Cold Waters 115g — Trainer

We put the Cold Waters 115g Trainer through three months of abuse on the Deschutes River, the San Juan, and a muddy carp pond. Here is everything you need to know about the lightest wading boot on the planet. Let’s start with the obvious: the name. The "115g" in the title is not a model number; it is the actual weight. Clocking in at just 115 grams (4.05 ounces) per boot, the Cold Waters Trainer is lighter than most running shoes. For context, a standard felt-soled wading boot often weighs between 750g and 1,100g.

The HydroGrip-7 rubber is soft. If you are used to hard Vibram soles, this feels almost gummy. That is intentional. Soft rubber deforms to the microscopic texture of algae-covered rock, providing friction where hard soles slip. Performance Testing: The Good, The Bad, and The Rocky 1. The Wading Experience (The "Wet Sock" Factor) Because these boots are 115g, they do not have thick liners. You must wear a neoprene wading sock or thick merino crew sock with them. If you try to wear them barefoot, the drainage mesh will feel like sandpaper. cold waters 115g trainer

[Disclaimer: We may earn a commission if you purchase via links, but we only recommend gear we actually use.] We put the Cold Waters 115g Trainer through

A: Yes. Rubber soles are legal everywhere felt is banned (Maryland, Missouri, New Zealand, etc.). The "115g" in the title is not a

Incredible. You forget you are wearing boots. Long hikes into the canyon that used to require a break every mile are now easy. Your legs fatigue less because you aren't lifting a pound of lead with every step. 2. Traction on Slippery Rock We tested the Cold Waters 115g against the standard industry heavyweights. On dry rock, all boots are equal. On wet, bowling-ball-smooth basalt, the HydroGrip-7 rubber performed at 90% of traditional felt.

Furthermore, because the boot breaks down into only three material types (foam, rubber, mesh), it is fully recyclable via the Cold Waters "Return to Stream" program. Send them back, get 20% off your next pair. No. It is a paradigm shift.

However, the lightness is not cheap plastic. The EVA foam midsole is dense and responsive. Squeezing the sides reveals surprising torsional rigidity considering the lack of a steel shank. The mesh is aggressive—you can see through it—but feels like ballistic nylon rather than mosquito netting.