Description

The new for 2026 Patagonia River Salt Wading Boots II feature Vibram Megagrip anti-slip, non marking soles for traction in fresh and saltwater. Durable and lightweight abrasion resistant Cordura nylon mesh uppers are quick drying, tough and still lighter than virtually every other saltwater specific wading boot on the market.

We got a chance to test the new Patagonia River Salt II wading boot for 2 weeks straight at Christmas Island this January. The boot was nothing short of excellent. The weight of the boot is the first thing that surprised me, much light than the older model from Patagonia and the new Simms models available today. The new River Salt is easy to get in and out of. Included with your boots are two sets of laces, a quick slide toggle that tucks away under a flap on the tongue, and a conventional set of laces. We used both lace set ups and they worked very well. An adjustable ankle strap ensures a snug closure at the top collar and prevents the majority ( not all, nothing does ) sand and pebbles from entering the boot. The new River Salt is much more narrow than the previous model. It fits much more like a hiking boot than a standard wading boot. I am a 10.5 and wore a 1.5mm neoprene sock from Backcountry Skins and a size 10 River Salt. If I had worn a more conventional 3.5mm wading sock I would have moved to an 11.

Other notes: River Salt Wading Boots II are made in Italy, they weight 39oz and soles with accept studs. I was very impressed with how quick these boots dried. Its always a pain to lug back wet wading boots from a trip, the new River Salt dried out quickly in the sun and although not completely dry they did much better than other boots I have worn in the past. These boots are comfortable enough to wear on the bow of a flats boot or on a super long hike into the backcountry of New Zealand.