Manufacturer: Simms Fishing Products

Product: Harbor GTX Shoe

Retail Price: $159.95

Tester: Jim Bryan-Kanda

Rating: 4/5 - A great casual shoe by Simms that stood the ultimate test...walking my dog during Denver's most recent deluge.

Date Tested: 05/11/11 and 05/12/12

Test Area: Denver's urban landscape.

What They Say:

These shoes are specifically designed for anglers so I figured they would be great on the bow of my bass boat or hanging out in the Lodge after floating the river. The bonus is that I can also wear them while running errands, or throwing the horses a flake of hay... these casual shoes keep me dry, and feel great all day long.

• GORE-TEX® seam-sealed inner booties offer breathability while retaining complete waterproof protection
• Rugged waterproof Nubuck leather
• Non-marking Vibram® outsole features a unique combination of perimeter trail lugs and inner marine lugs with micro-channel sipes
• Dual density midsole, harder in heel and softer in the forefoot for great comfort, cushion and support
• OrthoLite® memory foam sockliner offers superior cushioning for added comfort
• Low height for easy on/off or warmer weather
• Offered in men's whole sizes: 8-13; Half-sizes 9.5, 10.5, 11.5
• Width: D

What We Say:

I have a very lucky pooch, not only do we play ball regularly at the park, go fishing or even ski on occassion, but also, he gets a daily jaunt through the neighborhoods of downtown Denver.  With the recent deluge we've experienced over these past few days, I had no option but to hang up the flip flops and give a workout to my new Simms Harbor Gore-Tex Shoes.  Simms is synonymous with high quality waders and boots, and Gore-Tex is a brand that is recognized as being the benchmark that all other waterproof materials are measured against.  So as Simms has done on numerous occassions, they've melded the Gore-Tex fabric, its name and recognition into a new and fantastic product offering.  Footwear. 

Out of the box I was extremely impressed.  High quality waterproof Nubuck leather was uniformly stitched together, with reinforcements along the heel and toe box.  A smaller sized toe bumper provides added durability without adding too much weight.  All sitting atop a sticky non-marking Vibram sole that is siped for added grip when things get wet. 

On my feet they feel light, supportive and extremely comfortable.  My only gripe is that my foot is rather narrow, so the D width makes things feel a bit sloppy.  I tried the size 10 on, but it was a bit short...I went with the 10.5 despite the added "slop".  Having put approximately 6 miles on these babies over these past two rainy days, my feet have remained completely dry and extremely comfortable.  I would recommend these shoes to the individual looking for a high quality casual shoe that looks equally impressive on the bow of a boat as they do strolling your pooch down mainstreet.  Simms has done it again.  They've taken their time and created a fantastic offering in footwear realm.

Last Minute Thoughts:

I wish they came a bit narrower and the shoe laces don't stay tied, even with a meticulously tied double knot.