing isn’t too much of a reach.
I think of the durability of these shoes in terms of hours instead of miles. For most people, the Simms Pursuit Shoe is going to be used for standing on the deck of a boat or doing treks wading through shallow streams, neither of which are terribly abrasive on the outsole.
Wearing of the sole appeared odd to me during my testing. It wore slightly faster than a typical shoe but, not at an alarming rate. After the initial wear period, the micro-siping became more apparent and I was able to get a closer look at how the Pursuit Shoe was able to keep my foot planted on a wide range of surfaces.
My main concern for durability initially was seams where the lacing system connects to the shoe. I have not witnessed any pulling of seams or other issues for structural integrity while testing the Pursuit Shoe. The insole and other parts of the shoe have not shown any signs of wear either.
LIMITATIONS
Not often can I not find something “wrong” with an item, as I am the type of person to give honest feedback when asked if something tastes good. Using the Simms Pursuit Shoe within its intended uses, I found the shoe to exceed my expectations in any environment I tested them in. Although the ankle support is better than expected, I wouldn’t choose this shoe for navigating tricky technical terrain.
As a daily casual shoe, The Pursuit Shoe is not going to really bring you what it has to offer. If you spend a long portion of your day standing, these shoes could serve you well. Other than that, the Pursuit Shoe can easily transition from the boat to a trip for dinner and drinks just fine.
VERDICT: RECOMMEND
During my testing, I brought the Pursuit Shoe literally over the river and through the woods. I’ve taken them picking blueberries, walking the dog and of course, many hours on the deck of a boat. The quick-drying, breathable and comfortable attributes of the Pursuit Shoe kept me going on days that I probably would have had to take a few more breaks though-out the day. I am not saying this lead to me catching more fish but, the more time my lure is in the water, the better the chance I catch fish.
At first, I thought the $139.95 price tag was a bit steep for the Simms Pursuit Shoe. After getting time on the boat and in the water with them, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a sleek river wading shoe or to people who spend long days standing on a boat deck. Now that my testing is complete, I will use the Pursuit Shoe more for fishing and less for casual wear in order to keep the sole going for many years to come.
