Let me preface this with I’m new to the fly fishing world and I just bought my first set of waders (Orvis ultralight.)

I went to my local backpacker shop to find the right wading boot to match with this and god, they are all insanely heavy and the sole on all of them is basically an inch thick and immobile. I went in almost 90% sure I’d walk out with a pair of Korkers due to the changeable soles but I would barely keep my balance walking in those stiff ass boots. I have no idea how I’m supposed to keep traction on slimy shale if I can’t “feel” the bottom through my shoe.

I hike in Altra Lone Peak 4’s with arch support insoles so I guess I’m used to a gummy sole in the toes where I can flex and quickly reposition myself for balance when hiking. I feel being in a river I would want that extra flexibility even more but it feels like every shoe I tried on has a steel plate in the sole.

I think I’m going to go with Simms Flyweights since they were the most similar to normal hiking boots but I just wonder what vital info I’m missing here because it just seems wrong for shoes to be that desensitizing to me.