Hey there, I’m Steven, the owner and head guide at Katmai B&B and Katmai Fishing Guides in Alaska. I recently picked up the new Simms G4 pro boots to replace my 2020 model G4s. I wanted to take the time to give you my initial thoughts on the new 2023 G4s and wrap up what I thought about the less-than-stellar 2020 model. I will be doing a full review of the new G4s after I have some time on the water with them.

Simms recently changed hands and was acquired by Vista Outdoor. You might wonder why that is relevant. Well, between 2019 and 2021, Simms fishing grew by a reported compound annual growth rate of 15% in net sales. As I will cover later in my closing thoughts on the previous 2020 G4 model, it is my opinion that they cut significant costs in their products in a successful effort to increase the bottom line prior to and during the acquisition by Vista Outdoor.

With that being said, Simms, as a brand, has been a trusted name in the fishing industry for years. Known for their high-quality fishing products, Simms has delivered a consistent quality product that is until my 2020 G4 boot experience. So we shall see if, under the new ownership, their commitment to quality and innovation returns in their latest offering, including the 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot.

Onto my initial thoughts on the new Simms G4 Pro

The 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot has some new features. Some of the new key features include:

• Integrated Powerlock Cleat System: This innovative system offers the ability to switch between rubber and aluminum cleats for traction customization. I’ll share my exact thoughts on if I think this is a good feature or a bad one.

• Waterproof Synthetic Lorenzi Scratch Leather: This material ensures the boot's long-term durability.

  • I’m glad to see less of the fabric and more abrasion-resistant material.

• Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) Cleats: These cleats come pre-installed in the boot.

  • New to Simms boots, we shall see how they hold up over prolonged use.

In the next section, we will delve deeper into these features, and things I like and don’t like about the new 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot.

Detailed Analysis of the 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot

The 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot is designed to be more than just a wading boot. Their purpose is to be a high-performance tool designed to enhance your fly-fishing experience. And in my opinion, it’s price point these boots are targeted at anglers and guides who spend as much time in the boots as out of them.

Design and Construction

The boot's design is a blend of functionality and durability. Simms combines some leather material, which they are calling “synthetic Lorenzi scratch leather,” and a rather large area of woven fabric. Which I’m not a fan of; it appears to be a cost and weight-saving measure. I value durability over all else when we are talking about boots that will see 200 days of use per year.

They have changed the eyelet design to have smoother edges and to be better positioned on the boot. One of my main complaints about the 2020 G4s was that their eyelets were too far apart and had a very sharp edge which led to premature lace failure.

Vibram continues to be the rubber on the Simms G4s which I have always been happy with, so I am glad to see that continue.

Onto the new cleat system, I am pleased to see some innovation but, there is one thing I wish that Simms had done differently.

Integrated Powerlock Cleat System

One of the standout features of the 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot is the Integrated Powerlock Cleat System. There are essentially three components to the system. The pre-formed threads are built into the sole of the Boot, the Cleats, and the wrench. Although you might ask, why is the wrench part of the system? It is because, without it, it would be tough to remove or install the cleats.

The boots ship with two sets of cleats, One made of rubber which Simms calls TPR cleats, and one set of aluminum cleats. The TPR cleats come preinstalled and can be difficult to remove from the factory. It took a bit of force to remove mine for the first time while swapping over to the aluminum cleats. After the initial removal of the cleats, it became easier to swap out between the cleats.

I said I had one problem with the cleats, and it is the tool that you need to install them. I would have preferred if they had found a way to use a more standard tool for removing the cleat. Having a non-standard tool as the means for removing or replacing the cleats means that now I need to have an extra tool with me in the field that I didn’t ask for.

Comparisons with Previous Models

Compared to the previous model, the 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot offers something new on a couple of fronts, and I hope that they are an improvement over the previous model.

The new Powerlock cleat system is a significant change from what Simms has built in the past, and it seems as if they are going all in on the integrated cleat system. The previous integrated system on the 2020 G4s was a disaster, I started losing cleats from day 1, and by the end of the season, most of the factory threads had ripped out from the rubber, leaving me with nowhere to reattach cleats.

The way the new 2023 boots are designed, Simms says they are not meant to be used without one of the two types of cleats installed, so I look forward to not losing any as I did here.

They have added in some leather around the toe of the boot, whereas on the previous 2020 G4s, they had eliminated almost all of it, leaving the fabric extremely vulnerable in high-contact areas.

lastly, it looks as if they have returned to a better lace. On the 2020 G4s, this was actually one of that boot’s biggest shortcomings. On the 2020’s G4’s lace was an elastic fabric cord wrapped in a sleeve, and due to the sharp eyelets, the sleeve ripped within a month of owning the boot. Sure, boot laces fail, but for a +$400 boot, they should last longer than a month.

FAQs

Here are some questions that I get asked when talking about other Simms boots and the 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot:

• Can you put studs in Simms tributary boots? Yes, you can add studs to Simms tributary boots for additional traction. However, they do not have a built-in cleat system, so you will need to stick to standard screw-in cleats.

• What is the Powerlock cleat system? The Powerlock cleat system is a new feature on the 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot that allows you to change out the cleats on your boot with relative ease.

• How does the 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot compare to other wading boots on the market? It stands out by going all in on the integrated cleat system; whether that is good or bad is yet to be determined.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the 2023 Simms G4 Pro Boot is designed to be a high-performance wading boot that offers superior durability, excellent grip, and a comfortable fit, and at this price point, I sure hope it delivers. I will be putting this boot to the test over the busy Alaska fishing season, and I’ll let you know how they work out!