Simms Alumibyte cleats...

[notellem creek]

Originally Posted by Cachanded

Been there done that....not bad, but the alumibites are truly exceptional. I suspect they will wear down fairly quickly though...

+1 I fish a lot and these were a big waste of money... I got maybe 12-15 long days out of them and once they wear down they are slicker then not wearing studs. when they are fresh though they are crazy good! killer studs for someone who is only going to fish a hadfull of times a year.

[xgolfman]

I've had mine on all winter and now summer...I originally took them off to save them but after a trip or two put um on and left um on...they still have a fair amount of metal left and still work well...

Of all the junk i've stuck in the bottom of my boots, these have lasted way longer then the spikes or studs..

[lsteinb]

No; not you big guy! Talking about the studs in your boots. Lots of guides
ban these from their boats faster than a stalk of bananas. Try this solution -
--Shoe In Over Boot Stud Covers - available from Orvis for $35.
Stay safe out there folks,
lsteinb

[tpak]

Are the Alumibite cleats boat friendly? They look a lot more boat friendly than the Simms hardbite cleats or studs or other studded bottom boots I have seen. Patagonia markets its new boots with the aluminum bars as being boat friendly.

Or do the aluminum cleats become jagged as they wear down?

[xgolfman]

mine are not jagged...but the only boat I go on is my toon and I've got a little captain in me..

[ozswitch]

iv used the hard bite star cleats and didnt have any probs in NZ, that being said the river i used them on was not snotty at all.
How long are u finding they last when u say they dont last long?
I would like to try them on the south island NZ which is proper snotty in some rivers but not if they are done and dusted in one session! lol

[NVswitch]

My aluminum star cleats lasted a year. I have just replaced them. I really feel they work great even though they needed replacement. Think about the Patagonia aluminum bar wading shoes. otherwise the simms are the way to go.
For drift boats, get a heavy rubber or straw door mat at a hardware store to place under your cleats in the boat.

[highlander2]

They are awsome! also have had the pleasure of testing out a new rubber compound from Simms that seems to work on the snottiest of surfaces. True test will be the N. Umpqua in the next few weeks with out cleats...... yikes, that seems a little scary but I am gonna try it but I am bringin the cleats along for back up.

[YAMMY-CA]

I use a combination of Alumabite cleats and the Hardbite Simms cleats on my boots-I pkg of each.I weigh around 250 as well and fish the Thompson-My alumacleats last longer because of the addition of the hardbite cleats. and the gripping power of both on the Thompson is incredible[as it can be]
a bit expensive as the alumacleats are about 30 bucks and the hardbites about 40 bucks-i have not tried them on flts as screws might be different.they{SIMMS} make hardspikes but if you notice the ones for felt are labbeled as such and the ones for Vibral soles are labelled as such so I suspect the screws are different??/

[sisyphusmpn]

Brian,

Good luck on the North Umpqua! I just got back from several days fishing there with vibram soles and Simms star cleats and never again - under any circumstances - will I use rubber soles on that river; regardless of the type of cleats that might be affixed. That rubber negates any grip your studs/cleats/aluminum bars might otherwise provide on that basalt.

I never really appreciated the expression "greased bowling balls" before. I certainly do now. I went down more than once and on one occasion could not get up as the boots would provide zero purchase or friction on those rocks. And I thought the Pit was tough...

It didn't help that a lot of water was shooting through and most of the rocks that will be exposed in a few weeks were under water.

Felt & studs for me from now on on that river and I hope Oregon never puts a ban on felt. I'll save the star cleats and vibram for AK & TdF.

[moethedog]

My summer boots (mostly on the NU) are felt AND the a. Great combo. I can get a whole season out of the Alumabites.

For winter fishing on our coastal streams I used rubber soled Redingtons and Alumebites. Generally added some shett metal screws, but didn't need them.

Again, my Alumibites lasted all winter.

A great product.

moe