I recently purchased the Simms RipRap with the felt sole. I have used them with and without studs, with studs being superior. Grip without studs is still good. As for sizing, I wear a 10 1/2 D shoe and the Simms Size 11 fits very comfortably. Roy

Patagonia are the lightest-weight felt-sold wading shoes I have ever owned

Yes, a good wading sock (preferably combined with gravel guards) is money. By far, the lightest and most comfortable wading boot I've ever owned were the Patagonia's...they didn't last nearly as long as others, but they WERE light and super comfortable. My Korkers were comfortable, but weren't as light and never have lasted very long, so they're now out of my equation. The addition of wading socks (I now use a pair from Orvis that seem a bit better than the Simms ones I used to have) make things far better. If it were me looking, I wouldn't even consider a sandal because I hate picking pebbles out of them but your needs may be different.

Unfortunately like a lot of good things discontinued by New Balance

Bamboozled, do you really want felt shoes without any ankle support? The felt will raise you up a bit and I would be nervous without a tiny bit of support (Sort of like the boots that Bulldog posted above). I've given up felt, but just because my state outlawed it. Maybe they will reconsider.

I don't have any advise on the felt side, but I did follow Bulldog's suggestion on wading shoes. I found some wading boots (either the Abyss or something very similar) and use lycra scuba socks. The lycra socks are great. I also found a pair of slightly larger scuba sock that comes up the calf. This provides a bit of insulation when the water is a bit colder and you have to stand in it a while.

the problem with low-tops is getting quicksand around your soles, though lycra socks will help.
Also leaving your shoe in the quicksand - high tops hang on better in addition to giving ankle support.
If you get fine sand beneath your feet, any hiking in the shoes will take the skin off your feet.
After a day of wade-fishing at the coast in running shoes, my buddy's feet were bloody.

I do have some very nice Chaco sandals with built-in short-top neoprene socks - I wear these for kayaking that doesn't involve any mud wading (my daughter has a pair, too), and they're perfect for that. But I would never wear them for wade-fishing.

The trick with a kayak is finding shoes with a small enough footprint to fit in the footwell.

I just looked over what NRS has to offer, which is where I found the OTB boots to begin with.
https://www.nrs.com/category/2582/men/water-shoes
Most of these are just variations on your basic neoprene bootie.
I don't know how they drain, but a shoe that looks decent is the Astral Hiyak - worn with lycra socks.

Our niche is getting tougher - I just went through everything Backcountry offers, and only the 5ten water tennies look worthwhile.

Just went through ACK, where I bought my 5tens with discount, and found these, which look pretty good, made for fly fishing, with very nice drain vents in the soles
https://www.austinkayak.com/products/23 ... e-Men.html
I think these would pass my tests, but still with lycra socks
Soft Science Terrafin Water Shoe - discount direct from the maker, though ACK will offer free shipping (and I can share a discount code) http://www.softscience.com/mens/terrafin.html

the big C store has their boots on sale for 19 bucks- I have a pair- really excellent for the money.
very comfortable.

My first two pair of wet wading shoes were Merrell water shoes. While not intended for wet wading, they were light, drained well and were very compact. I literally walked for miles in them when fishing in YNP backcountry. Yes, they slipped mossy rock occasionally, but the advantages outweighed the negatives. Then I moved on to a pair of Cabela XPG water shoes, no longer being offered. They had a soft Vibram sole. They had the same attributes as the Merrells, but were a little stickier. When I first purchased the Simms, Inwent for the rubber sole. In my opinion, even with studs, they were dangerous when in water. Sent them back to Simms who returned a pair of the felt soles. I find them slightly heavier than either the Merrells or the Cabelas. There is no comparison in terms of grip. They are vastly superior. They are also comfortable to walk/hike in.

Bamboozle, you mentioned a concern about the sole not going all the way to the outer edge. If you look at the rubber on the felt sole vs the all rubber sole, you will see a difference in compound and design. I believe the outer edge of the felt sole rubber is not a disadvantage, but remains very sticky. Personally, I have never felt at a disadvantage wading in a low cut shoe nor have I had much of a problem with debris getting in. I do not wear neoprene wading socks, just low cut sport socks to reduce the possibility of rubbing the toes bloody. My 7 cent take on wet wading. Roy

My favorite was a pair of Patagonia I bought over 20 years ago looked like a old converse basket ball shoe with felt glued on.......aurelio

It's an option I am considering...

The Scotchbrite might actually grip better, but I would be concerned about its durability. Based on my experience using it both as kitchen scrubber and sandpaper, I think it might disintegrate rather quickly under the weight of a fisherman negotiating rocks. I have no actual experience using it as sole material, though.

I am pretty sure the modern felt is synthetic fiber. I put a heel piece on one of my shoes a few years back, and the material doesn't strike me as being wool.

Tomah and Bamboozle, thanks for your input.